Today, for the first time in eight months...

... I loaded the dishwasher and swept and mopped the kitchen floor without the assistance of a labrador's head in my way at all times.

... Linus used the back door to get in and out of the house, and was able to hang out in the back garden with Milo.

... I drove somewhere with quiet dogs in the back of the car.

... I left a bowl of food on the arm of the sofa while I fetched a drink of water.

... I got to sit on the back step with Cody under one arm and Milo under the other and everyone was quiet and peaceful.

Even so, it's a sad day.

OMG WTF Corner

Srsly, OMGWTF.

Bye Bye Woody

Woody is off to Sweden in the morning to his new family. Yes, he's been up on the Swedish rescue website for two weeks and they've managed to find him a nice, homechecked home where he'll be wanted. Good old Swedes.

I took him for his final walk up the dunes today, and met some people who gave the whole walk an air of unwanted symmetry. As I approached the car with the three dogs in tow and threw them in the boot, this young couple walked up, with a tiny black labrador puppy on a lead. The thing was really, really small - far too small to be out for a walk in the dunes, and probably not vaccinated. They had got it from a "rescue" centre in our vicinity (which also sells puppies. Way to be part of the problem, guys), and the bloke was already sick of it because they'd had it for a week and it cries at night and he wants it to shut up.

Oh yeah, and they were shocked, really shocked, when I told them there was a possibility that their dog could grow to be as big as Woody. "Oh no," the girl said, "they told us in C****n that he'd be miniature!"

So I imagine I'll be seeing their dog again in about eight months time when they accidentally on purpose fail to take it with them when they move house. Circle of life, eh? At least I'll know a little something about labradors next time.

Hey, here's a great plan!

Why don't I order in Chinese food, eat too much of it, get all grumpy from the additives, get a headache, then feel bloated from the salt, then sit up late watching a film I've seen a load of times before, and then go to bed and write about zombies attacking my housing estate!

A good night's sleep guaranteed, I'm sure you'll agree. What could possibly go wrong with this excellent plan?

All the animals are home

This is the best part of coming home from being abroad. All the animals are home safe. Except that Marvin Berry got sick in the kennels and had to go to the vet and get an antibiotic and they think he caught cat flu. We have no idea where he could have got such a thing from, given that he never goes outside, and none of our other cats are ill. Weird.

(Kev-lol has offered to nurse the kitten, but he is barely a kitten anymore. More like a gangly teenager now.)

I am in love with Barack Obama

From the NY Times:

As for the dog, he recognizes it’s a major issue, saying it has generated more interest on our Web site than anything. He says he has two criteria that may not be reconcilable: His older daughter, Malia, is allergic to dogs, so the dog has to be hypoallergenic; at the same time, “our preference would be to get a shelter dog, but obviously a lot of shelter dogs are mutts like me.”

Have you seen the new king of Bhutan?

Tell you what, I wouldn't mind having his face on my money, eh? Or something.

Is it just me?

Or did anyone else think this Onion article was a bit much?

Stealth Cat

I know you've already seen it, but seriously, I cried when I saw this. (From the laughing.)

One more favour to ask Murricanes

Please do not kill President Barack Obama. Please. That would be a bad thing to do.