Thurs 16th August: My Inky

I took a chance on the typhoon not coming close enough to make too much fuss and called a sampan anyway.  At the time it was only a T1 and not looking too bad, but halfway across the Lamma Channel I got a message letting me know the number three signal had just gone up so I did a quick turnaround and headed straight back home.  That was my day really, and the rest of the time was spent working at my desk and checking that everything was ready for the night in case it was another big one.  This time I knew that the windows had to be taped closed (the catches don’t work) but other than that there wasn’t much to blow away as it had all disappeared last time round.  The worst thing for me about these weather situations is that I can’t concentrate on anything properly, and spend half my time checking the various weather sites and Facebook postings to see who’s got the best and latest information. Anyway it seems it’s all over now.

The dogs are always delighted to have me around and luckily I had a box of rawhide chews to share so they weren’t all bugging me for attention.  If I pat one there’s suddenly a crowd all wanting their turn, so I have to keep it quiet.  It was during a furtive body rub for Inky that I discovered a lump on her side, a hard and knobbly one stuck on the end of her ribs.  Inky is one of “my” dogs, rescued as a very young puppy from “Dog Island” in 2000, along with the rest of her litter.  She was supposed to find a home like the others did, but that didn’t happen and it’s been twelve years now.  My life has changed a lot during that time, not least the fact that until not that long ago we lived a normal kind of life with only four dogs; Inky, Holly, Midge and Goldie (the latter two no longer with me).  At her age Inky could be expected to be slowing down now, but that hasn’t happened and she’s still as keen to go for walks and play as she always was.  True her feet have spread and the muscle tone isn’t what it used to be, but other than that you would never guess Inky was twelve.  I hope the lump is nothing serious, maybe just an abscess like Sooty had or something minor that can just be cut out.  I know dogs can’t live for ever but there should be a few good years left for Inky, my very special girl.