Ike’s day out

Today being national Bring Your Dog To Work Day, I enlisted Ike our toy dog and took him off with me to sample the outside world. He is called Ike because we bought him in Ikea (I may have been drunk at the time; or maybe it is just Sweden syndrome I.e. coming home from IKEA with 57 items, none of which you needed or intended to buy - including three new colanders and a toy dog).

The Dizzle and I had a grand drive in; two men and a dog, what could be better. And the sun was shining. In Guildford the market traders gave me hearty greetings and the barista in Harris and Hoole very kindly asked me if I needed any water for my canine companion. I said he would prefer a soya latte thank you.

In the office Ike was very popular. One of the main aims of BYDTWD is to improve mental health in the workplace and in this he was very successful. One colleague dognapped him and come lunchtime had to be persuaded to share, which she did on the condition that he came in again soon.

One of the market traders saw me at lunchtime when I went out to get a sandwich. "’Ere you’re the bloke with the dog. Where is he?" I said that Ike was in a meeting which seemed to satisfy him.

After work in the pub he was fawned over by the bar staff and lapped it all up (the beer that is as well as the attention). He had his picture taken with the manager. I then walked to the restaurant to meet TSM and he garnered a lot of attention on the way from various people and their children, one woman saying that I had made their day. Blimey I thought. If a stuffed dog from Ikea can do that what can a real dog do? Crap all over the place I reminded myself, and decided to stick with Ike. He is exceptionally well house trained.

He skipped food. Dogs don’t like Thai. TSM and I ate his share and then bought him home. He was tired by then, poor fella. But he thoroughly enjoyed himself and will sleep well knowing he has made so many people happy today.