Success!

‘Twas an eventful day, with two significant events for Archie.

The first was when a new dog walking friend arrived. She had met Maggie and her dad in the Hermitage this week, and happened to mention that she’d just moved to Edinburgh and would like to have a dog to walk, so Brian put her in touch with us. She’s had dogs - many dogs (over the years) - before, but has cats and budgies now. And you can’t take them for walkies.

She came to meet us, and Archie, who went through his tricks, and then she went with JR and Archie for a walk through the Hermitage, just to see that he’s pretty good off the lead there (as opposed to in the Meadows). She’s coming again on Sunday!

JR dropped the car in for a service in the morning and I went to pick it up later. As I passed the grocer’s I spotted FRESH peas. I was allowed to try one (I’ve been caught out before) and in fact they were picked locally last night. I bought a big bag. Archie and I shared them - he goes crazy for fresh peas.

JR went into town in the afternoon, and I decided to go back and get another bag of peas for Christine, as she always brings me peas. And then I decided to take Archie with me because last couple of times when seeing Dougal he hasn’t growled. And if I could keep him occupied with the occasional pea, perhaps it would be OK…

And it was OK! PHEW!! Mind you, wee Dougal is not as manic as he has been - he’s sort of grown up and calmed down now. So, fingers crossed, we can socialise a bit more with Christine, like the old days…