I should know better

Solitaire, whose career up to now has been that of very spoiled pet, footwarmer, and room fragrancer, was introduced to the joys of sex last week.

I must admit, I had reservations about this, and I was not disappointed. She had no intention of being catapulted into the responsibilities of an adult, and was, to put it mildly, not helpful. As the chosen stud dog soldiered on, finding the target a little high but grimly determined to get there, I kept a firm grip on the sharp end, while two helpers tried to see what was going on at the stern....so much easier with bigger, and perhaps less hairy dogs.

Then suddenly he got there. Not for long, and it wsn`t very convincing - well not to us, but the dog was sure he had achieved something.....

And Solitaire danced. All round us on her hind legs, warbling a strange high-pitched song, presumably of delight. None of us had seen anything like it before, and the stud dog stood with his mouth hanging open, clearly thinking, "They don`t usually do that - I must have done something right! Here`s one to tell the boys about down the pub!"

No I didn`t have a camera. You never do at moments like that. You have to take my word for it that after the great event, Solitaire was transformed into a small, hairy Salome.

Mind you, there will be a lot of hats consumed if that mating comes to anything.

But Solitaire is thinking her own quiet thoughts, and looking very confident.

Never fails, every spring.

When my Coelogyne (Bride of Heaven) orchid does its thing (despite total neglect).