Sophie features largely in the news this week which began while out on a walk across the fields to have a jolly good roll and plaster herself in – well for those readers of a delicate constitution I won't go into details. Sufficient to say that she was apprehended and marched home, with the words, disgraceful, unladylike etc ringing around her ears. Ladylike, Sophie certainly isn't! Now as everyone knows dogs idea of perfume is completely different from our, however, there are limits. Even Barney and Tizzy gave her a wide berth for a while.

Further gloom awaited Sophie when the postman delivered a letter to her ladyship; it was the summons from the dreaded VET to go for her annual booster. We duly went prepared for tantrums, Sophie behaved herself, she enjoys a ride in the car, even trotted purposefully across the car park at the surgery, sat waiting patiently taking an interest in everything going on around her, accepting the admiring comments gracefully. Sophie loves an audience that is until her name was called. She made for the door to beat a hasty retreat and a very reluctant Sophie made it in to see the vet. Being nosey is Sophie's downfall, depending upon which way one looks at it. She was hoisted onto the table, good vantage point for having a good nosey out of the window. She quite forgot to kick up a fuss. However, the vet's next words spelled doom for Sophie, he declared that madam is too FAT, or to put it more delicately, rather too portly. A diet was recommended, she had finally met her Waterloo .

We came back home, Barney and Tizzy both looked at Sophie as if to say “we know where you have been.” A plan of action was discussed. I am sure that Barney and Tizzy both thought, good all the more for us, wrong, won't hurt them to have a little less before they head the same way. It did cross my mind to look for a pair of natty Lycra shorts for Sophie and organise morning press ups, roll overs, no problem there, can't see Sophie co-operating somehow. Will report further developments.

Sunny days have been spent on the decking enjoying the sunshine, all three stretched out snoozing while I attend to their every whim as usual. The “crew” certainly have relaxing down to a fine art. Monday today and raining again. Tizzy and Barney have gone back to bed, not a peep out of them. Sophie is sat beside me looking thoroughly fed up, keeps sighing and looking at me as if it is somehow my fault, that and only half a biscuit for elevenses is almost too much. Yesterday she trotted after me, stopped and sat looking up as if to say “Mum you have forgotten the other half,” oh dear this isn't going to be easy for me either but I must be firm.

Well better go and liven everyone up. The “crew” all send woofs from the Land of Doggy Dreams , bye for now, Haven Lea secretary signing off.

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