I have not been well enough for a few days to go out walking with T. I think he's sussed it as he's not sticking round for too long. Today's photo of Taillaut (and weed) is from out the window of my sick bed.

And today he was back around lunchtime: keeping guard from the sunlit bench at the front protecting the property from those noisy monsters: cars.

Yesterday T came into the warm to keep me company. I think he could tell I'm not well because he didn't bark at all. Just lay there quietly, sleeping or looking. He didn't stay long but I liked his company.

Here he is among the tulips. By the time I could take a break from work though, he was gone. I was sad.

So we had a fine old time on our walk. Taillaut chased birds: small and big, barking and bouncing all the time. And occasionally looked up to see which direction we were heading next...

Yesterday he came in and sat under the table for a bit. But he seems to prefer it outside. Here he is on the doorstep yesterday.

He's out there waiting now. So I'm off for a quick walk with him now...

Guess who's sitting under my kitchen table! Look who sneaked in as I was fetching firewood from the barn. It's freezing cold and snowing outside. He smells of cow barn and straw.

We did go for a walk yesterday and I swear we both smiled all the way round: it was the first day of spring and felt like it.

We saw cows and their calves, ever inquisitive bullocks, colts testing their dominance.

Lady H returned from Paris by train and T insisted on travelling the 17km to meet her at the station. He didn't much like the twists and turns in the road. But he was happy to see her and tried to sit in her lap on the way home.

I'd been back 5 days and no sign, so I was beginning to get worried. Especially as the weather was good so you usually see him out and about - even if he doesn't stop by. But here he is at last - waiting by the rubbish I put out earlier to take to the bins. I'm going for a quick walk with him now.

No sign of him yet today (it's raining) - and he didn't come by on Sunday which is normal. But he hung around all day on Saturday and we went for a fantastic long walk across the fields. He left me to join a hunt that we could hear from the end of the walk.

First day back and there he is at 10am on the doorstep. He had to wait till after lunch for a walk though as noone could get out of bed. Here is how he entertains himself:

chasing cars, very fast, biting at their wheels, barking furiously.