Day Two Hundred and Twenty Eight

Zita did not have to go to the downtown office today. 

So we had our breakfasts together. 

It was not nice and warm today. 

So I went into our bedroom and had a little nap beside my friend Craig. 

But then it was time for me to help Zita with the rascal ladies work.

Last night when Zita got home Craig told her their far away friends, Mrs. Kelly and Mr. Andy were very sad.

Because their own new dog Miss Nora was so sick that she had to go to heaven. Oh my goodness gracious me.

And Miss Nora was not even as old as me. And I am not so old yet. 

So now we are all very sad. 

But Craig said that Miss Nora will have lots of Mrs. Kelly and Mr. Andy’s old dogs waiting right there for her, to say hello.

So she will not get even a little bit lost, or be even a bit scared. That is good. 

Maybe they have their own castle like our Poppy’s. That would be nice I think.

Then she could go swimming in the lovely moat. 

There are ducks in Poppy’s moat. Ha. That is a good idea. 

Miss Sach was here this morning and when Niamh told her she was sad too. Too bad for everybody.

Then Niamh and Sach went to the exercise until you are too sore to walk store. Oh my goodness. 

And when they got home Sach nearly could not sit down on the comfy chair. Because she was all stretched out.

And Craig told her she would be worse tomorrow. Oh gracious me. 

Then the noisy Jeep took Niamh to her shop. 

And I went and was Zita’s best helper. But we were still sad.

Festis and Furrgus 

Last night when we returned from evening patrol we heard the sad news about Craig’s friend’s dog. 

As soon as we were settled Dugal handed out some of the prime Belvinie and we toasted the young dog’s memory.

As they say May her Life be a Blessing.

When Dugal lost Mister Raspighi he was inconsolable. 

It took the assassination of that Arch Duke to shake him out of the doldrums. 

He commissioned the wonderful portrait that hangs in the great hall on Coll. 

Lest Old Acquaintance Be Forgotten, as they say.

The weather has retreated from yesterday’s delightful afternoon into a blustery muchness. 

We had delayed the morning patrol, having been up until far too late commiserating with Dugal on the memories long departed dogs.

He never tires of the story of the wee Scottie dog that they rescued during the raid on Florø. 

It remained with 12 Commando until the end of the war, when it retired as Brevet RSM. 

Now the sausages on offer at the Sunset were quite exceptional today, or we were all famished. 

Amounts to the same in my experience. 

When we returned Mrs. T was smothered by work and Miss P was minding Craig in the living room.

So as our attention was unneeded we went to our well deserved naps. 

Miss Pancake 

I had a very good afternoon because I minded my friend Zita, right in our own, not that downtown office. 

Mister Paul came over for his coffee and for Craig to sign important papers for him. 

They did not need my help. 

Because they did not have croissants today. 

When Zita and I finished all our work it was just the very best time to practice my homework.

But we did not go to the farm. 

We went to a giant parking lot instead. With so many things all over everywhere.

And a giant hardware store too. Oh my goodness me.

And we are going to go there with my outside class. My goodness me. 

But now I can look right out the open window.

Because I have my own very safe harness. Ha.

This afternoon when Colonel Dugal came home he brought me a whole sausage. As a treat.

But I cannot tell anyone because he might get in trouble. 

Mister Festis and Mister Furrgus said that their uncle was thinking about his old dogs today. 

That is why he got me such a very tasty treat. 

He used to have lots and lots of dogs before he was a soldier. 

And he and Poppy were the best friends and he misses having scads of his own dogs a lot. Oh dear me. 

Festis and Furrgus said that their Cousin Morag’s dogs are all related to Dugal’s long time ago dogs. My goodness. 

Maybe someday they will visit and we can all go on lovely walks in my farm. 

Maybe we will see those very very big horses. 

I think that would make Dugal very happy. 

We would have very good time running all over the farm. 

When we got home I was very hungry.

Because I missed my second lunchtime when I was doing my homework. 

So I had my first dinnertime right away. Ha.

Then Craig and Zita had very tasty lots of cheese nachos. 

And then Niamh stole some on her way out. Ha.

But then we had lots of time for our detectives programs.

And maybe a very nice nap on the sofa.