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Press, 4 March 1982, Page 25

Random reminder

THE ETERNAL TRIANGLE

An African dignitary has been quoted as saying the way to keep peace with the paupers, and prosperity with the prosperous, was to give them Coca-Cola and colour TV. No doubt there are some good shows on television; comedy, romance or hor-. ror, depending on your personal taste. Just as well we do not all share the same taste in everything or doughnuts would be as expensive as diamonds, and all men madly in love with my wife. This would be disastrous for me as I dearly love doughnuts. But not only humans are affected by TV programmes. Some weeks ago now, mid-winter it was, and sitting on the hearth rug in front of a log fire was a black and white bitch whose breeding was as mysterious as the film being shown on telly. It was a horror movie, and amid sinister shadows and gruesome groans came the eerie howling of a hound. The first howl and one trembling black ear was raised. The second and a. head came to life, its two black ears opened out the better to interpret the frightening call. More howls' and it became too much for the poor pooch to

take lying down. Hair raised it came and stood by its master. Nor was its normal placid state regained at the finish of the film. Before settling down for the night it refused to go out in the dark to do its business until accompanied; and returning to the porch it sped past its own cane bed, darting through to the living room. A conference was called, where it was decided to bring the dog’s bed from the back porch into the living room, just for the night. This done and the dog supposedly settled in, the good woman made her way to bed; the man of the house followihg via the bathroom. On entering the bedroom he was confronted by a prostrate dog on their bed, one big eye trustingly looking up at him; and his wife’s protective arm comforting this spoilt neurotic bitch. And so it was finally agreed that owing to the horror film leaving the animal in so sorry a state they would allow it to sleep on their bed, but definitely for that night only. Winter is gone, spring is here, and owing to typical canine cunning, the cane basket on the back porch has not been occupied since.