A wonderful quality of Ann is her ability to forgive. She can be mad as mad can be one minute, forgive you, then be as happy as Larry the next.

We used to have a rather dopey Labrador called Brutus. His nickname was Stupid, rightly so. As a part of his morning routine he would walk his well worn trail through Mum’s garden. Mum would see him through the kitchen window and yell at him “Out of the garden … aaargh!!!” He’d sheepishly walk out and give a sort of “sorry” look.

But then Mum would line his kennel with a warm blanket the next day. Which of course Brutus would tear apart and she’d give him the rounds of the table again. But then the next night, Mum would give him a big bone! Which he’d bury in the garden and the cycle would continue!