Turtle doves, due to the strong pair bond they form, have been seen since ancient times as a symbol of devoted love as, indeed were dogs, of which we have two. (Do you see how this works yet?)
Oscar and Raffles have had a bit of mixed year. On arriving in Hong Kong they were initially pretty ill, picking up every new virus going. Poor old Oscar contracted Salmonella from his Australian raw food (we think) just before Christmas last year and had to take antibiotics for a whole month, which made him quite suspicious of eating. He was becoming very thin and I was fretting about him when, by chance (as much as is ever by chance in these days of data collection) the profile of Dogsday food popped up on Instagram.
Although it’s not raw, the food is sourced from high quality suppliers and cooked gently sous vide here on Lantau. Each of our dogs receives customised daily food portions, and we just open the packets and add the bonemeal and cold-pressed oil supplements (it’s now sunflower oil as hemp oil is no longer allowed in Hong Kong.) I’m pleased to say that both dogs have thrived on it and seem happy and settled. So much so that we’ve had to reduce their rations to stop them over-thriving.
We finally had to have Oscar castrated in September to address his issues of bleeding from prostate cysts. It was upsetting to have to interfere with him to this degree but the operation uncovered a benign testicular tumour which might have been an underlying cause of his prostate issues. Oscar has had another lease of life and has become even more puppyish in his demeanour, though there are signs of some stiffness and muscle wastage in his rear right paw. Inevitably our two old geezers are slowing down and feeling their age, though they’re still up for long hikes up the mountain each weekend.
As for that other pair, James and Eliza, James has moved to Canada, initially on a two year international experience visa and is training to be a personal financial adviser there. As you might imagine, I have mixed feelings at this, to say the least, especially now that Eliza seems determined to stay in Scotland after the end of her degree.
With things the way they are in Brexit Britain, I really can’t blame them, but I am bruised by the whole thing. They see no future for them in London. I take comfort from the fact that at least they’ll both be making lives in civilised countries from now on.
Finally, here is my newish pair of Bose Soundsport earphones, which have performed reliably for me at the gym and when I’m catching up with The Archers. They’re a bit bassy, which can make Bach a new listening experience, but I’m really pleased with them.
