Carrots and Sticks.

After years of having a dog, you know him. You know the meaning of his snuffs and grunts and barks. Every twitch of the ears is a question or statement, every wag of the tail is an exclamation.

-- Robert R. McCammon


This is Dougal, my parent's dog.

He's dafter than a box of frogs.

Today we went walking in Puck's Glen. He swam in mud, munched on things I'm glad he didn't roll in, and nearly took my legs from under me with a massive stick he dragged about.

But he looks like butter wouldn't melt, right? He's getting a carrot you see, for what, I'm not quite sure. He loves carrots, possibly even more than he loves sticks ... or me.

Right now though he's hiding in my room as I write my blip. Dad is playing a computer game, the sound is up very loud as his hearing is not what it was, and the beeping terrifies little Dougal. It was all I could do to stop him cowering in the garden, wimp!

Today is also my Mum and Dad's 36th Wedding Anniversary. When they first met they both really liked Gallagher & Lyle, and so without knowing it they bought each other the latest Gallagher & Lyle record and went to each other's respective flats to deliver the pressie, but found they weren't home because they were at the other one's flat doing the exact same thing. And the rest, as they say, is history. Last year they went to a reunion gig (for which there were no concessions as everyone, the man at the box office said, would qualify). This year they're not doing anything fancy, but we will go out for dinner tomorrow.

Also, it is World Autism Day today and April is World Autism Month. For one of my jobs, I work in partnership with Perth Autism Support delivering two year-round Youth Theatre projects for young people on the autistic spectrum at Horsecross, Perth. We believe we are the only Youth Theatre in Scotland to offer this specialised service. Why not head over to the PAS facebook page and like and share it to show your support and help us raise awareness?

Anyway, I best go, the dog wants some attention. He's trying to crawl under the bedsheets, and that ain't gonna happen ...

View Large