The removal men arrive today.

No less than 17 cheery 'Good Mornings' said on our pre-six am tour of the town. Surely, some sort of record ? Dog owners and early rising ancillary staff maintain old fashioned courtesies. This morning the breakfast shift at the new Pret a Manger on Market Street come to the front door, en masse, to chat to the PONette. They don't offer biscuits so Sophie is soon off. A girl has to be quite hard nosed about how much time she can spend saying 'hello' when there are sausages waiting.

There is a noticeable increase in the number of runners that we pass on our morning tour.  Princeton and Heidelberg sweat shirts observed. I'm guessing that in two weeks time the number of PhD students out for a pre-breakfast jog will quintuple.  Unlike the university cleaning ladies the runners are too busy and self absorbed to stop and recognize this shaggy canine presence. Sophie isn't quite sure what to make of runners. She stops and stares at them in disbelief. What is it they're chasing ?

The furniture should be delivered today. We're at the new house early to wait for the removal van to show up. The early morning drizzle has cleared and scudding clouds and bright sunshine have replaced it .

Sophie has a fenced off area of garden that will be a safe 'home' until the removal men have finished unloading . You can be sure she will complain loudly and frequently about being kept away from the action. There is also a ramshackle garden hut with a wooden terrace. This has already become her favoured spot - sheltered from the wind and with a commanding view of all who come to the front gate .

Sophie's morning choice. Straight ahead to the sea, right to the sea or left to the sea ? This morning she sees deer. Life is full of excitement.