Dear Jess.

You’re right. My life in the city is so much different than yours. You have taught me so much. I know it’s not polite of talk of age, but you are so much more mature then me. It’s not just age though, it’s your vast country experience.

I’m sure this seems like a small thing to you, but it is one of the moments I’ll never forget. Jess, in the city it is not cool to get your feet wet – I step around puddles when out walking with my family and it’s seen by them as cute.

So when I first visited your place and you ‘swam’ across the river to get to the hay paddock, I was shocked. What were you thinking? The Gator looked a better option for me, dry and safe. But you looked like you were having so much fun I just had to jump in and after the initial shock I realised I had to do that ‘dog paddle’ I’d heard about.

Honestly Jess, the look on your dad’s face – for a split second there I thought he was coming in too. I thought it was the Gator spluttering but I think it was him. I suspect he’d been told I don’t like water, or was it the fear of having to give me ‘the kiss of life’ should I get into trouble? Let’s face it, Boston terriers don’t have the most attractive look… but when I think about it, it was more likely the horror of having to tell Philippe something happened to me on his watch.

I still do the water avoidance thing in town. Why change the habit of my short life time? And I know my secret is safe with you – they don’t need to know. As the saying goes, what happens on camp, stays on camp.