An early morning fright.

An audible intake of breath by 'the font' had me hurtling down the stairs to see what the matter was. For one horrible, horrible moment it looked as though Wilf had managed to have an argument with a chain saw or another dog. The white of his coat was stained deep glistening crimson , he seemed to be covered in large red wounds all the way along the back and sides, and his muzzle looked as though it had been seriously gashed. How on earth could it have happened ?

Then a quick check - the large red wounds weren't wounds at all - they were very ripe, very sweet, very squashed cherries. Overnight there had been a strong breeze from the mountains that had shaken a rich , ground shrouding cover of dark purple fruits from the trees. Wilf , being Wilf, had gone out into the cherry orchard on his pre-breakfast ramble , grazed unconcernedly on the cherries ( hence the bright red muzzle ), rolled playfully on his back and then fallen into a deep ,oblivious to everything, sleep. End result he came into the house luxuriantly soaked in cherry juice and looking as if he'd been on the receiving end of something unspeakable. As he was dumped unceremoniously in the bath by 'the font' he gave me one of his " I didn't mean to do anything wrong " looks.

After a vigorous scrubbing and a post bath rice cake he is now recovering from his watery ordeal in the shade of the courtyard trees. The crimson dog has returned to his natural snow white state remarkably quickly. There's never a dull moment with Wilf. We now await the longer term gastric effects of his cherry eating. These should become evident round about lunchtime.

Who's ever heard of dogs eating cherries ? Mental note to add to the list of things to do - fence off and gate the cherry orchard.