THAT’S LIFE Any excuse for a celebration will help us get through the dog days of winter

Winter is truly here. It is dark when we get up and dark when we go to bed.

Outside it is freezing. But, like most of us, we muddle on. And this week we muddle on with a party.

Which does not need reporting. Because this celebration does not break the rules.

This is a get-together that involves three of the four in our bubble.

My mother is not present. She is in her bungalow on the loch. But I am here, as is the chief and darling daughter.

You see, DD has been staying with us since the summer. And with her comes her Chinese fur ball baby.

More used to British breeds, we were originally suspicious of this exotic lion-faced creature.

How the Chow Chow has grown on us! She has won our hearts. And now this imperious ball of fluff has a big birthday.

Delilah is a year old. And to inject some joy into what seem like increasingly dour days we decide to mark it in style.

We rummage through the Christmas decoration box. To find that there are four crackers left over from the festive season.

We pull them and out fall paper hats and jokes. Then riddles are read. The headwear is donned.

Then we blow on plastic party whistles.

How old are we?! I agree, it is all very silly. Then, like most folk, we have been locked up for some time.

The Macnaughties need no urging to join in the fun. Running from human to human. Enjoying the spark in the room.

Tails are wagging. There is no shortage of excited barking.

Then comes the grand finale. DD has made a cake. Topping a large savoury biscuit with a sliver of pate and a slice of ham.

In the midst of this tasty concoction is a tiny candle. Which we light whilst we sing happy birthday.

The doggies are on tenterhooks. Watching and waiting. They can smell something good is about to come their way.

The candle is blown out. It is removed from the cake. And DD now prepares to divide the delicacy into three.

But there is a slight problem… Delilah rushes forward. She grabs the thing and stuffs it in her mouth.

Much to the dismay of the other two dogs.

As they say, never work with animals or children…

Casting my mind back a decade or six, a kid’s party was also fraught with danger.

There was always the child that cried because they got chided for not passing the parcel quickly enough.

Or there was the one that had a meltdown because they wanted the chocolate buttons from the face of the owl cake – and they got the feet instead.

But back to the doggie party. All we are trying to do is keep spirits up.

It is all very silly, but with things as they are, if you didn’t laugh you might cry.

Wherever you are and whatever you are doing, please stay safe…

WE DO WHAT WE CAN TO KEEP UP SPIRITS. WHEREVER YOU ARE AND WHATEVER YOU ARE DOING, PLEASE STAY SAFE

Chow Chow Delilah rocking her birthday hat.