We're both inveterate book lovers, and always have been. When we were in our mid-teen years we would go to the library together to look for books. That, and walking together in parks. Of course there were times when we were in the company of others our age, going to social events, dances,movies, but being out in nature together and reading books really spoke to us. We don't necessarily have the same taste in books, but we often share them.

When we were first married, one of our few indulgences was to join a mail-in book-of-the-month club. That was when books were no more than $1 each, but sixty years ago a dollar went a long way. We hadn't much of an income to split between us, but books have always assumed a large role in our lives. Sometimes we refer books to one another. Sometimes we read brief passages of what we're reading to one another. My husband does this more than I do.

A short while ago he was reading an abridged version of Hakluyt's Voyages and Discoveries: the Principal Navigations, Voyages, Traffiques and Discoveries of the English Nation. So I decided to put it on my wait list and read it myself. Now I've got around to it, and it's quite fascinating. Some of the chapters more than others, but all of interest. Last night, for example, the XII chapter was a bit of an eye-opener. The introduction read:

"Ordinances for the direction of the intended voyage for Cathay, compiled and delivered by the right worshipful Sebastian Cabot Esquire, governor of the mystery and company of the Merchant Adventures for the discovery of regions, dominions, islands and places unknown, the 9th day of May, in the year of Our Lord God 1553."

And within that 'chapter', instructions of great merit to the attention of any and all who planned to ship out for such merchant adventures. As, for example: "No blaspheming of God, or detestable swearing be used in any ship, nor communication of ribaldry, filthy tales, or ungodly talk to be suffered in the company of any ship, neither dicing, carding, tabling nor other devilish games to be frequented, whereby ensueth not only poverty to the players, but also strife, variance, brawling, fighting and oftentimes murder to the utter destruction of the parties and provoking of God's most just wrath and sword of vengeance".

So ... there. And we thought, didn't we, that sailors of that era were a really rough lot...?

Our personal occupations are somewhat more modest. And Jackie and Jillie will simply not stand for any rude expressions of intolerance or hasty judgement, (from us, to be precise; they're free to behave as they will)  so we keep a sweet tongue in our mouths. As we did this morning when we set off for the ravine with the intention of bypassing both the afternoon heat and the potential of rainbursts yet again.

A much cooler day, as it happened -- well, the morning, in any event. When we left the house it was 22C, the sun was in and the sun was out, and a cooling breeze made the atmosphere quite pleasant. Our pups indulged in their usual explorations. And when we came abreast of some dogs unfamiliar to them, as twice we did, they behaved like ill-bred sailors, swaggering and leaving the impression that they were fairly tough customers.

Some small dogs are intimidated by this behaviour, and try to distance themselves. Larger dogs react with surprise. Invariably, they are all models of good behaviour. Ours are not. A reflection, we fear on us, since dogs so often take on the characteristics of their people.

The classical Napoleon complex viewed through the lens of this breed of toy poodles. Our two little friends failed to inherit the minuscule size of the breed, since they came out the size of miniature poodles, but without the laid-back attitude of the miniatures and instead displaying all of the bravado and provocative behaviours of the standoffish toys.