The end of 2009 and the start of 2010 covered a range of emotions from extreme happiness to absolute despair. I will start  with a happy event in September. My son and daughter in law  had their (I hope) first child, a beautiful little boy, so naturally I was suffering from acute proud grandfather syndrome.

This is the first real winter we have had since we came to South Petherton. Both the multi fuel stoves have been earning their keep certainly for January and February. The garden thermometer went down to -10 and then came the snow. We were fortunate that we did not have as much as some places but then apart from the main street in the village their was little sign of gritting anywhere else so the roads became very slippery.

I have heard reports that some people are disappointed I am not a star on the website. You should appreciate that us retired drug sniffer dogs need to keep a low profile. As you all probaby know when I left the police force after a series of unsuccessful placements I landed up at the RSPCA West Hatch centre. Although they were very kind to me it's not really the right place for free spirites like myself. Fortunately I was rescued by David & Maureen and went to live in Cheshunt.