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Idiots, Dogs, and Plant Pots.


Jim knows how to make himself at home. He does have a dog bed of his own. Several, even. But given half a chance he much prefers to snuggle down in a soft pillow and duvet. Rosie is still enamoured of the knitted blanket.

While he's busy snoozing, I've been busy tweaking my YouTube site, improving video descriptions and creating a few Shorts, all with the aim of increasing viewing figures and subscription numbers. Maybe it's just a matter of persevering? I'm enjoying filming and video-making, anyway.


Rosie and Jim had a check-up at the vets last week, and were both given a clean bill of health. Jim weighs 10lbs. He's supposed to be a chihuahua. Erm, right.... A chihuahua crossed with a Jack Russell Terrier, we had supposed. This vet was unconvinced, reasoning that Jim's bigger than a Jack Russell, broader across the back, and with a noticeably wider head. Rosie is more dainty, and weighs 5.3lbs, which is still bigger than a chihuahua but easily smaller than a typical Jack Russell. They are from the same litter. The vet suggested one parent dog may well have been a Staffordshire Terrier, rather than the Jackie we were told. But who cares? They're both gorgeous dogs, great companions and bundles of fun, and that's all that matters.

We had a police officer here last night. She came to take a statement from Richard after he had been given racial abuse and threatened with being stabbed while at his place of work. The teenagers were caught on CCTV, which is now in police hands. I won't repeat the racists words - we've all heard it all before. These idiots are so ignorant that they were calling out insults about a different race from Richard's mix anyway! They can't even get that much right. But the bigotry, the blind hatred and malicious intent were real enough.

We now have a new roof! In my last post, I mentioned that the re-roofing was underway. Well, the job is now finished, the big clean-up is over, and my patio is crammed with plant pots once again. I'd had to move them all out of the way to make space for the scaffolding. Our dogs made a fine old game of woofing at the builders every time they clambered up or down their ladders outside our windows. The new roof looks good, and has a 25-year guarantee.

Last summer I bought a fatsia in a clearance sale for 50p. It was looking thoroughly miserable. It was limp and half-hanging out of its pot. The soil was desiccated. I guessed that all it needed was planting properly and a good watering. Now it's easily three times bigger, with lovely glossy leaves. I intend to plant it a the far end of the garden against the garden wall, after I've cleared out a tatty old rose which is well past its best. The fatsia will soften that dreary brick wall, and fill an awkward corner with lush tropical-seeming greenery.

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