The
atmosphere was electric as a time-machine, intriguingly disguised as a
Mercedes people-carrier, mysteriously (not very mysteriously - the visit
had been arranged!) materialised in front of our house. The suspense grew
in the silence as we waited for life forms to emerge from this strange
machine. (Have I got a future as a sci-fi writer?) After what felt
like seconds (actually, it was only seconds) a foot emerged, and
placed itself firmly on the ground. Then another foot emerged, which
looked strangely similar to the first. Then another pair... then another
pair! John, partner Scott and sister Carol and arrived! Then dogs Major and Lewis
bounded out for a bit of a run-around with our Phoebe. (Which, adding
together all the feet then gathered, made the staggering total of 20!) John had managed to find time in his busy filming
schedule in nearby Cardiff - where the next series of both 'Dr Who'
and 'Torchwood' are in production - to drop in and make sure that
the sizes of life jackets he chose would fit perfectly. There's quite a difference in size between John's
two Cocker Spaniels. Perhaps surprisingly, 12 year old Major (a big
cocker) and two year old Lewis (a little cocker) were both best-suited to
our 'Medium' size life jacket (the 'Large' size also fitted
Major, but not quite so well). And then - at the slightest signal from their
leader, who spoke in an accent which came from a far-off land said something which sounded like: "OK,
let's go". At which instruction, the occupants, with no more
familiarity than handshakes, and hugs, and warm words, reboarded the time-machine and vanished.
They were gone; the adventure was over. Just one small trace of their
visit remained. Where the time-machine had stood could be seen a pool of
strange, glutinous, liquid. And it remains there to this day, never
fading, never drying, always a bit sticky; a permanent counterpoint to the
transience of time... I hope John gets the oil sump on his time-machine
fixed. If you too would like to bring your pooch for a
personal fitting before you buy you're very welcome. Please just email me
to arrange a convenient time. As Leslie Crowther (goodness me, all this
name-dropping!) used to say: "Come on down, the price is
right!" 
John
Barrowman!
Or is it Captain Jack Harkness?
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