Who Let The Dogs Out?

Dogs. Here's one of those subjects that highlights the huge gulf between practice and the theory of law in these parts. Did you know that dogs are always meant to be on a lead when out and about? You wouldn't think so, rather like you wouldn't think mobile phones are not meant to be used when driving, rather like you wouldn't think cars are not meant to be washed in the street, rather like you wouldn't think you are not meant to cross roads except via a crossing-point of some sort. All kinds of things. All kinds of not meant to be, but are.

Along Puerto Alcúdia's carretera this morning, I had to stop three times to let a dog trot across this main road. Three times, three dogs, short space of time and road. And not one of them raised a paw to thank me. Bloody ingrates. Can't be British dogs, that's for sure.

I had thought to mention one particular dog and one particular dog's owner, and one particular bar where this particular dog heads for as the particular owner is often to be found there lunchtime-ish. But I'd better not. Really nice dog, this particular dog. Seems to manage to get out and trek the kilometre or so to where he thinks he might find his particular owner. (Does a dog think? Probably not.) This particular really nice dog wouldn't look so cute following a collision with a fast-moving bumper.

I imagine I can mention the local colour from Eroski, as he must be well-known to the local plod, he and his doggy troupe. One afternoon at the Pointed Thing Roundabout, there was almost a major incident to which the unleashed kennels that follow him around were a contributory factor; in fact, they were the factor. They are really nice dogs, too. One hopes they continue to be.

Near me, there are two large hounds that belong to some German neighbours. They were out for their afternoon stroll, minus leads, then broke into a bound and attempted to lick me to death. I have nothing against dogs at all, though I would rather prefer to choose when and if I am to be the target of big-dog saliva.

Oh another thing, some big dogs and some not so big dogs are also meant to be muzzled. Has anyone here ever seen a dog muzzle?


And following up the big question posed on 29 March, Jamie at Foxes may have the answer, at least where the Chinese are concerned. Fruit machines. That's where they hang out. William, who is sort of from Twisters Bar and is Dutch, confirmed that in Holland this is also the case, and related the story of when the guilder moved to the euro and there were queues of Chinese filling fruit machines in Holland with guilders that may or may not have been declared. So now we know at least part of the answer.


QUIZ
Yesterday - "Jumping Jack Flash", Rolling Stones. One of those very strange coincidences. Yesterday, I posted the blog entry and then got Johnnie Walker on Radio 2. Know what record was playing? Damn strange stuff, I tell you. Today's title - where's this from?

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