Neurotic? Moi?

A quick scour of the neighbourhood/dog walk this morning revealed lots of discarded Christmas trees... but NO stumpy stands attached. Which makes the one that was pinched from under my nose yesterday all the more annoying... Still, early days.

I took down all the decorations. While they weren't lavish, it is sad to see them go. In fact JR decreed that the string of wee snowball lights on the mantelpiece are actually 'winter lights' and so they shall stay.

Archie's wee sore foot is still sore. He's always licking it, which of course makes it worse. The cream that we got before Christmas didn't do the trick.  And we've been so loathe to put the cone on. Today I took him along to the vet. Sore paws are quite common in dogs, often a food allergy (if it's all four paws). But JR got in a tizz last night because she read that compulsive paw licking could be a sign of 'paranoid' or 'neurotic' behaviour. Too much Leonard Cohen perhaps?

The vet thinks it could have been hurt, as it's only one foot, and his constant licking means it can't get better. But we have a solution. Literally. A solution to bathe his foot in twice a day. And keep him out of puddles and mud. And THE CONE.

He was such a horror in the vet's - barking and yapping at all the other nice quiet dogs. I even left him outside, where he barked. But he was such a good boy on the long walk home. He didn't pull on the lead AT ALL. He's zonked out on my lap, making typing on my iPad a one fingered exercise.

This is Arch with a present yet to be delivered to wee R. It's a schnauzer, I think. He's not the paternal kind (even before we made sure he couldn't) and shortly after this he attacked the toy and chewed its ear.

There are more holidays for Archie (ie us) in the offing... First off is a two nighter in January. Unfortunately, after Castle Fonab and Cringletie House, JR is insisting on relative luxury...

Still, you can't take it with you...