Monday, December 1

After breakfast I set off to see Christine at the Village. I wanted to see if they had sold any of the DOP bags and jewellery, and if she needed me to top up the stock. Before I even got as far as the pond I found myself involved in a major plot twist!

As I walked along I suddenly felt something biting my trousers, and jumped. I looked down and saw the dog I may have decided to call Rose, who promptly jumped up and down while making pleased-to-see-you noises. I patted her and she started walking alongside me.

I understood immediately why I had not seen her for a week. She had one ear clipped and a rectangle on one side of her body shaved. Mary and Steve had had her vaccinated and sterilised, and then kept her for a week while she had to wear a trumpet to stop her infecting the wound from the sterilisation.

We got to the Village and had a minor stock-taking kerfuffle. I left the dog sleeping with Antonella and Christine and walked to Classic Mini Market to find Rose walking by my side thirty seconds later.

She got distracted by another dog and went off to do other things. I bought tomatoes and bananas and walked home alone.