Dog He Would A Running Go

There's only one thing worse than not finishing the Saturday crossword, and that's finishing it. The delicious tussle, the brain-racking, the allowing of your focus to slur slightly from time to time, so that your imagination takes over a bit and words pop into your head, usually the right ones. It all comes to an end when your solve the last clue and you're suddenly shut out, like when you finish a wonderful book. Today's was a bugger, so much so that I went right through it and could not get one. I wasn't alarmed. This was a tricky setter, and once you get inside his or her mind you start to penetrate it. It was clever, not just opaque, too clever in parts, but working out the difficult ones is especially satisfying.

Hugo and I sat in the summer house watching torrents of rain crash onto the washing, and the umbrella, and the lounger I had been slouching in. I had planned to do some weeding in a desultory sort of way, my new MO, and had finished one bed when it began. Just a few drops, I said to myself, and joined Hugo where he lay slumbering on his padded furry bed. But the heavens opened, as they did yesterday, and they stayed open. Luckily I had the crossword with me because it was a while before it cleared. When I finish tasks before the rain starts, or get the washing in nice and dry, I feel as if I have cheated the elements. When it happens the other way around, I feel cheated. Grrrr, I seethed, grrrr! The forecast said some inland parts of Suffolk might get a soaking but it would be mainly dry. I think it was only over Cransford.

Earlier we had taken our first walk at Pound Farm since Hugo was attacked there two weeks ago. His wound is healing nicely, and I was desperate to let him have a run. But as we approached the car park I started to feel sick, and I realised I was terrified that my precious little boy would be hurt again. He seemed impervious to the memory and galloped off as usual. We went with a friend for security, and our two dogs are old mates. It took a while for me to relax though, and when we encountered other dogs towards the end of the walk I was hyper alert. He had so much fun, racing around, teasing the others, flying at top speed. It was a while before I noticed that one of his gaiters was missing, and when I went to look for it I could find no trace. I'll have another go when the grass is dry. But for now he's back to full health and happiness, and that's all a mother could ask for.