Dog asleep on table

Goya's black paintings - the dog

Dog at the Grosvenor

Dog met at Eltham

Frosty morning

This morning when I fed the ducks it was all frosty. Very beautiful, but the bolt on the fence gate that keeps the dog out of the ducky area was all cold and shiney ... I took some pictures.

The washing line takes pride of place in this photo.

Ducks out of the pen

The ducks rarely leave their pen. We're trying to encourage them to make the most of the garden. However the dog saw them and started jumping about, so they have gone back into their pen. Shame, we want them to start using the pond, and feel free to forage around for worms.

Shooters Hill

Andy came round for a nice walk and a chat on Sunday morning and we took the dog up to Shooters Hill for a special outing. It was very hot and I was wearing a fleecy jacket that was far too hot. I dropped a glove at the bus stop and found it on the way back. Phew! Here's a picture of the dog on his day out. In this picture it looks like his legs are really short. They're not.

An itch, an annoying itch

Oh, yes, it is that time of year when ankles and feet get bitten on the lawn when you're oblivious to the pain because you're having a nice evening drink in your garden with your boyfriend. I have had various advice on how to stop the itching (antihistamine, cortisone) and on how to stop getting bitten (B12 tablets, Citronella spray) none of which I have put into practice yet.

I have also noticed fleas hopping around the dog's curly beige coat. So he's had a flea pill this morning, sneaked into his gravy rich can of dog yum. So easy to get a dog to eat up a pill. So hard to do the same with a cat ...

Black cab - question for bloggees

Hmmm ... I'm thinking of getting a black cab to ferry around my dog, daughter and various musical gear / musicians. It should make it possible to play gigs in weird out of town venues. Anyone got any thoughts on owning a Fairway? Have you ever driven/owned one? They're supposed to be great on petrol and very economical. And I know folk rave about that legendary 'turning circle' for negotiating town traffic and the winding city streets. I shall have to test drive one and see how I feel sitting up there as drunks and suits try to flag me down to take them home or to that expensive bijoux bar in Mayfair.

Running after foxes

Last minute packing has been interrupted by dog walking, or rather, dog running-off-into-impenetrable-undergrowth. When I need every second to get ready for my trip to Kerry tomorrow morning, I have to dice with timewasting. I'm pleased to be able to announce that Solaris Q Scuddamore, after a spate of nosing among dark tree roots, has finally returned to the safety of the garden/house.

Moral: don't walk a fidgety dog off the lead on a foxy summery evening when you haven't properly packed for an international music/poetry jaunt and have to get up at 5am.