Little Lord Fauntleroy

What a few days we've had. The house full of people since Friday, and Hugo lapped up the adoration of all our visitors and turned into the smug prince overnight. He wouldn't climb into the car but had to be lifted. He refused to keep to his third of the back seat but spread himself over the legs of his two handmaidens, head resting on one lap, bottom on another. He moved from one of us to the other when we were seated in the house or summerhouse, forcing us with his strong beak to raise a hand to stroke him. Persistent, he was, and strong. There was no ignoring him. He had everyone eating out of the palm of his paw. No wonder his coat glistened as if it had been oiled.

Little Lord Fauntleroy

He's had a few altercations with other dogs which were probably over-eagerness to be friendly and play but seemed aggressive and rude. In Aldeburgh on Saturday as we sat in the sun eating ice creams he took offence at three large passing dogs and first growled then flew at them barking wildly. Frightened the life out of me. The next day, out walking with Olivia, he had another set-to with a neighbour's dog which resulted in Olivia falling on her head and getting mild concussion. When we met the same dog returning home he leapt across a ditch and approached Hugo with his shoulders down and teeth bared. I think I screamed, but Hugo wisely decided to play passive this time and we got away unscathed. Later that day, sitting in a pub garden with Hugo's lead tied around a table, he leapt at a passing dog and the leather broke, leaving him free of restraint. Oh, there have been palpitations.

Olivia and Hugo just before she crashed to earth

But the best bit was walking on the beach at Cove Hythe and letting him off the lead. He raced around on the sand, always coming back to trot docilely by my side when called. It was baking hot, the sea shimmered in a blue haze and the waves lapped the shore. At one point we thought the tide was coming in, potentially trapping us against the crumbling cliffs, but it was a false alarm and we were safe. It was truly blissful walking in that place in those conditions, utterly lovely.

Me, happy with my dawg

After Hugo sat in the car this morning while I worked at the bureau, I took him to Sizewell beach down the road and let him run free again. He loved it, dashing hither and thither, suddenly accelerating off and then spinning around to return to my side. I don't know which of us enjoyed it most. But the best laugh came back home after I had planted my four roses. Hugo pottered around with me, sitting on the grass watching or just sniffing at my feet. After a while I decided to have a seat in the summerhouse with the crossword, and he watched me from the back door. As I sat down on the sofa he charged down the garden full pelt, threw himself in the door, skidded wildly on the rug and ended up half on the sofa so great was his speed. His face was a picture. He's asleep now, ready to go upstairs to bed. It's been a hectic five days but we're back to normal again. Night night, best of companions.