Thursday

It’s lovely that The Little Hooligan enjoys her walks so much. Especially in January when I emerge in five body layers, two pairs of socks and two pairs of gloves.

Today I also wear a neck warmer and a beanie hat.

Gr. points out that since I am dressed from head to foot in black except for my boots and have a thick black belt with pouches strung on it round my waist, it might not be such a good idea to be walking along saying, “Isis” too loudly.

Good point.

Isis came from the Aeza cat and dog rescue and adoption centre in Aljezur, Portugal. For information about adopting an animal from the centre, contact kerry@aeza.org or  www.dogwatchuk.com

Kerry told me that Isis is a brave little dog and she is. In the morning when the sun is bright and low in the sky she is terrified of walking into the stripes and I carry her around the most scary bend in the path.

The rest of the time she faces the dangers.

When the sun is low the wind is strong she cowers as she approaches trees and bushes.

“It won’t fall on you,” we tell her, although, of course, she can’t hear us.

Her body close to the ground, she creeps past them, staring up apprehensively.

She is afraid of the park lights. For weeks she refused to pass them. Now she watches them very carefully but braces herself and walks on.