Now it becomes clear

Mystery solved.

I can stop thinking about that now.

Unfortunately my appointment with a sirloin steak and a bottle of rioja was cancelled today so that freed me up to take Ruby shoe shopping ahead of her christmas party next week. It was only mildly traumatic because I gave in quite early regarding the vertiginous height that heels were allowed to reach and thereafter it didn't take too long.

I also bumped into Neil, the owner of The Tyneside Tavern, who mentioned that the log fire had been ablaze since early this morning so I might need to take the whippet for a walk in a short while.