A Mass of Odds and Ends

One of the advantages of Skype is that I can use it when I’m away to apply maternal cross examining techniques, watching the teenagers turn away when I ask the question they don’t want to answer. There are therefore few surprises for me when I get back (I tutted disapprovingly to find the washing that I hung out a week ago still languishing on the line but I can’t pretend I was surprised to find it there) so it is fun to find the small intense world of our pets still functioning in its timeless way, Night still longing for Smokey to leave her alone in her dog bed, so that she can really spread herself out.

Night the dog and I go walking at the Abbey early in the morning. In January and February she is as excited as ever when getting into the car, but it is a different story when I open the door at the Abbey. Her look is easily interpreted “You want me to get out of this nice warm car … to walk on THAT?” This morning matters were not improved by a misadventure on the steep road between Mogliano and the Abbey.

If you look carefully at this misty picture taken this morning you can see Mogliano outlined on the skyline, the road winding through the hills lined by pines. As I swooped around one of these curves a bag filled with the sweepings of my sewing room tipped slowly onto Night’s head. When she finally emerged from the car she was barely recognisable through the coating of tiny bits of colourful cashmere.

Tim likes eating alone. But it takes patience…

Night the dog wearies first…

Smokey tires quite quickly…

Finally even Twilight has had enough.