Surveillance Saturday

What is it about going on holiday? You go weeks with no calls then you're guaranteed at least one while you're several thousand miles away.

This time, being North America and us not having tri-band, we didn't pick up the message until driving up the M40 from Heathrow on Wednesday afternoon. A very nice lady called Carol had seen a black lab with a scar in (yes) Watermead Park last Saturday around 2pm. She said the scar was "at the top of its leg". He was with a man of retirement age who looked respectable, and the dog seemed healthy and happy. They were in a silver van of the Transit type, with windows on the sides.
So guess where we were yesterday 1.30-3.30pm, esconced in the Jeep with our little picnic, watching the main entrance and the car park where she'd seen him? But alas, no action.
Still it gets us a bit nearer - the publicity in that area was worth it, there is a black lab with a scar (although probably not in the right place), and hopefully sooner or later we can pin down its identity.

Meanwhile we had a message on the answering machine as we arrived home from Heathrow. Near Odstone, site of many of the Barton-area sightings, a lady who know all about Sky and is out and about a lot in that area (and know all the dogs) saw a mystery black labrador while we were away. As ever, it fled when approached and they weren't able to get close enough to see if there was a scar, and it was getting dark. But they thought that there was a collar (which would not fit for the nearest known 'wandering' black labs who come from a farm about 2 miles away). They then spent hours the next day trying to track the dog down with no luck - such fantastic help again from complete stranegrs! It is these calls from people who work outside and know all the local dogs that make us still wonder 'maybe, just maybe'. They will keep an eye out and keep us posted.

Then there was another call yesterday morning from south of Ashby de la Zouch. A black lab on its own seen wandering by the roadside. The lady's daughter said "there's a poster about a dog called Sky near my school" so they drove over there (miles) then called us. Tim set sail, but quite quickly was able to trace its owner at a house nearby (our technique of knocking on doors and talking to anyone in the street was again proven to be so much better than searching for the dog - wish we had know this from the beginning!).
So again, the system works - which is reassuring. And yet again, the helpfulness and generosity of the general public restores your faith in humanity.

John (Jasper's dad) if you're reading this can you mention the 2nd sighting to any dog owners walking around in Watermead please? Thanks.

Oh and yes, we had a brilliant time in Mexico sea kayaking around islands in the Sea of Cortez and whale watching on the Pacific coast. We're thinking of doing the same next year to hopefully get better sightings of the whales - they were close but the water was choppy and waves quite big. Tim did very well to not be sick! Top tip - Stugeron tablets. Physician heal thyself.