Silent Night .....

  It is here, anyway. Because, I've just finished tapping out an email to an old mate of mine.

 So, I'm sat here, with my slippers on. Dogs all flaked out around me. Door cracked open, allowing that constant, steady air flow to the stove. Keeps that Carbon Monoxide alarm happy ~ the Dogs and me alive.

 Then, I've felt it. Almost as much sensed it. A sensation like someone gently, yet steadily drawing a silken ribbon across the back of my ankle.

 Just momentary. But, it was enough. That was an air movement .....

Everything's gone into slow motion. Air movement? A door to the outside must have been opened, to allow that breath. Silently too. The Dogs hadn't heard or reacted to anything. These boys were good then .....

 I deliberately kept my eyes on the screen in front of me. Using my peripheral vision to watch the door. As my hand slid toward the pistol grip. One way or another, this was gonna be over in seconds.

 No good relying on my hearing. My Dogs are my ears. I gave myself up to Zanshin. That 'relaxed' state of awareness which allows one to perceive ones enemies in the surrounding environment .....

  And that's how I came to recognise Nigger .....

LMAO! As I'd sat, absorbed in watching my " Sopranos ", so Niggy had figured he was warm enough in his bed and had, gently and unobtrusively as he does most things in life, slipped in to lay quietly at my feet.

  On the cooler floor. In the dark. Black Dog. And the soft fucker had silently sighed ..... against the back of my ankle.

 For fuck sake ....! :D