Well, that was the week that was; truely.

As you know we all went off to Shropshire last week and came back with my cousin Maple. On the way back it was all fine and dandy, then we goes over to Sywell for a ball of chalk, and it looks like we're all goin' to get along OK.

But then it all goes Pete Tong; Maple decide to 'ave a go at mum. Now, don't get me wrong 'coz 'avin a go definitley ain't the right thing to do, but you 'ave to look at it from Maple's point of view an' all. When she was livin' rough and 'ad to fend for 'erself she holed up in the trunk of a tree at night. 'Course, if she could get in so could foxes and badgers and gawd knows what else, so she 'ad to sort it out first and ask questions later. And that's kind of what happened when mum touched her when it got dark. She knows now it was wrong, but instinct just took over for a moment.

So then mum gets all wary of Maple, and Maple's all wary of mum, and we've got ourselves in a right pickle. Dad tries sorting it, but you know 'ow good most blokes are that sort of thing, and dad ain't even that good.

Anyway, mum spoke to Aunty Claire at White Lodge, and dad spoke to David and Sue, Maple's foster mum and dad. They said she hadn't done anything like that there, and Aunty Claire said she'd come and take a look when she was passin', which would be Wednesday.


Maple on the Sofa

So Wednesday comes, and so does Aunty Claire. All the lads are well pleased to see 'er and give 'er a proper Beastly Beasts welcome. By this time mums got 'erself in a right two and eight about Maple, even though she 'adn't done nothing else. Anyway, Aunty Claire 'as a butcher's round the house - which she liked - then turns her attention to Maple. Maple is still scared of people she don't know, but Aunty Claire is dead good with dogs, and was soon stroking her no problem. She sussed what the problem was and 'ad a chat with mum about it. I think mum felt better with someone she trusted that weren't involved like. But then, after Aunty Claire's gone, Maple, the dozy cow, only goes and growls at mum - only a little one mind, but not the best move when your future accomodation is being discussed!! This time it's 'coz dad is givin' 'er a cuddle - she latched on to 'im straight away - and thought mum was goin' to stop it!! Dad gave 'er a tellin' off, but mum weren't impressed I can tell you.


Maple in a Bed

Anyway, 'ere we are and it's the weekend, and Maple's still 'ere; and I think she might be stoppin'. So what's 'appened? Well, for a start she's got the message that mum and dad are the top dogs, and she's also apologised to mum by givin' 'er a kiss. And as mum's been the one feedin' us, Maple's realised that bein' nice to 'er is a pretty smart thing to do, and growlin' isn't. And she's also realised that although she might still be scared of the dark, if she's with us it ain't so bad, so instead of hidin' out the back she's chillin' with us in the evenings now.

And, just to to round the week off, Monty cut a pad on on 'is back foot on the walk last night, and Jack cut 'is leg and 'as got to 'ave stitches.

So yeah, that was the week that was; 'opefully one we won't be repeating any time soon. It was great to see Aunty Claire though, even if the reason wasn't all that good; and I know mum and dad are dead grateful to 'er for comin' round.

I'm off now to catch some rays as it's a nice day.

Speak soon,
Troy