Green pond in the woods...

Well, I'm hoping I'm assessing things correctly and it's not just wishful thinking, but I have a feeling that Alfred's lump has fairly significantly reduced in size.  It's still clearly there, but smaller and it seems, less defined.  It's his second day of strong antibiotics.  He's due another tablet tomorrow morning and again on Sunday.  The vet said that if it was at least half as small as on Thursday, then that would confirm an infection which is responding to medication, and he'd give us more tablets to finish the course and we'd be cleared to leave for our holiday... So let's hope!  Alfred must be wondering at my suddenly developed obsession with and constant comparison of his hind quarters! 
Thank you all for your kind words and good wishes yesterday.  There's still a while to go till we know for sure, but things are looking better than they did yesterday! :-)