Neighbours

Neighbours, tricky things really, especially when you know you are the top dog. In front of our rather comfortable Cortijo there is a somewhat basic barn that belongs to the local shepherd where he keeps his sheep. There to guard the sheep are three or four dogs. Most of the time they lie around the place looking forendly enough. When they go out for the day with the shepherd then Ella and I have a chance to check out their territory and see if there are any tasty morsels left unwanted. Many are the large ham bones we bring back from such raids. But neighbours can often be on the look out for what they can grab that is yours.

When it comes to guests at Cortijo Opaze, well, it is my job primarily, and Ella's in a secondary capacity, to see they are having a good time. Ella does the cute bit such as asking them to throw sticks and rolling her eyes whilst I keep them happy with stimulating conversation. Our recent guests, however, seem to have looked elsewhere for their canine capers. Barbara and Roger, here for the second time, have been know to sneak down to the shepherd's barn by the cover of dusk and talk to the shepherd's dogs. They have even been seen having their photos taken with them. The main culprit seems to be a certain Tula, featured in the photograph. Admittetdly, she is pleasnt enough and hasn't a malicious whisker on her but I can't help feeling she is undermining us in some way. I will have to keep up my guard and double my efforts to appear the centre of affection for future guests.

Barbara and Roger, though, had a good week here and they are certainly very kind people. I guess they may have enough kindness to go around for all of us canines here at Cortijo Opazo. I look forward to chatting with them again next year.

Yours, over looking the sheep shed,

Fergus.