On the mend.

The patient is on the mend. Although Wilfs tongue is still numb from the caterpillar toxins his appetite is definitely returning. He had a bowl of lukewarm porridge this morning and managed to eat it all - it was a long, slow arduous process - but he finished every last bit . Drinking proves to be more difficult so the syringe system for getting water into him will need to be used for a few more days. Grooming, as you can see from this mornings photos, has not been a priority.

'The font' has arranged for 3 sets of tree surgeons to come today to quote on cutting down the infected pine trees in the garden and to remove and burn the caterpillar nests. The initial response from the specialists was 'we'll come some time next week', but when they heard Wilfs story they all agreed to change their schedules and come earlier. Kindness is a feature of life that is still very much alive. Protective clothing is needed to deal with the little critters so it remains to be seen how keen any of them are to take the job.

The ramshackle old farmhouse that is now our home was built about 300 years ago and still has the original clay floor tiles. The bottom photo shows one of the endearing features of the place - dog paw prints, of which there must be forty or fifty scattered randomly about . When the still wet tiles were being laid out in rows, ready for the kiln, the farm dogs curiousity must have got the better of him and led him on a circuit of exploration. In his wake he left a trail of muddy paw prints in the soft tiles that have survived until today. I wonder what sort of dog it was and what the farmers reaction was when he discovered what had happened ? For those of us with sick animals there is something rather comforting about an unknown old dogs naughty presence staying on as part of the natural fabric of the house long after he's moved on.