What are we like?

We must be the most unromantic couple ever! We've had a week of quiet celebration. Last Thursday was our 37th wedding anniversary. On the Wednesday I asked Mike what tomorrow would be. His reply was that it would be Thursday, so I thought he must have forgotten.

On Thursday we visited a friend. Neither of us had remembered up to then. She must have said something that sparked a thought, so I wished Mike a Happy Anniversary. He immediately looked at his watch to see what the date was. Oh well, it doesn't mean that we don't care, just that we had more important things to think of.

Monday was his 70th birthday. On Sunday he asked me if we really had to go out somewhere. I hadn't made any arrangements, so said not if he didn't want to. He wasn't feeling too well that day, which explained why he didn't want to go out, but he was better next day, so we just ended up going for a quiet lunch at the pub (The Bear in Wool). It was very nice and I didn't have to cook. He wouldn't have wanted a big party anyway, but I felt it should have been more than it was.

Responsible dog ownership

As most of my friends know, I'm passionate about dogs. Sometimes though, it's possible to come across one who does not behave as it should. Usually it's not the dog's fault, as it hasn't learned some of the lessons it needs to learn about living alongside humans. Gizmo and I met such a dog the other day, and poor Gizmo came off the worst, with cuts around his ear, bruising around his neck, and a cut in his mouth. It could have been worse of course.

I'd just like to say to all those dog owners who let their dogs loose off the leads, which is not a bad thing of course where suitable, that if they know their dog could be aggressive, please keep them on the lead, and muzzle them. Everyone would be a lot safer then.

Autumn

One of the good things about this time of year is the colours we see around us. This Virginia creeper covers a wall at Stinsford, near Dorchester. We went there recently to visit the grave where Thomas Hardy's heart was placed. The rest of him was cremated and placed in Poets' Corner at Westminster Abbey.

The village of Stinsford was Melstock in his novels. It's an interesting and pretty area.

As for our situation, Mike is continuing to make good progress after his spinal surgery, and all professionals we come across say how lucky he's been. Don't we know it?! He now looks the picture of health.