Thursday, July 2

Local opinion has approached unanimity: snakes abound in the woods this year. We thought briefly that Shanti had got bitten again, and the vet had suggested that the second bite would probably prove fatal.

We have therefore reined her in. She mo longer has unfettered free access to the whole woods. We now do our best to keep her away from the rocks and the hills where snakes hide.

This has stopped her climbing, which she loves, and prevented us going over the jill to Riskutie.

She doesn’t appreciate the new rules and conducts a silent protest which takes the form of sitting down and looking around until we give up and go home.

Then she rises, grabs her lead, and carries back it to the house.