OK, well maybe not such a drama. We noticed a lesion on the side of the big big dog's toe. It seemed worse after his walk last night, but he wasn't limping or in pain. But this morning, it was red and bulging. So off to the vet.
I felt very anxious about him having surgery, but he won't sit still for them to poke about in it. The vet is concerned that it could be a mast cell tumour. Boxer dogs get this horrid tumour. He has previously had a histiocytoma removed from his foreleg. This lump looks like a foreign body reaction, something like grass seed for example, which should start to heal itself. The lump has not been removed, because the surgery would be too invasive for his paw. Samples have been taken for pathology, and if it is something nasty, well, then more surgery will be required. 
But for now, he is home, happy, if a bit sleepy. He has a super red bandage on his paw, and the lesion has been drained and dressed. He doesn't appear to be in any pain, thankfully.
It was interesting to see the little big dog's response, both to Brin being away for the day, and on his return, a bit woozy still from the anaesthetic. Dogs certainly are very perceptive. Neither dog has eaten anything since yesterday morning.
And in other news, drama, too at the bird feeder. We heard the most almighty rumpus and saw a buzzard wrestling a young bird under the bird feeder. We didn't want to intervene, but the buzzard flew off and so did its prey. Desperate times or just opportunistic? Then, some time later we noticed a fledgling greater spotted woodpecker with a broken wing. It was trying so hard to get to the bird feeder but no luck with that wing. I put some food into the tree and hoped for the best, but when we went out for our walk yesterday, the remains of a woodpecker were on the road. I'm sure it was the same bird; I wish I could have done more but they are such nervous birds that I couldn't get near it.
To round off a busy week, we haven't had much sleep either. A neighbour's intruder alarm going off in the middle of the night, and another neighbour's teenage son having an all night party. Still, at least it gave me an opportunity to say hello to another neighbour who we haven't seen in a while because of work commitments. When the alarm went off, we all rushed around in various states of undress; at least she had shoes on and a useful torch!
Mr B's few days off work are coming to an end. Some things have been achieved - the summer house has been sanded and painted and looks lovely. The lawn has been mown, the weeds treated on the patio and the driveway. The chicken palace has not been finished, mainly due to the inclement weather. Perhaps if the weather continues to improve over the weekend....