Clive enjoys National Fish and Chips Day 2012 ....

Today was National Fish and Chip Day.  It's an annual event which started a few years ago here to promote Italian chippers in Ireland.  Fish and Chip shops all over the country were selling fish and chips at half-price!

On her way home from a meeting tonight Murray's Mom stopped off and got some fish and chips for everyone - including me!

Best dinner we've had in ages .....

- Clive

A summer cut for Clive and things are a lot better (well, apart from Murray being upset at Clive's "short cut" ) ....

Clive has the Kong Cloud off !!!!

Happy Days in the House of Clive!!!

We went to the Vet yesterday morning (we weren't due back until this coming Friday but the weather has been very warm here and Clive wasn't very happy), we were told it was okay to take off the Kong Cloud once we watched Clive carefully (so we have).  But the scar is really well healed now.

So well healed that we took Clive to his groomer today - we explained about the scar and that was covered while Clive was groomed.

We requested a 'short' cut because Clive and Murray are going to Spain soon.  We prepared Murray well and kept explaining just why Clive needed to have his coat SO short!  A bit like the time we went to South Carolina with Clive - he was much happier with his short cut in the heat there!

Murray said he understood but then when we brought Clive home from the groomer this afternoon - he wasn't happy at all.  He was happy as he gave Clive a frozen yogurt treat - as you can see from the photos above but then .....

Well, Clive's coat is all short and his ears are short too!  That really got to Murray!  He thinks Clive no longer looks like his 'Clivey'.  He keeps telling his Mom that 'his Clive' is no longer in the house!

Hopefully the fur on his ears grows back soon ....

In the meantime, Clive does look lovely - all clean and fresh and ready for his holidays ....

Poor Murray will hopefully wake up happier in the morning!

Life is never straightforward in the House of Clive!

- Clive & Co

Getting better but it's just taking a bit of time ....

Clive was back with the vet on Friday morning!  Stitches came out!!  Good news!!  Much better news was that the cyst was just that - a cyst, nothing more!  So much relief and happiness all round!

However, Clive has not been happy with the stitches which were making him 'itchy' so he had to keep his Kong Cloud on as he kept trying to get at the stitches!  However, as we mentioned earlier last week he decided to take advantage of Murray's Mom working with in the back garden and managed, some how, to get his Kong Cloud off!  Not only that but he managed to hide it! No, Murray was involved in this!!

So, although the stitches are out - the vet has recommended that the new Kong Cloud stays on for another few days to make sure that the scar is fully healed over.  Clive is not happy with this!  But better than the cone that he had to ensure for one night until we got a new Kong Cloud!

We are back with the vet this coming Friday for another check-up!  In the meantime, summer has suddenly arrived here in Ireland so Clive is doubly unhappy wearing a large inflatable ring around his neck in the heat!  However our lovely sunshine is unlikely to last for many more days so hopefully Clive will have cooler temperatures so that will make wearing his Kong Cloud a little more bearable.

Murray's Mom had to go to the Irish Guide Dog training centre on Friday afternoon for a meeting and then their AGM yesterday morning.  But she made sure she got to see some of the dogs in training at the kennels before she left the Centre ....

Orrin was a beautiful German Shepherd cross that loved posing for a photo ....

Pepper and Faye were also very good sitting patiently while Murray's Mom took a little video of them to show Murray!

Ube was a beautiful labradoodle in training who was enjoying the glorious sunshine in Cork yesterday morning ....

Keady is an assistance dog who is just about to go meet her new family.  We wish Keady and her new family the very best of luck in the coming months.

Inside the training centre it was very hot at the AGM but all the dogs were fantastic - quietly lying down and having a rest during the proceedings and there were a lot of dogs there.

It was lovely to meet another Assistance Dog owner there - hope to see you again soon Adrienne!

Many thanks to all our friends who have been leaving us such supportive messages and good wishes for Clive over the past two weeks.  We really appreciate it.  Murray has found the last two weeks very difficult. We have not been able to work with Clive which means that Murray has not been happy to go out either.  He keeps looking for Clive to go out with him but Clive has not been able to work.

When his Mom went to Cork to the Irish Guide Dog Centre on Friday he asked her to bring him an 'new assistance dog for a short time Mom' - 'just for a few days Mom' because he needs a dog so much to accompany him when he is going out.  Of course, Irish Guide Dogs don't loan temporary dogs out but it just shows how much Murray relies on Clive and how much his routine is put out when Clive is unable to go out working with him.  We hope that this week sees the end of the Kong Cloud and that Clive will be happy and well enough to be out working again with Murray!

- Clive & Co

Still waiting ....

Clive and Murray have been enjoying the sunshine here the last few days but were not happy that the stitches couldn't come out on Monday!  The vet reckoned a few more days were needed.


We're back with the vet on Friday morning!! Paws crossed for Friday!

In the meantime, Clive managed to take off his Kong Cloud and hide it on Murray's Mom this morning! Yes, hid it and we can't find it anywhere! 


So he got a few hours respite and got to enjoy some time in the garden with Murray this afternoon but he's back now in his CONE!!!

Roll on Friday .....

- Clive & Murray

A very unhappy few days for Clive ...

Poor Clive!  He was doing really well and his scar was healing very well.  The vet was very happy with him on Monday!

But then he went at his scar on Tuesday night.  We caught him quickly but not quick enough! That meant another visit to the vet yesterday morning and the dreaded cone!

Clive hates cones.  He really doesn't cope well with them.  He was utterly miserable yesterday with the cone.  Murray's Mom had to cancel all her appointments and sit with him for the day and try and comfort him.  But nothing could comfort him and he whined and whined.

He was so miserable ....

We went back to the veterinary practice and got a Kong Cloud - an inflatable collar - much better!

Clive was a lot happier with this - he even looked like he was smiling .....

Murray was much happier too and made Mom take lots of photos!  But the happiness didn't last long!

Clive is pretty depressed with the Kong Collar - even though it is so much better than the cone.  He is moping around the house and is not happy at all.

It is very hard on him and very hard on Murray ....

We are just wishing the days away till next Monday.  Clive is due to have his stitches out then.  Paws crossed.

In the meantime, we are due back to the vet in the morning for another check on the scar / stitches.  The vet was happier with how his stitches were looking this morning so hopefully he will be even more pleased tomorrow morning.

Only another three days to go !!!

From a miserable Clive ....

Clive getting better, Murray getting happier ....

Clive went back to the vet this morning - his scar is healing really well and he is much happier!

Which means Murray is much happier!

Clive will go back to vet again next Monday to have his stitches taken out - in the meantime, he is recovering well with lots of attention from all the family but most especially Murray.

Murray has been so concerned about Clive over the past few days but he is more relaxed about it all now - Clive is back walking around the house after Murray and that makes Murray so HAPPY!

Lots of tail wagging going on too!!  Always a good sign.

We did upload a video of Clive and Murray on our Facebook page yesterday but for some reason we can't get blogger to upload it for us!  Murray's sister might help us again in the morning.  Murray wanted to see it on Clive's blog as well but for the moment .... blogger is not working with us!

However, we did manage to upload another video that Murray really loved watching yesterday - the winner of Britains Got Talent 2012 ....

Ashleigh and Pudsey are absolutely amazing and Ashleigh is only 16 years old.  Murray really loved them - he thinks Pudsey looks just like a little mini-Clive!  The video is well worth watching.

In the meantime, we're thanking everyone again for all the good wishes - it is lovely to know we have so many friends out there who care so much about Clive and Murray too!  Many, many thanks!!

- Clive & Co

A day of recovery - a much better day for Clive and Murray .....

Huge thanks for all the good wishes and kind comments today and yesterday! It is very much appreciated! Clive is in much better form this evening (which means Murray is too!). Murray fed him rice and chicken (twice) and it was all eaten!

We have taken the bandage off to let the air at Clive's scar (as the vet recommended). Clive is being really good and not going near it (under Murray's constant supervision!).


Clive was very quiet this morning.  Murray's Mom had sat up with him until 5.30am until he seemed to go into a really deep sleep. But we were very worried at how quiet he was this morning.

Murray is very put out by it all - he is walking around the house with a photo of the two of them (a really happy photo!) and asking the 'photo' why Clive is SO SICK! He then kept taking the photo over to Clive to show him.


We rang our vet who said that Clive would be fine - it would just take time for all the drugs he got yesterday to leave his system and that the next 24 hours would see a huge difference!

We are very happy tonight to have Clive more like himself .... (in fact we are THRILLED!!!) - we were all very concerned earlier but Clive is in the last few hours becoming CLIVE again!!!

_ Clive & Murray

When Clive went to the vet - a worrying day today for everyone ....

Poor Clive!  Poor Murray!

We've had a very difficult day ....

Clive went to the vet this morning to have a cyst removed.  It was a nasty cyst that burst a few days ago (just before Grandma's birthday). We knew the cyst needed to be removed and had only been talking to our vet the day before about removing it but then ...

It burst!

We immediately took Clive to our vet because the cyst had burst during the night and Clive had licked and irritated it - the vet had prescribed painkillers and antibiotics until the cyst had decreased in size and he could remove it.  That was last week ... (and Clive bravely did SHADES with Murray and carried on working!)

Clive was back with the vet this Tuesday but the vet wanted to wait a few more days for the cyst to reduce in size before operating.  We were booked in this morning to have the cyst removed.

Clive went in at 10am this morning and we collected him at 2.00pm.

Many thanks for all the good wishes and kind comments on Clive's Facebook page today! He is pretty miserable at the moment - a big scar on his back where the cyst was removed. Murray is incredibly upset because Clive is so quiet. For the first time in years Clive was not standing 'barking' with Mom waiting for Murray's school bus this afternoon. Murray rushed into the house in tears to see how his 'Clivey' was ...

Clive has been very quiet - he has slept most of the afternoon and evening - not even raising his head when we all sat down to dinner. That upset Murray even more!

He took a frozen yogurt a few minutes ago from Murray's hands ... 

We'll know more about the results in 10 days time. For the moment, we're just hoping Clive settles down and Murray sleeps ....

The boys are not in best form tonight!

It is very difficult for Murray to see Clive like this ....

He only understands a little of what is happening and that is making it even more difficult ...

We are hoping tomorrow will be a better day for both of them.

- Clive & Co

When Murray's Grandma celebrated her 80th Birthday ....

Murray's Grandma was 80 years old a few days ago ....

We had a big party for her at the weekend!

Nearly all her grandchildren were there!  They live in Spain, Belgium, France, England, Switzerland and Ireland so it's not easy to get everyone together.  But nearly everyone was and Grandma was delighted!

Grandma was very good and let Murray blow the candles out on her cake (a second time) - Murray is a bit sensitive about 'blowing candles' so they were re-lit especially for him!

Grandma in the back garden for a photo with her grandchildren ....

and very importantly with her children .....

The whole family together for a photo!

Happy 80th Birthday Grandma!

Everyone was jumping around in delight ....

Especially the girls!!

We had a great weekend celebrating Grandma's 80th birthday!

(Murray coped really well as it was very busy and we had lots of people in the house.  He was happy though when everything got back to normal today!)

- Clive & Murray

The launch of SHADES 2012 in Dublin yesterday (when Clive & Murray met up again with Roy Keane and Hector!

Clive and Murray were thrilled to be at the launch of SHADES 2012 at the Radisson Blu St Helen's Hotel in Dublin yesterday.  The first person they met was Hector O' hEochagain from 2FM.  Murray was thrilled when Hector remembered him from last year.

Hector was great talking with Murray.  Many thanks - we really appreciated it Hector!

We also met a very special person yesterday at the SHADES launch - Clive's puppy walker!  Carmel Narin and her family puppy walked Clive seven years ago and it was wonderful to meet up with Carmel and her daughter Carol yesterday.  Clive was thrilled to met Carmel and Carol and sat down for lots of photos!

Roy Keane was in town to launch SHADES 2012 for Irish Guide Dogs.  Irish Guide Dogs were thrilled to have Roy launch their annual SHADES fundraising campaign again.  In fact this was the 10th year that Roy has done it!  Sponsored by the Radisson Blu in Dublin, this year's SHADES campaign runs from May 7th to 13th to raise money for Irish Guide Dogs to provide services for the visually impaired and children with autism.

Again, like Hector - Roy remembered Clive and Murray from last year's SHADES launch and that delighted Murray!  Roy was great signing lots of autographs for Murray as well - as the boys in St Augustine's had asked for autographs and Murray also got one for his SNA in school and an autograph for one of the teachers too!  Roy was very happy to sign all the autographs for Murray - thanks Roy!

Before the photographs there was a fantastic display with lots of puppies in training outside in the grounds of the Radisson Blu and Roy took puppy in training Hector through his paces.

After the parade Murray took Clive over to say 'hello' to puppy Hector.  We have met Hector several times throughout this training and it was wonderful to see him 'all grown-up' and to hear that Hector will soon become an Assistance Dog for a family with a child with autism.

We also met up with lots of friends at the SHADES launch and it was great to meet guide dog owner Dominique with her guide dog Opal and assistance dogs Hackett and Vonda again with Rita and Pamela.  We also met two lovely  Goldendoodle puppies in training.

We got to catch up with lots of friends who follow Clive and Murray through our blog and also on Facebook.  A big shout out to everyone who we met yesterday and many thanks for all the lovely comments about Clive's blog!

SHADES 2012 runs from May 7th to May 13th ....

SHADES pins will be on sale at Tesco stores, shopping centres and on-street collection nationwide.  You can also buy them at Maxi Zoo or Specsavers outlets.  Go to www.guidedogs.ie for more details.

Please support SHADES 2012!

Many thanks

Clive & Murray