Impossible is a word I never pronounce

Our Swedish cheese slicer succumbs to metal fatigue. Head and handle irrevocably separated. En route to the airport a quick detour for a replacement. Purchased and paid for in just over three minutes. Life, however, provides an added twist to this simple little tale. Who would ever have believed that the wonderful people at airport security would consider a cheese slicer to be an offensive weapon ? It is confiscated and placed in the transparent bin of shame for all connecting travellers to see. '' Hey Brenda ! Come over here and see what some idiot tried to take on the plane ". Angus toys with the idea of highlighting the improbability of a middle aged business man storming the cockpit brandishing a blunt cheese slicer but thinks better of it. Humour and airport security incompatible companions.

Bob and Sophie are waiting at the cafe in the arrivals terminal. ' The font ' has relearnt the lesson that the  surest way of keeping the little angels well behaved is to sit at a table with a view of the pastry and sandwich counters. Dogs, like toddlers, are better companions when the prospect of  'cake' is dangled in front of them. Bob once again demonstrates his skill at opening the sliding doors by waving a large hairy paw in front of the motion sensor.

Wonderful weather. The forecast says it's going to stay like this for the next two weeks. Home in time for Sophie to clamber onto the table and eat the post and for Bob to go down to the waterfall and dive ( unsuccessfully ) for fish.

 

Nothing is more difficult, and therefore more precious, than to be able to decide.

A run round the garden followed by a leisurely walk along the path at the top of the ridge. Up here the air rich with the smell of garlic. Both pups intrigued by the carcass of some long dead animal. Hare, badger, fox ? Too far gone to say. Ahead of us two sanity testing hours with a pair of hungry and thirsty PON's before we're due at the vets. Off to the motorway service station. Lakes, trees, picnic areas, freshly trimmed grass and the scent of hundreds , if not thousands, of invisible dogs. Trucks to watch, tourists to bark at. Hunger displacement therapy in this canine heaven. While they frolick we enjoy a leisurely cup of coffee.

Ten to nine. Sophie is weighed. I turn to go but the vet asks me to stay while the catheter goes in . '' She'll feel more comfortable if you're with her ". A slight whine at the noise of the clippers. Then one brief '' is this alright ? '' look of pure trusting  innocence. Noble vulnerability. Then she's asleep. We'll collect her at three this afternoon.

Bob is decidedly unhappy at the absence of his sister. Today Mr. Frump is going to be barking at everything .