Interlude: Our Oldest Companion

Neolithic dog from Avebury (at the museum)

"Our Oldest Companion...this is perhaps the earliest

indication of the British obsession with dogs...." Obession.

Indeed. I wasn't going to say anything. In three months on

this island, on every footpath, trail, track, up and down Ben

Nevis and Snowdon, on the beaches, at the landing grounds,

in the fields, in the villages...everywhere, we have seen

Brits walking their dogs. Most often there appear to be a

couple dogs per family, but, often, we have seen a single

person walking three or even four dogs. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The dogs themselves are exceptionally well-

behaved, if perhaps a bit aloof. Well, they

are British. Their owners are a bit less well-

behaved, sometimes foregoing the injunction

to keep their pets on leads, and, less

charmingly, to pick up their pets' droppings.

The south part of the island is subsiding into

the sea, and I strongly suspect the reason

is not the movement of tectonic plates, but

other movements....

I rest my case