Fate

 I had pain in my ear and down my jaw all yesterday. Last night the pain was suddenly  so severe I rang out of hours and by mid evening I was collecting antibiotics and painkillers for a suspected tooth abscess 

I went to bed early and woke up feeling as though Shelley Winters had sat on my head all night

I took more antibiotics and painkillers and by ten was starting to feel a little more human but still quite nauseous 

I think fate wanted me to be home today for when I sat at the kitchen table looking at a cup of tea, I heard coughing from outside .

It was Albert  and he was being sick . 

His damaged leg stuck out at an odd angle and looked suddenly useless. 

He looked very unwell. 

I scooped him up and I cradled him on my knee ( something I have never done before) and we sat in the garden as the dogs sniffed at his black fur until they grew bored and dropped one by one to the floor.

Albert died soon after

As Roger gleefully got up and chased a bumble bee up and down the gravel path in the sun like a loon.