I took a couple of magazines and a good book to read during the evenings in Nasu, but the burrs kept me so busy every day, I was busy grooming my sweeties the whole time we weren't in the dog run :P The seeds cling so persistently to the fur, I have to pick them out one by one, all the while admiring their myriad shapes and ingenious ways of being picked up and carried.
Went for a short trip to Nasu...at Pension Olive the size of the dogrun is amazing, a football pitch or more, and Nobu and Claire were ecstatic. The place is gorgeous, nature in abundance, everyone friendly, the dogs enjoying the freedom, truly beautiful area of Japan, only three and a half hours away on the motorway up north. Definitely heading there again sometime in spring.
Tosh took this scary picture of Nobu and Claire lazing on the couch :) On a different note, there's a new book out by Jessica Pierce, The Last Walk: Reflections on our pets at the end of their lives, reviewed in the Economist, which talks about pet euthanasia and looks quite interesting. Having experienced Sofie's passing, and the agonizing gut wrenching spasms and vomiting she suffered as her kidneys packed up, the seemingly endless nights up at each bout of wretching to stroke her and hold her up, the cleaning and washing, I was on the verge of taking the euthanasia option when she passed away naturally after about two weeks of her ordeal, which was a great relief to me. I'd hate to think I had somehow robbed her of something, taking a life, however humane, is a great weight of responsibility, and I'd hate to think it was a decision I made because I copped out and couldn't bear to support her through the excruciating and tiring process. It's Uni of Chicago Press, but I'll not buy it unless it's paperback...
