Tuesday 6th Feburary

Yesterday we took Lucy to be washed and clipped in Pickering and what struck me was how a small town grows up through the centuries. Pickering church sits on a hill, surrounded by a small graveyard and cottages which have been cut into the hill so that you can enter them through the first floor.  Well the dog grooming room is a small room off one of the cottages, it juts out into the graveyard.  There is an intimacy between church, cottages and the land which unites them, a melding of time, the graves jostling untidily - must take photographs! 

The room was small, a central table, sink for washing in the corner and a couple of cages in another corner.  Four dogs greeted me enthusiastically, a large chocolate poodle on the table wagging its tail furiously.  Two women brought order to this place, Ria was the person I had been in  touch with.  After dropping Lucy there we went for something to eat at Kirkby at the George and Dragon, Paul had his usual calamari and I had a paninis - a word I can never say much to the amusement of everyone, with  some french fries and salad.

The George and Dragon is to the far right with the carriage entrance.

Here she is her coat soft and silky, fast asleep on the sofa...She is getting very plump, though I ration her food, but I think tidbits are to blame and the fact that she is not the greatest walker on this earth.  I must catch her in movement when she has a mad moment or two...