Hang-dog.

We had a change to our normal Friday routine which started with a visit to the Sick Kids to pick up some quilting fabric. This is a new venture for Linus which, although rather sad, I find to be rather uplifting. There is a significant number of children in hospital, or other institutions, for palliative care – which usually means end-of-life care; children in such a situation are invited to choose a material, which incorporates a favourite theme, for a quilter to use to make a custom designed quilt for that particular child. It means a lot to everybody involved: the quilter, the child, the family, the nurses and even, dare I say it, to me – the humble taxi driver. The child has the comfort of the valued quilt and the knowledge that someone they will never meet cared enough to make it for them The family has similar benefits and, if the worst happens, they have a keepsake to remember their child by; we know that while some will put it in a box of “memories,” others may choose to put it in the coffin or pass it on to another sick child. It doesn't matter which, it is their choice and they will always have the memory.

At the other end of the age spectrum, the “hang-dog” in the Blip was collecting for the “Alzheimer's Scotland” charity in the supermarket we used today.