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Hello, Elle!
No snow here, so far!
The dog's owner does sound pretty genuine but the dog I would not be sure about.
You would need to know it's history.
I have finished my puzzle.
Not a hard one, although there is a mineral in it that is new to me but very gettable with the clue.
My son won't call this evening, but tomorrow evening.
He and family are visiting his father-in-law this evening as it is his birthday.

Elle, I think I am going to disagree with you!
As much as I love dogs, (I have always had a dog until recently),
I am afraid that, knowing that this big dog has already a history
of attacking other dogs, I would have him put down.
OK the owner is nice and responsible, and yes it is a terrible
thing to do, but if it is true that this is not his first 'offense', then
I would not trust it anymore - particularly in view of his size and
strength!
Just think if your dog had been seriously/dangerously injured ! How would you think about it all ? The owner paying for any bill from
the vet would not bring your dog back should he die of her injury?

Hi pigale
Absolutely agree- they seem to be very large animals.
If the charity where he got the dog knew it had several owners, which seems likely, and knew it had attacked other dogs, then I think they had the responsibility to deal with this and not pass the problem on to another owner. Might you be feeling differently, elle, had your dog not had her coat on this morning?
I know we are not going to agree, but it's still interesting. One day with my 2 year old son in the park, a large dog came bounding up to him. I lifted him up - not because he was frightened, I can't remember, but because I was and wanted to keep him from harm. I am no judge if a dog is friendly or not and I wasn't going to wait to find out! The owner gave me a round telling off for my action, making my son afraid of dogs. "And good thing, too" I hope I said. The funny side is, he loves them and has a rescue dog himself!

I thought then, and still do, that one should be able to walk in public parks unmolested!!

Hi, Rusty!
Yes, that is my point...without knowing the dog's history, I would not judge...and much can be done with training......muzzling and keeping on the lead in the meantime.
For instance, we have a dog in the park who has bitten both dogs and people.
So now she is always muzzled.....but she is learning...and will now come and sit and be stroked.
I think each case needs to be judged on its own merits?
Younger daughter has just phoned on her way home from work.
She says they had snow for a little while, too.
You will miss your son's visit this evening......but then it will be something to which to look forward tomorrow!


Hallo, Pigale!
We shall agree to differ...I could not make a hard and fast rule...feeling that the decision should rest on the individual circumstance, and, of course, what effectively might be done about it?

Hello, Elle!
It would be interesting to hear what the five previous owners have to say about the dog.
Seems a lot of owners to me.
Does not sound encouraging.
Yes, my son will be here tomorrow.
I am half reading a book and half watching the golf.
No snow though.
It is still in Aberdeen!

Hi, Rusty!
I finished the crossword......
Yes, totally finished it! Parsing and all!
What a relief after my troubles of yesterday.
I had to look up "Ska" though......that was a new word to me.
I did not know it was a forerunner of reggae?
Mr R was kind to throw in "sporran" for you!
There were some good clues.
The Sholach Christmas Trees company looked to be doing good business when I was up there this afternoon.
They are quite small trees though.

Hello, Elle!
That's splendid you have solved and parsed your puzzle!
I knew "ska" was a kind of music, but had no idea where or what kind.
I liked 1a!
I would think Sholach will sell big trees, too.
Pine Cone certainly have trees in various sizes, and different varieties of tree.
I am pleased for Sholach, though.
It's a long way from Blair to London!

Hi, Rusty!
Sholach have advertised their trees as being Nordmann Fir and Norway Spruce
This means nothing to me?
A tree is a tree!
But all the trees shown on display were 5ft or under.
But maybe bigger ones could be brought from elsewhere?
Now when I was browsing Amazon for books, I came across the autobiography of Joanna Rowsell Shand - called "Full Circle".
I know that she is someone whom you like.
I think of an "auto /biography" as the story of one's (entire) life- time.
Isn't she very young though to be writing her autobiography?
Have you read it?

Hello, Elle!
The Sholach varieties are the most popular in the UK.
At Pine Cone they sell them, plus the Fraser fir, which is the most popular tree in USA, and is often seen in the White House.
Pine Cone sell Christmas trees up to 17/18 feet tall.
I would imagine Sholach may, too?
But, I am only guessing about Sholach, I have seen the Pine Cone trees....regularly!
In town, our tree comes from Norway each year.
I think it has to do with the friendships with the Norwegian Navy ships who docked here during the last war.
Yes, I like Jo Rowsell!
Jo has retired now, so that may explain the book.
But, I think many sports folk have "biographies" at Jo's age.
Nothing at all unusual in that, I don't think.
I have not read it, no.
I read Nicole Cook's book, though, and that was very good.
So was Victoria Pendleton's.
Not sure if Trotty has a book!

Hi, Rusty!
Goodness, I wonder to whom such tall trees - as 17/18 ft - are sold?
Most domestic residences would not have such high ceilings?
Maybe a shopping mall?
Or outside in a city/ town/village square?
I am intrigued now by the Sholach premises...there is a smallish hut in which the trees appear to be stored in a standing position, which is why I said that they only seemed to be selling smallish trees!
I shall enquire........
Yes, the tree in Trafalgar Square always comes from Norway, too!
Looking further at the blurb about Jo Shand's book...I think she also wanted to emphasise that she did not allow the alopecia to affect her life and career.
Maybe another reason - to encourage others - for an autobiography to be written so young?