LAST MINUTE HALLOWEEN SHOPPING

This consisted of me driving the boys out to a distant shopping mall where they gazed longingly at animatronic skeletons they couldn't afford, then on to Tesco in the Village, where the staff had organised a Charity Lucky Dip.

Instead of the more customary sawdust, it was necessary to plunge one's paw up to the elbow into a bucket of vile slime to locate a plastic spider hiding at the bottom of the bucket – successful retrieval of which entitled one to a Mystery Hallowe'en Prize.

Afterwards Byron trotted off to the loo to wash his paws, but Wilson refused to accompany him. 

Given his loathing of soap and water, I dread to think how long his arms will be covered in the ghastly gloop...