It’s been one heck of a week this week.

The weather has been so up and down that you don’t know whether to wear shorts or to put the jeans on and wear some waterproofs!

As it’s coming up to the festival season, I felt that the tent needed to have a bit of an airing and as the weather was looking good, I thought that I’d arrange a night camping in Carmarthenshire / Pembrokeshire.

Just a quick break away to enjoy a few beers and some sunshine on what was an incredibly warm weekend.

The campsite was exceptional. Check out their website for more details here. It was so quiet and with the clear skies, the stars shone brightly overhead. We think that the International Space Station flew overhead at one point.

I can recommend this to anyone thinking of getting away for a day or two to enjoy the summer.

Monday and Tuesday were spent in the office. I had a couple of decent days but did go for a beer after work on Tuesday with Jonesy who was off on holiday the next day!

Wednesday was my early finish and swim. I had a nice evening and was completely unprepared for what was to come.

Thursday morning arrived and as far as I was concerned it was another normal day. However, the gods had different plans for the day.

It was quite a grey and dismal sort of day so it didn’t start well. I put down food for the cat as usual and started my workday. I’d been about an hour and there was no sign of Ozzy. I was a bit worried so went to look for her.

She wasn’t in any of her usual spots but I eventually found her under the van parked at the side of the house. She was conscious but didn’t move when I called her so I thought that I’d better bring her in.

As I picked her up, she growled and cried. Something was obviously wrong. I put her down gently and she hobbled away with her back leg out clearly in pain.

I sort of panicked and googled for a vet. I explained the situation and they told me to bring her in straight away. I had to take her up to Llantrisant (like I said, I panicked!) so in the car and straight out to the vets.

She was triaged immediately and within about 10 minutes I was called into an empty room and given the news.

She’d almost certainly been involved in an RTA. She was certainly in pain and had been given some painkillers. Her breathing was worrying and it was suggested that the incident had pushed her internal organs out of place. As her breathing was poor then it also suggested that her lungs weren’t working optimally.

Then came the discussion about what could be done for her and the likely costs of everything where the chances of survival were not good. The vet estimated costs anywhere between £4k and £5k.

Ozzy was 14 years old, maybe older. She was found by a friend under a burnt out car in Riverside. I was told that she was a male cat and I took my mates word for that!

It was a couple of years later when I was going to see a band that he revealed that he was a she and gave birth to two kittens. Both the exact opposite of Ozzy’s temperament.

The most difficult decision I have ever had to make meant that I wasn’t going to be bringing her home with me. She had an incredible life but was showing signs of slowing down. I’m quite certain that she was going deaf and this may have contributed to the accident.

The vet administered the injection and she didn’t struggle. She went to sleep and that was the end. The vet suggested that it was a sign that there perhaps was something else wrong as sometimes they will struggle.

I was quite surprised at how emotional the whole thing made me feel. I honestly don’t think that I’ve showed this much emotion at my Mum’s passing. However this last day or so I have been thinking a lot more about Mum and perhaps Ozzy’s trip over the Rainbow Bridge has brought the two events together.

Ozzy was a not very affectionate cat but she always had her moments when she would want to cwtch up for a few minutes. She wouldn’t however stay still for too long and would move away.

I am going to miss her massively and it’s going to take me a while to get used to not having her around.

Work have been utterly amazing giving me compassionate leave for yesterday and today. I also received a lovely bunch of flowers from them. Totally unexpected and a lovely gesture.

The tale of the scale.

So this week was a pound off. I’m pleased about that but felt that it could have been more. Given the hot weather this week, I could have sweat half a stone just on Saturday. However, as it was such a hot weekend that any moisture lost was replaced either by beer or water!

I did get to the World of Slim yesterday, despite the events of the day. I wasn’t taking much in but it was nice to see Alex.

Next week.

Back in work but only four days next week. Monday and Tuesday in the office.

It’s the beginning of Festival Season with the first of possibly three starting very soon. I also have a number of gigs coming up and so the next week will be important to me to have a good week and to go forward with a loss.

I’m off to the Rock ‘n Ribs festival tomorrow. That will be a good one, however I am very likely to eat some amazing grub. I will however be on my best behaviour!