I laughed as I walked into the flat.

Balloons filled the ceiling in the lounge and the hallway.

A “Happy Birthday” banner stretched across the hallway.

A “Dog” balloon hung from the window in the kitchen.

On the dining room table were the presents.

I added my solitary one to the pile.

The next evening was the ‘party’.

He had bought minced meat that morning. Not the crap stuff – the minced steak.

He moulded it into a round and carefully placed small dog biscuits round the side. There were three colours so they had to be arranged one colour after another. On top went a candle in the shape of a four.

The presents were opened and included a special activity toy where you hide treats and get the dog to do things to get the treat. Like an activity toy for babies. But, to him, he is a baby. He’s his baby. And, of course, like any parent, his baby is very intelligent. The picture on the box shows a Border Collie, of course, not a Bearded Collie.

The cake went down very well although he could hardly wait until the candle was blown out to eat it. He eats ‘nicely’ but still managed to wolf it down in a few moments.

He is a very spoilt dog, as I often say.