IT’S always a bit of an upheaval when you have a house guest coming to stay. The cleaning, the food preparation, airing the beds …

It was with much industry and anticipation that we readied ourselves last weekend for a visitor.

But don’t worry. We were not breaking Covid rules or bursting bubbles. Our son’s wee dug was coming for a sleepover.

The things you say as parents which transpire to have held not an ounce of veracity.

Was it only a year ago when our boy came clean on the existence of a puppy in our midst?

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Of course, at the time we piled on the parental words of warning.

“Puppies are cute, but dogs take a lot of looking after.”

“This is a big commitment – have you really thought this through?”

“It’s fine in lockdown when furlough means you have time to spend with the dog, but …”

“Well, don’t come running to us (an old parental favourite) when you need help looking after her.”

One year on and guess what?

Did we remind him of our warnings? Did we point out that he’d made his doggy bed and must lie in it? Did we say grandpuppy (give me strength, we’re going soft in the head!) was not welcome?

Of course not. Truth be told, we adore Skye.

So she arrived with her vanity case and enough food to feed Crufts.

The weather being clement, fortunately she didn’t bring her wardrobe. Always good to travel light. There were, however, various toys, a blanket and her master’s dressing gown – to sniff just in case she was missing him. Give me more strength.

There was one more essential accessory tucked away in her luggage … a ball. Boy, does she love to chase a ball. And what the reluctant grandpuppyparents learned was how much they loved to throw it for her. Out of duty, of course. Not fun at all.

After all that ball chasing, grandpuppy was understandably tired.

Not that she’d be allowed to slumber on the sofa.

Aye, right.

As for airing the bed in the spare room (ie kitchen floor) for her. Again, Grandpuppa wasn’t quite as strict as he’d set out to be.

(“No, she’s a dog for goodness sake. She can sleep on her blanket on the floor in the kitchen.”)

Hmmmm.

Grandpuppa: “OK, since she’s missing home, she can sleep next to our bed.”

Skye the Dug: “Methinks not. I have him wrapped around my little paw.”

Grandpuppa: “If she refuses to settle, she can sleep on the bed on her blanket. Just for tonight.”

Skye the Dug: “I knew he’d crack. As soft as Chappie. My plan is working.”

Grandpuppa: “How can such a wee dug take up so much room … zzzzzzzzzzz.”

Skye the Dug: “Result! Dead weight on legs has rendered him senseless. Now to burrow under the duvet cover. My mission is complete. Such dumb humans!”

Meanwhile, we have word that puppysitting might be required again this weekend.

Did we decline? Of course not.