2 January - Terriers & Woods

A rather unique new year. I could get used to the countryside especially if it contains a superb house as featured in Country Life and its own mini lake and forest, caves and follies, with undertones of Lord of the Rings. And a host who provided everything for our comfort including nice friends to talk to.
NYE Day passed well but on our last walk at dusk, we had the not very bright idea to take with our group the two white Maltese terriers belonging to one of the guests. In fact one was hers and the other one the dog’s even tinier friend. Easy nowto see the error of our ways in taking for a walk without a leash two apartment mini dogs. I went ahead with the woman’s partner and left the group behind. When we returned, it was a classic ‘Is Cleo with you?’ ‘Er, no, we thought she was with you.’ Panic.
Two hours later and many utter darkness (but with torches) circuits of the woods and lake had not sighted Cleo. Who had either fallen down a rabbit hole or been spirited away by the foxes. I got over any fear of the dark and weird noises for sure, but felt sorry for our host couple who understandably had been looking forward to a relaxing evening once all the guests had departed.
We had to leave eventually and in the car thanked our lucky stars a) we had no dogs and b) it was a dog not a child that had gone missing. At 10pm a text came through that Cleo had been found cowering by some distant neighbours house. Poor little traumatised mite. She may start barking badly next time she sees the car heading out of Kensington. Am beginning to see the sense in all those stupid dog bags that celebs tote around.