Reason to be happy, No. 1...

Tuesdsay, despite being the horrible let's-return-to-work day after the Christmas break (and my, doesn't that seem a million years ago!) was perhaps one of my favourite days ever! Not only did my return to work not seem quite as bad as it could have been (I woke up on time, the heating was on in the office) but I got to leave before I normally would (always a bonus) and Gav and I collected our newest McBarnson, the delightful Pepper.

Pepper has already delighted me totally and the pair of us are a little smitten. Gav is quite disgusted by the whole thing and perhaps a little bit put out that despite our love affair he is the one doing the morning walk and the final trip outside before bed.

Her first trip home is probably where it all began. Gav chaufeured us home with her whining and cuddling into me. It was exactly what 10-year-old Anne would have loved, so of course I had to snuggle her all the way home and whispered sweet nothings into her ear to calm her down. Things haven't gotten much better since. Me and my shadow are very happy together, particularly since she discovered today that going up and down the stairs is actually quite good fun and that at the top (or bottom) there are usually a handful of treats waiting to ensure her continued devotion to me.

We've actually been very lucky, Pepper had been in a home before she was put up for adoption, and so far we've had none of the problems we had anticipated with accepting a new dog into our homes. She's a pleasure in the house, walks quite nicely on the lead, and doesn't beg. If all goes well, we will train her to sit on the bed, howl if we sleep past 7am and refuse any food that isn't marinated in meat juices and served with cheese. She doesn't seem to play with any of the toys we wasted money on, but is convinced the huskies on the TV are living in the Sky box just underneath it (isn't she clever!). I am looking forward to growing out her eyebrows and taking her to the groomers to discover how to clear the brown beard that I suspect may be a permanent feature (she will be better groomed than Gav and I ever hope to be!). It's all good.

I can't wait for you all to meet her. I may be biased, but isn't she just beautiful?