The watch.

The reason for going to Toulouse was to pick up a watch which had been sent back to the factory for repair. The fancy jewellers sports one of those air lock type security doors. PONs don't do airlock doors well. After several attempts the dog owners law of diminishing returns is invoked and Angus physically scoops the male PON up. The staff, seeing a foreigner arrive with a shaggy dog in his arms, seem even more surprised than Bob.

Angus hands over an e-mail saying the watch is ready for collection. A young man in black suit, black shirt and black tie takes the e-mail , reads it, then stands in silence and looks first at Angus, who is wearing a $20 plastic Swatch watch, then at a particularly shaggy and ever so slightly drooly Bob. '' Are you sure you're in the right place ? ". He asks this with more than a hint of condescension in his voice. 

The watch is located. Meanwhile Bob shows a keen interest in the layout of the showroom. Angus prays that the PON boy isn't in a furniture christening mood. A sprinkling of Eau de Bob would not go down well with the haughty young man or the flock of young ladies - also in black - who hover in the background. Angus observes that the assistant has a pony-tail , held in place by  rubber band, on top of his head. Perhaps this is a new fashion.

'' It's a very old watch ' observes the young man. It was made on the day of Angus's entry into the world sixty one years ago. I explain this. '' Oh ! An antique " continues the trendy young man with what might be considered humour. The bill is presented. Angus says that he's surprised they haven't changed the strap considering the amount he's paying. The young man frowns in a way that indicates he'd like to think this annoying customer is about to have an encounter with a large piece of rotating machinery .

The dogs owner tries to leave the showroom displaying a worldly wise hauteur. However displaying any kind of hauteur is difficult when you have to pick up an airlock terrified PON while simultaneously pressing a security button with your right knee.

Outside Bob regains his equanimity and gives me his ''That was great fun. We should do this more often" look.

The family fellow continues to drool a bit and hold his head, slightly, to one side. Sometimes his breathing is a little rough, as if he's got a head cold.  None of the symptoms seem to bother him. I'd think that it was an abscess on a tooth but his breath is sweet and his gums are neither swollen nor sensitive. The vet says give it  month to see if its a glandular thing. The alternative a trip to the hospital for sedation and X-rays. Neither of these would be enjoyed by Bob.

I'll keep on taking him on trips in the car to keep him occupied and prevent him from fretting about his sister.

Later today we have the November 11th Ceremony at the war memorial.