GAY DOGS

SUNDAY 27th FEBRUARY

  It was quite a late night last night and I didn't get up until 10.00am.  Jeannette had left early to go to Penrith to join her parents in a mass for one of Juan's younger brothers who had died earlier in the week at the age of 47. I took Reilly for a walk and about half way round a smallish dog (about half of Reilly's size) appeared apparently unescorted by an owner.  The siddled up to each other sniffed their respective rear ends, and then before I knew it the other dog had mounted Reilly!  I rushed over and tried to get this offending animal off of Reilly.  Whilst I temporarily succeeded the pest followed us determinedly.  I looked around only to find Reilly lying on his back with the other dog standing over him.  Again I shooed him away, but not for long, for he was soon in the same position.  I decided it was time to head for home and called Reilly to heel, who obediently stuck close to me.  The other dog followed us all the way back to the garden gate.  I made sure he didn't slip through it, and closed it promptly in his face.  The worrying problem to resolve is, is Reilly gay?
He found my wounds an irresistable temptation to lick, and I had a job keeping him off me, until Jeanette applied her nursing skills and doused my elbow with Dettol and then applied a dressing to it.  (My knee already had a plaster on it that I had applied in Carligford).  Whilst it stung intially, I must say that it feels a lot better now.  Anyway I have currently dubbed Reilly "Gay Boy".

  Rob and I left after midday to go to Eastwood to look after Nick, whilst Jane went off to Arden School.  After being beaten 5-1 at indoor football, I indulged in a sword fight with Nick without either of us sustaining a serious injury.  We then took Nick to a basketball court to practise his skills, and spent an hour or so passing and shooting.  Then Robert went off for a rest and Nick suggested that he play me in a one on one game.  Within seconds of starting Nick and I got our legs tangled with the result that I went flying and crashed on the tarmac surface cutting my knee open as well as removing a large chunk of skin from my elbow.  I must admit I was a bit shaken up.  I retired to the bench as Rob and Nick carried on.  Then Rob joined me on the bench and Nick carried on practising.  When we got back to Carlingford, Robert realised he didn't have a front door key. and as a result we had to drive over to the school in Beecroft to drop Nick off and pick up some keys so that Robert could retreive his cigarettes.  We drove back to Oakhurst with self in a degree of pain.  Jeannette had cooked a fantastic fish dinner with roast potaoes, brussel sprouts, runner beans, with a really tasty lemon sauce.  All this washed down by a couple of bottles of excellent white wine.

  I got an e-mail from Bridie confirming that she had got the photos of Eastwood and seemed reasonably upbeat about the location, but had yet to speak to Angela about it. After dinner I managed to raise Jim and we had a long chat.  The upshot is that he still can't make up his mind what to do.  I also spoke to Alan and apprised him of the fact that I wanted him to get the travel book on South America off of Jim and give it to Angela so that she could bring it out to me (insurance in case Jim fails to join me on the South American leg of the World trip).  I do believe it is Dick's birthday today.  Happy Birthday Dick!