whit

Half term and the shiny playground is full of to-ing and fro-ing, up-ing and down-ing but bordered by tired parents sitting blankly on benches. We throw sticks on the newly dangerous hill. I glue myself down with my big walking boots.

new

Froth of cow parsley and may blossom yesterday, as Minnie and I walk round the park unassisted for the first time since March. There's a bowls match, kids coming home from school, new dogs and notices about an open day. And everywhere the bright new Spring, although a Mum tells her little daughter not to take her coat off - "It's like the antarctic."

just like a dog

As we hobbledy hob round the park, a man takes out his mobile phone and shows us a picture of his dog in bed with him and his wife. He says it looks just like Minnie but we can't tell as it's only about 2 millimetres high and the sun is shining.