NEW KID ON THE BLOCK

We`ve got a new neighbour.

Over the last weekend, the family next door brought home their Golden Retriever puppy, named Abby.

She will join an already hefty population of Retrievers in our village. Apart from our own Henry, there is Max, Merlin, Polly, Scrumpy, Elsa, Shane and Wilson - the last two being named after characters in `Shane` the cowboy film.

Henry is well over 8 years old now and has mercifully lived longer than any of our previous three goldies. Holly died from a brain tumour at 7, Botham was also 7 when he was run over by a learner driver whilst he was chasing a squirrel (Botham was doing the chasing, not the learner driver, who was absolved of any blame) and Rupert, also 7, died from pancreatic cancer.

So we hope Henry stays the course - he`s had his problems with a pericardial effusion and arthritis but seems well enough and receives excellent care from Dave Cocker, the vet.

I`m sure Abby will have an enjoyable time with all the others of her breed hereabouts and one thing`s for sure, next door will never be short of a dog-sitter when they might need one.