Ear Ear!

Out bright and early this morning for Archie's follow up vet visit about his ears. They're doing fine, though we've just got another dose to put in to make sure. The vet, as he stuck his light in each ear (Archie's, not his own - that would be silly) and Archie just stood there, uncomplaining, was very impressed. In fact, he said many times what a fine temperament he had. *proud parental glow*

The vet then checked his baby teeth. Archie was closely examining one on the kitchen floor the other day, but I haven't observed any others having fallen out. Seems there is a problem - they don't look like they're about to fall out, so the new ones are growing out in the wrong direction.

'Were you thinking of getting him neutered?'
'Well, er, yes, I think so...'
'Then we could do it at the same time, but it would need to be within a few weeks.'

We took the bus into town. The young lady beside us at the bus stop was prattling away on her mobile, and I suddenly heard her say, ‘Eek! There’s a dog licking my feet!’ She had a lot of bare skin showing in her little pumps. And yes, he was.

Archie can now hop on a bus all by himself, which is a great help. He doesn't mind buses, and doesn't get sick, although it's the same potholed Edinburgh roads and the buses fair hurtle along, not trying to avoid the holes, as we try to. And he can hop off by himself too ... though he must stop pushing past old ladies.

I went to get a new battery for my watch. As I was chatting to the chap, my foot on the lead, I suddenly realised that Archie had got out of his harness! I suspected he could, which isn't good. He looked a bit shocked himself at what he'd managed to do, when he wasn't even desperate!

We then went to a coffee shop where I forced a big scone down, while Archie watched in case any crumbs fell. They didn't. I pulled out a nice crisp (folded) £20 note from my emergency money stash pocket - only to have it handed back. It was a nice crisp 20 Dirhams (from the Moroccan holiday). I tried again. Another 20 Dirhams. Luckily I found another £5 in a secret emergency pocket.

Today across the Links it was still blowing a gale - hence another windswept and interesting shot, this time showing his lovely healthy pink ears - but Archie ran and ran and ran for miles, chasing seagulls. Just as we were leaving a big bounding black lab, Charlie, arrived, and they ran and ran some more. Always a bonus.

He's now asleep on my foot, an endearing little habit he's done since he was a tiny wee puppy. If I stroke him, he gives a wee squeaky blissful sigh, not unlike the one that slips out when I tear open an Almond Magnum packet and contemplate (for a nano-second) the extreme pleasure of eating it.