Druidic Dabblings and General Twaddle !!

[6feetdown]

well I'm getting closer with it
created a new loom and re-wired it this morning...
the mystery terminal Gavin, was as I thought, - a kill line -- had the fan cowl off this morning and it's connected to the twin coils to earth 'em out.
Ignition switch took a bit of sussing .. interesting set up ... has a set of kill terminals, permanently connected when off, open circuit in run position.
So set them up to ground that kill terminal - float chamber solenoid's on the run circuit, starter solenoid on the crank position .. works fine have had it firing on carb cleaner
Poor old spark though .. gonna have to have the coils off and clean their faces off - got the flywheel 90% better than found, but guessing the coil's faces're rusty too and 'screwing up' the air gap.
View attachment 61010 View attachment 61011 View attachment 61009 amazing how much gear you need out for a piddly little job like a re-wire

tyres stopped play after lunch - went and got Vicki's motor sorted -- rim was fine when the tyre came off .. put a pair on the front and the O/S/F can go on the spare rim I bought Sunday, when it arrives - another DHL saga BTLs
'sposed to have arrived this morning - no ****ing show - email saying ''unavoidably delayed" .. Twunts



oooops ..... forgot to hit post last night

Had same with dpd Fri 2 parcels turned up other had to collect from shop on Saturday

 

[Bucket on wheels]

The Druid In action
he has shaved, though.

 

[Bucket on wheels]

And It's first appliance.

 

[modelman093]

Been away from it for rather a long time now and recently gave all my Countax manuals away but ………. Yes it is a rectifier regulator . 2 input wires at around 28v ac and dc out. Will only work with at least 9v in the battery. Jump it when the battery is down and you can run all day and it won’t charge. Ignition coils are joined together with a diode harness .Stops the coils interfering with each other. Damaged or missing and all sorts of odd things happen, like won’t start, won’t stop, run on one etc etc. I have still got the Biggs book for that. Memory says that the single purple wire is the kill. Guess that the other single bodged wire was for the lights. Looks like you had fun getting that electric clutch off. Trying to work out what transaxle you have there - image from behind may jog the memory.
Had you heard that Ariens who bought Countax / Westwood, had pulled the plug on both those brands.
Angus

 

[Big Jordy]

Been away from it for rather a long time now and recently gave all my Countax manuals away but ………. Yes it is a rectifier regulator . 2 input wires at around 28v ac and dc out. Will only work with at least 9v in the battery. Jump it when the battery is down and you can run all day and it won’t charge. Ignition coils are joined together with a diode harness .Stops the coils interfering with each other. Damaged or missing and all sorts of odd things happen, like won’t start, won’t stop, run on one etc etc. I have still got the Biggs book for that. Memory says that the single purple wire is the kill. Guess that the other single bodged wire was for the lights. Looks like you had fun getting that electric clutch off. Trying to work out what transaxle you have there - image from behind may jog the memory.
Had you heard that Ariens who bought Countax / Westwood, had pulled the plug on both those brands.
Angus

Hi Angus,
I have a westwood t1800 that won’t start, just turns over but doesn’t fire, spark at both plugs and fuel getting to it, it also won’t start of the key and won’t start now crossing the starter. I changed the wiring loom out from a parts t1800 I have. Still no joy from it would you have any ideas or common problems?

Thanks
Jordan

 

[V8Druid]

Had same with dpd Fri 2 parcels turned up other had to collect from shop on Saturday

got back from Vicki's yesterday and a parcel on the door mat - Evri .. one of two, identical and posted/shipped together - too heavy for one go with Evri ..
email this morning saying " there's a delay with your parcel - we'll let you know when your parcel will be out for delivery " couldn't make it up FFS

 

[V8Druid]

The Druid In action
he has shaved, though.

4 pot bike engine .. too much of a lean to be Kwaka ... guessing Hodna

 

[V8Druid]

after yet more cleaning of the magnet's face and asking Serge for the air gap on the coils (he worked on this sort of gear in a.n.other life [when we were both a LOT younger]) set 'em at 12 thou and jury rigged some fuel ... and it was away
after reassembling it all it got a spin round the patch .... top is pretty 'kin quick - for a mower ... it's 5 sp and reverse - K14 model Angus @modelman093 and yes the kill wire is purple .. not hydrostatic as far as I can tell - needs the brake/clutch pedal to engage/change

 

[modelman093]

Hi Angus,
I have a westwood t1800 that won’t start, just turns over but doesn’t fire, spark at both plugs and fuel getting to it, it also won’t start of the key and won’t start now crossing the starter. I changed the wiring loom out from a parts t1800 I have. Still no joy from it would you have any ideas or common problems?

Thanks
Jordan

Both plugs wet and sparking but not firing is a bit odd but from a distance it’s a bit difficult to know what to suggest - when did it last run ?
As far as not cranking goes it’s possibly a safety switch issue - just try a jumper from bat+ to the solenoid activating terminal.if that wakes it up it is then a hunt for why it’s not getting the wake up from the key switch.

 

[V8Druid]

Both plugs wet and sparking but not firing is a bit odd but from a distance it’s a bit difficult to know what to suggest - when did it last run ?
As far as not cranking goes it’s possibly a safety switch issue - just try a jumper from bat+ to the solenoid activating terminal.if that wakes it up it is then a hunt for why it’s not getting the wake up from the key switch.

does it have a fuel cut off solenoid under the main jet like this Vanguard Angus? .... enough fuel in the manifold to moisten the plugs but not drawing anything through the main jet to get it running? ... the Dane has a similar solenoid set up in the float chamber - can hear it click when ign is turned on ... presumably it'd need a live feed in the crank position?
is the loom from an identical part-er @Big Jordy ? any sign of life at that solenoid (if it's the same/similar set up)?
the single cylinder Hodna on the Countax mower has a fuel tap at the carb.

 

[Big Jordy]

does it have a fuel cut off solenoid under the main jet like this Vanguard Angus? .... enough fuel in the manifold to moisten the plugs but not drawing anything through the main jet to get it running? ... the Dane has a similar solenoid set up in the float chamber - can hear it click when ign is turned on ... presumably it'd need a live feed in the crank position?
is the loom from an identical part-er @Big Jordy ? any sign of life at that solenoid (if it's the same/similar set up)?
the single cylinder Hodna on the Countax mower has a fuel tap at the carb.

Yea the loom is identical and it’s got a brand new solenoid on it. Also it ran twice after the loom change then just lay down will turn over but not start honestly I’m baffled.. all the safety switches on original loom and funnily enough new one have all the safety switches doctored.. just to say it’s never started on the key so I replaced the ignition switch/barrel and it made absolutely no difference. Only reason I kinda want to fix it is it cuts bloody fantastic, 48 inch deck and I got to admit I love the west wood grass collector..

 

[modelman093]

Yea the loom is identical and it’s got a brand new solenoid on it. Also it ran twice after the loom change then just lay down will turn over but not start honestly I’m baffled.. all the safety switches on original loom and funnily enough new one have all the safety switches doctored.. just to say it’s never started on the key so I replaced the ignition switch/barrel and it made absolutely no difference. Only reason I kinda want to fix it is it cuts bloody fantastic, 48 inch deck and I got to admit I love the west wood grass collector..

Diagnosis at a distance is always an issue. Just to be sure to be sure you have got sparks and after cranking it are the plugs wet and are you disconnecting the purple wire when cranking just to make sure that nothing strange is going on with the ignition. So as to avoid misunderstandings - switching off the ignition kills the spark (s) via the purple wire. The solenoid valve on the carb is to prevent “ after fire” . That’s when the ignition has been killed but the overrun of the engine draws in fuel which has nothing to ignite it until it’s ejected into a hot muffler with, perhaps rough glowing red bits inside and goes off like a rifle shot. The solenoid valve is to stop fuel being sucked in via the main jet . If you have a spark and fuel getting to firing plugs the issue is something weird such as valves or timing - might be worth checking the flywheel key. With electronic ignition a partially sheared key will still produce sparks but at the wrong time - whereas a sheared key with points ignition produces nothing,

 

[Big Jordy]

Diagnosis at a distance is always an issue. Just to be sure to be sure you have got sparks and after cranking it are the plugs wet and are you disconnecting the purple wire when cranking just to make sure that nothing strange is going on with the ignition. So as to avoid misunderstandings - switching off the ignition kills the spark (s) via the purple wire. The solenoid valve on the carb is to prevent “ after fire” . That’s when the ignition has been killed but the overrun of the engine draws in fuel which has nothing to ignite it until it’s ejected into a hot muffler with, perhaps rough glowing red bits inside and goes off like a rifle shot. The solenoid valve is to stop fuel being sucked in via the main jet . If you have a spark and fuel getting to firing plugs the issue is something weird such as valves or timing - might be worth checking the flywheel key. With electronic ignition a partially sheared key will still produce sparks but at the wrong time - whereas a sheared key with points ignition produces nothing,

I literally have no clue as to the colour of the wiring I literally detached the doner loom from parts mower as a whole and connected it to the one I’m trying to sort. I have a wiring diagram for it and the loOm
Is complete and connected as it should be but the buggar won’t start on the key or even now by bridging the starter.. followed this to the letter.
And yes definitely getting fuel and it is sparking and yea the plugs are wet after trying to start.

Thanks

https://help.gardentractorspares.co.uk/help/wts/ser/wlde-2000-wiring-loom.pdf

 

[V8Druid]

I literally have no clue as to the colour of the wiring I literally detached the doner loom from parts mower as a whole and connected it to the one I’m trying to sort. I have a wiring diagram for it and the loOm
Is complete and connected as it should be but the buggar won’t start on the key or even now by bridging the starter.. followed this to the letter.
And yes definitely getting fuel and it is sparking and yea the plugs are wet after trying to start.

Thanks

https://help.gardentractorspares.co.uk/help/wts/ser/wlde-2000-wiring-loom.pdf

HOW GOOD is your spark ... I had a very poor spark, but no start -- 'til I regapped the coils' air gap with the flywheel . .. then ran sweet
are we talking Vanguard twin

 

[modelman093]

Loosing track of who’s tractor we are discussing but this is the procedure for getting the best spark - same for both single and twins. Remove each coil and clean the top of the pillars that support them, clean the matching patch on each coil armature. Clean armatures where they face the flywheel. Clean the flywheel circumference that faces the coils.
Setting the air gaps. In turn move the flywheel magnets away from each coil, pull them away from the flywheel and pinch up their bolts . One at a time move the flywheel magnets in line with the armature and insert a business card (10 thou“) between the armatures and the flywheel, slacken the armature bolts and let the magnet pull it onto the cards. Tighten up the bolts.

 

[V8Druid]

Loosing track of who’s tractor we are discussing but this is the procedure for getting the best spark - same for both single and twins. Remove each coil and clean the top of the pillars that support them, clean the matching patch on each coil armature. Clean armatures where they face the flywheel. Clean the flywheel circumference that faces the coils.
Setting the air gaps. In turn move the flywheel magnets away from each coil, pull them away from the flywheel and pinch up their bolts . One at a time move the flywheel magnets in line with the armature and insert a business card (10 thou“) between the armatures and the flywheel, slacken the armature bolts and let the magnet pull it onto the cards. Tighten up the bolts.

mine's up and running Angus

 

[Big Jordy]

Loosing track of who’s tractor we are discussing but this is the procedure for getting the best spark - same for both single and twins. Remove each coil and clean the top of the pillars that support them, clean the matching patch on each coil armature. Clean armatures where they face the flywheel. Clean the flywheel circumference that faces the coils.
Setting the air gaps. In turn move the flywheel magnets away from each coil, pull them away from the flywheel and pinch up their bolts . One at a time move the flywheel magnets in line with the armature and insert a business card (10 thou“) between the armatures and the flywheel, slacken the armature bolts and let the magnet pull it onto the cards. Tighten up the bolts.

I’ll get a look and try this and I’ll report how I get on.. much appreciated all the advice.

 

[Gecko]

Virgin spark plugs often help a difficult engine

 

[V8Druid]

after yet more cleaning of the magnet's face and asking Serge for the air gap on the coils (he worked on this sort of gear in a.n.other life [when we were both a LOT younger]) set 'em at 12 thou and jury rigged some fuel ... and it was away
after reassembling it all it got a spin round the patch .... top is pretty 'kin quick - for a mower ... it's 5 sp and reverse - K14 model Angus @modelman093 and yes the kill wire is purple .. not hydrostatic as far as I can tell - needs the brake/clutch pedal to engage/change
View attachment 61040

aside from the triumph with the Vanguard Thursday, it wasn't the greatest of days here ...
The little ginger cat I've spent the last two plus years quietly re-educating from an absolutely feral wild animal, to coming in to eat, sleeping indoors of a night and allowing me to pick him up and Pam to comb him wasn't looking great in the morning -- respiration rate well over a hundred and very shallow ...

he'd had some brekky and was laid out in the sun on the wall with Squeak, as usual ...

called the vets and they'd said bring him in .. went and got the box and damn me he'd vanished
Vets knew the score regards his feral nature and'd been warned I'd bring him in as and when I'd gotten hold of him and 'boxed' him, so rang 'em again and said he'd vanished and I'd be in soon as .. they said they were open 'til 22.30 so gave me plenty of scope (they're a VERY busy practise and do 3 late night openings a week) so all we could do was check his favourite sleeping spots regularly and hope to find him
'Bout half five I spied him under my 6t tipper in his 'leaf nest' - huge pile of dry leaves, he likes to nap in - so fetched the box and crawled under to try and persuade him out .. wouldn't be coaxed so in desperation I caught hold of him to lift him out
His instincts kicked in and he 'reverted to type' ... spun round and sank his teeth into my left wrist - to the bone ... had to let him go to get him to let go - of my arm ... and he disappeared - again .. might have been unwell, but still had fight in him
spent ten futile minutes trying to see where he'd gone - nada - so came indoors, washed all the blood off the wounds, got some of the alcohol steri-wipes we use for my treatments and gave everything a good clean - dunno what hurt more - the bites or the alcohol stuffed the holes full of savlon and covered the general area and wrapped some gauzes round it all, followed by a bandage to keep it all in place.... and carried on what I'd been doing with the Vanguard Countax putting it back together.

This is not the first time I've been seriously bitten by a four legged furry friend, so have some respect for what they can do ....

2007, a couple of weeks after my mother died, was feeding her two cats at her place, early one morning - both of 'em knew me well - giving the one a cuddle and a stroke/back scratch and assume I hit a nerve / tender spot and he'd spun round and sank his teeth clean through my lower forearm ....
had done the same then, washed it and stuffed the holes full of Savlon, covered it all and went to work.
Was pretty sore all day and by the time | got out to Pam's about 7-ish was really bloody sore ...
and getting redder by the hour ...
by ten in the evening, it was looking pretty angry, hot to the touch, red up beyond my elbow and I went in to the local A&E in Aber.

Waiting room pretty busy when I went to the booking in window and told 'em my problem and showed 'em my arm ... guy said "one minute I'll be back now" ...
nurse appeared beside me as he came back, looked at my arm and whisked me off into the treatment rooms ...
" just lie on here for me please"
usual "any allergies? " ..
as she's prepping a saline bag with what looked like a LOT of whatever she was adding to it ...
my arm was now red half way between the elbow and my shoulder and burning ...
in went the cannular into the left arm, she prepped another bag and stuck that into my right arm and I'm thinking ferk!!
" you should've come in sooner Graham, you have a serious case of cellulitis - if that gets to your shoulder there's every chance you're going to lose your left arm " " you're getting A LOT of antibiotics in the drips and you're probably going to have to stay in a couple of days "

" Sorry, no can do .. got a business to run .. ppl relying on me to turn up in the morning - can you give me some tablets, instead of the infusions "
" we'll see how you are in the morning and go from there "

Rang pam and said they were 'just keeping me a while to keep an eye on me' and I'd see her some time tomorrow - no worries - she'd've had a fit if I'd told her the full story.

they put five bags of mix into each arm through the night and the doc looked at it 'bout half six in the morning - said I was very lucky and that they'd gotten on top of the infection overnight (wasn't bloody surprised the amount of stuff they'd pumped into me) but would prefer to keep me in - went through it again, promised I'd take the tab.s religiously and if I had any doubts I'd come straight back ....
they reluctantly agreed to let me out and gave me three boxes of horse size caplets - 500mgs of Amoxycilin - two, four times a day
" there's enough there for three days .. go to your GP and get another four days worth - we haven't got any more here ATM and for God's sake take them regularly "
" er yeh, OK .. thankyou and I will come straight back if I think I need to "
having been told you might lose your arm is a pretty fair 'leveller' when it comes to making sure you do as you're told
went straight to work to open up - still had five guys on at that time, took the pills religiously, through the day and kept a close eye on the arm .. the redness was diminishing quietly
Pam went ape when I told her that evening and I've never been allowed to forget 'the incident'
By the end of the seven days treatment, I was like a zombie and I'd've rattled if you'd shaken me .....
but it cured the cellulitis

So, anyway .. back to Ginger puss .... he strolled into the lounge about 10.30 that evening, climbed into his usual spot and went sound asleep, still breathing desperately fast and shallow and I'm thinking, " that is not looking good " closed the cat flap and locked it to make sure he was here in the morning - Was up at five, in case he panicked with the flap locked, but he was still sound asleep.
Little fella woke up about seven fifteen, offered him some food and water, but wasn't interested - he knew he was in trouble and just lay there getting stroked. picked him up without any struggles and put him on a bed in the cat box, in the car and was waiting for the vets to open when they arrived.
Practise owner spotted me, who I have known well for years, came and said she'd have a look straight away, once she'd opened up and in we went.
" he's not looking good Gra, could be an infection, or his heart, let's have a listen to him - no signs of an infection/fluidy lungs/pneumonia .......... my best diagnosis is, he's had some sort of heart attack - it's a very erratic, weak beat, which is why his breathing is so raised - he's struggling for oxygen basically - we could try a couple of things, but if and it's a big if, it was successful he'd need medicating regularly a couple of times a day, possibly permanently and doesn't sound like that would be feasible, given his history /present state/level of domestication -- we both know what would be the kindest thing for him "

So sadly we lost the little fella Friday morning , just as he was settling into a 'life of retirement', from living on his wits, in a comfy home, all he could eat and a safe warm place to sleep.

Brought him home and then turned my attention to my arm .. took the dressing off, cleaned it up again and decided I'd better head back into town to A&E or as it's now known - the minor injuries unit - asked 'em if 'a cat bite' counted as a minor injury and after a quick look he said " definitely - take a seat "
Triage nurse called me in and said " we haven't seen you in here since 2007 "
" no, but for exactly the same bloody problem then too - different cat though "
" let's have a look then .. hmm that's nasty and starting to become infected .. we'll x-ray it first, in case there's any bits of tooth in there and then we'll get one of our practitioner nurses to take a look - we don't have any doctors here any more !! "
So eventually saw this nice young guy, who asked if / when I'd last had a tetanus - looked at me sideways when I said probably 50 years ago , so that was the first thing in the arm, followed by a syringe full of antibiotic and it then got alcohol swabbed again, more cleaning up and some sort of iodine dressing that I've had to leave on 'til tonight, marked up the red bits with a felt tip and said if the redness spread outside the marked lines, to come back. Gave me a.n.other box of horse caplets and told to take them religiously (arm no where near as bad as 2007's 'incident')
Pam's been 'inspecting my arm obsessively all weekend
it still looks pissed off tonight, now I've been able to eyeball it again, but looks to be on top of any infection, it's just a bit swollen and no where near as painful as it was - hopefully sorted .. will know Friday, when I've taken all the caplets, whether I'm gonna need any more.

So all in all I've had a pretty sh1t couple of days ...

And - it's three years today, since I had to have my co-pilot, Sparty puss, put to sleep he was forever in the 'Drema, if I was in it, or the JakieB, or on the Thwaites - just had to be 'in on the action' he was nigh on human

 

[Stroppymonkey]

aside from the triumph with the Vanguard Thursday, it wasn't the greatest of days here ...
The little ginger cat I've spent the last two plus years quietly re-educating from an absolutely feral wild animal, to coming in to eat, sleeping indoors of a night and allowing me to pick him up and Pam to comb him wasn't looking great in the morning -- respiration rate well over a hundred and very shallow ...
View attachment 61106 View attachment 61105
he'd had some brekky and was laid out in the sun on the wall with Squeak, as usual ...
View attachment 61108
called the vets and they'd said bring him in .. went and got the box and damn me he'd vanished
Vets knew the score regards his feral nature and'd been warned I'd bring him in as and when I'd gotten hold of him and 'boxed' him, so rang 'em again and said he'd vanished and I'd be in soon as .. they said they were open 'til 22.30 so gave me plenty of scope (they're a VERY busy practise and do 3 late night openings a week) so all we could do was check his favourite sleeping spots regularly and hope to find him
'Bout half five I spied him under my 6t tipper in his 'leaf nest' - huge pile of dry leaves, he likes to nap in - so fetched the box and crawled under to try and persuade him out .. wouldn't be coaxed so in desperation I caught hold of him to lift him out
His instincts kicked in and he 'reverted to type' ... spun round and sank his teeth into my left wrist - to the bone ... had to let him go to get him to let go - of my arm ... and he disappeared - again .. might have been unwell, but still had fight in him
spent ten futile minutes trying to see where he'd gone - nada - so came indoors, washed all the blood off the wounds, got some of the alcohol steri-wipes we use for my treatments and gave everything a good clean - dunno what hurt more - the bites or the alcohol stuffed the holes full of savlon and covered the general area and wrapped some gauzes round it all, followed by a bandage to keep it all in place.... and carried on what I'd been doing with the Vanguard Countax putting it back together.

This is not the first time I've been seriously bitten by a four legged furry friend, so have some respect for what they can do ....

2007, a couple of weeks after my mother died, was feeding her two cats at her place, early one morning - both of 'em knew me well - giving the one a cuddle and a stroke/back scratch and assume I hit a nerve / tender spot and he'd spun round and sank his teeth clean through my lower forearm ....
had done the same then, washed it and stuffed the holes full of Savlon, covered it all and went to work.
Was pretty sore all day and by the time | got out to Pam's about 7-ish was really bloody sore ...
and getting redder by the hour ...
by ten in the evening, it was looking pretty angry, hot to the touch, red up beyond my elbow and I went in to the local A&E in Aber.

Waiting room pretty busy when I went to the booking in window and told 'em my problem and showed 'em my arm ... guy said "one minute I'll be back now" ...
nurse appeared beside me as he came back, looked at my arm and whisked me off into the treatment rooms ...
" just lie on here for me please"
usual "any allergies? " ..
as she's prepping a saline bag with what looked like a LOT of whatever she was adding to it ...
my arm was now red half way between the elbow and my shoulder and burning ...
in went the cannular into the left arm, she prepped another bag and stuck that into my right arm and I'm thinking ferk!!
" you should've come in sooner Graham, you have a serious case of cellulitis - if that gets to your shoulder there's every chance you're going to lose your left arm " " you're getting A LOT of antibiotics in the drips and you're probably going to have to stay in a couple of days "

" Sorry, no can do .. got a business to run .. ppl relying on me to turn up in the morning - can you give me some tablets, instead of the infusions "
" we'll see how you are in the morning and go from there "

Rang pam and said they were 'just keeping me a while to keep an eye on me' and I'd see her some time tomorrow - no worries - she'd've had a fit if I'd told her the full story.

they put five bags of mix into each arm through the night and the doc looked at it 'bout half six in the morning - said I was very lucky and that they'd gotten on top of the infection overnight (wasn't bloody surprised the amount of stuff they'd pumped into me) but would prefer to keep me in - went through it again, promised I'd take the tab.s religiously and if I had any doubts I'd come straight back ....
they reluctantly agreed to let me out and gave me three boxes of horse size caplets - 500mgs of Amoxycilin - two, four times a day
" there's enough there for three days .. go to your GP and get another four days worth - we haven't got any more here ATM and for God's sake take them regularly "
" er yeh, OK .. thankyou and I will come straight back if I think I need to "
having been told you might lose your arm is a pretty fair 'leveller' when it comes to making sure you do as you're told
went straight to work to open up - still had five guys on at that time, took the pills religiously, through the day and kept a close eye on the arm .. the redness was diminishing quietly
Pam went ape when I told her that evening and I've never been allowed to forget 'the incident'
By the end of the seven days treatment, I was like a zombie and I'd've rattled if you'd shaken me .....
but it cured the cellulitis

So, anyway .. back to Ginger puss .... he strolled into the lounge about 10.30 that evening, climbed into his usual spot and went sound asleep, still breathing desperately fast and shallow and I'm thinking, " that is not looking good " closed the cat flap and locked it to make sure he was here in the morning - Was up at five, in case he panicked with the flap locked, but he was still sound asleep.
Little fella woke up about seven fifteen, offered him some food and water, but wasn't interested - he knew he was in trouble and just lay there getting stroked. picked him up without any struggles and put him on a bed in the cat box, in the car and was waiting for the vets to open when they arrived.
Practise owner spotted me, who I have known well for years, came and said she'd have a look straight away, once she'd opened up and in we went.
" he's not looking good Gra, could be an infection, or his heart, let's have a listen to him - no signs of an infection/fluidy lungs/pneumonia .......... my best diagnosis is, he's had some sort of heart attack - it's a very erratic, weak beat, which is why his breathing is so raised - he's struggling for oxygen basically - we could try a couple of things, but if and it's a big if, it was successful he'd need medicating regularly a couple of times a day, possibly permanently and doesn't sound like that would be feasible, given his history /present state/level of domestication -- we both know what would be the kindest thing for him "

So sadly we lost the little fella Friday morning , just as he was settling into a 'life of retirement', from living on his wits, in a comfy home, all he could eat and a safe warm place to sleep.

Brought him home and then turned my attention to my arm .. took the dressing off, cleaned it up again and decided I'd better head back into town to A&E or as it's now known - the minor injuries unit - asked 'em if 'a cat bite' counted as a minor injury and after a quick look he said " definitely - take a seat "
Triage nurse called me in and said " we haven't seen you in here since 2007 "
" no, but for exactly the same bloody problem then too - different cat though "
" let's have a look then .. hmm that's nasty and starting to become infected .. we'll x-ray it first, in case there's any bits of tooth in there and then we'll get one of our practitioner nurses to take a look - we don't have any doctors here any more !! "
So eventually saw this nice young guy, who asked if / when I'd last had a tetanus - looked at me sideways when I said probably 50 years ago , so that was the first thing in the arm, followed by a syringe full of antibiotic and it then got alcohol swabbed again, more cleaning up and some sort of iodine dressing that I've had to leave on 'til tonight, marked up the red bits with a felt tip and said if the redness spread outside the marked lines, to come back. Gave me a.n.other box of horse caplets and told to take them religiously (arm no where near as bad as 2007's 'incident')
Pam's been 'inspecting my arm obsessively all weekend
it still looks pissed off tonight, now I've been able to eyeball it again, but looks to be on top of any infection, it's just a bit swollen and no where near as painful as it was - hopefully sorted .. will know Friday, when I've taken all the caplets, whether I'm gonna need any more.

So all in all I've had a pretty sh1t couple of days ...

And - it's three years today, since I had to have my co-pilot, Sparty puss, put to sleep he was forever in the 'Drema, if I was in it, or the JakieB, or on the Thwaites - just had to be 'in on the action' he was nigh on human
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Not ever one likes cats but I like having them about. Lost my 2 within 6 months of each other last year (aged 9-10). Yours will leave a small hole for a while :-(. My wife got a rescue kitten last year who keeps the house alive and her happy.