New posting days: Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.

Monday

Isis is doing very well. Four days now since the last serious rage spin.

In the small hours of Sunday morning I feel Isis bedding herself down. She has come upstairs much earlier than usual, perhaps because the temperature has dropped during the night. She does the usual canine flattening of the savannah grass and ends up snuggled tightly against my chest. Very sweet. She has not done this before. When she first took to human beds she made sure to leave a space all around her. More recently she has allowed herself to lean against my legs, but now we’re being very matey.

We enjoy a  long walk in Highbury Park, investigating mammal trails, seeking out the squelchiest mud, ducking when we hear raucous crows calling and, as always, ignoring all the friendly wet noses sniffing her face.

At three, Jo. arrives and Isis settles happily with us in the front room. Unfortunately, she has had a good nap and is ready for play again. She snatches a cardboard box from a chair and shreds it on the mat. A nice, quiet activity. No problem. Then she lifts the metal rim from the waste paper bin and drops it with a clank on the floor. Next, I feel something fall across my shoulder. She has picked up the six foot strip of draught excluder – which has taken root leaning against the wall while waiting for me to fix it – and has dropped it on the rug for further investigation.

She strongly resists my attempts at retrieving it.

All very entertaining but rather distracting as Jo. and I are working on the use of semi-colons.

I coax her to follow me into the back room, lay down a quick trail of treats, leave her the remains of the box to tear up, and shut the door. What a con-woman.

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