I should know better

What was meant to be a quiet afternoon was suddenly disturbed by a huge screeching chorus of Papillon voices. I started the usual emergency dash, only to realise that they were in a dense thicket of shrubs and brambles (I have a lot of those), and were completely unreachable.

The noise rose - a very predatory sound. Were they killing something in there? Was it a fight ? I shouted. I tried to force my way in. But I just couldn`t reach them.....

And suddenly realised what would. I turned on the hose. I live at the end of the main, and the pressure is very high. This can bring problems (see Archive, August 4 2004), but it can have its advantages.

The hose reached them easily, at almost Fire Brigade pressure. The noise cut out instantly, as a hysterical pack of small dogs suddenly experienced the joys of life underwater, without any helpful commentary from David Attenborough. I kept it going.

A sad trail of small soaked people began to slink out of the undergrowth, throwing me looks that would have frozen hell. They stood around and dripped reproachfully. How could I have spoiled their fun? Had I no sense of humour?

For once I could tell exactly who the perps were. The dry dogs grinned and wagged their tails virtuously.....Truly was particularly superior. The wet criminals kept well apart, dreading what might follow - perhaps the dreaded shampoo and drier, the ultimate punishments?

It was a warm afternoon and they would soon dry. I administered a tongue - lashing in which the words "pond life" featured prominently and only then realised how appropriate that was.

If they behave like that again, they had better think about growing fins.

Shelby -
"Some like it hot....bet they aren`t Chin"

Dorabella and pack leader Xena - "I`m with stupid"

It`s summer already !! In April ! How could this happen?

I`m not complaining. And neither are the dogs. I tell them to make the most of the sunshine - for the rest of the year we may be trying to remember what it looks like........

No. I didn`t die.

But my landline did. Again.

I am very sick of BT. A week without internet access this time. The source of the trouble was a building site at the top of the hill. They sent in men to clear the site and that`s what they did...including two of my poles and a large section of underground cable. The problem was not the repair, although I gather that a certain amount of friction between builders and BT made it more interesting.

No the problem was that BT emergency engineering staff take a four-day Easter weekend. Leaving me and most of the local area in the lurch while they took a week to complete a simple repair.

I wish I had cable. But it doesn`t reach here. I am dependent on landlines and BT has the monopoly there.

Never mind - the blog is back for the moment. Until they do more to the cable in two weeks time.

They said it would take a day.

I expect at least a month this time.