Well, I've been talking to the resident dog expert at work and it seems there are a few options in handling the dog situation:
(a) ignore it
(b) talk to it in a friendly voice but don't approach the fence
(c) actually meet it face to face with L. on its home ground when the neighbours are there
(d) befriend it and take it for walks - it is obviously bored silly!

At the moment I am doing a combination of (a) and (b) and encouraging L. to wave hello when it appears by the fence. Perhaps I'll work up my courage and graduate to (c) and then maybe even (d)! I've noticed that when I do talk to it, it stops in its tracks as if surprised and waits there, listening - so perhaps it is receptive on some level.

The devil's advocate has taken human form in our friendly local council inspector. He has decided, apparently on a mere whim, to play havoc with the drains on our driveway. The council had already approved pre-cast concrete pits for drainage along the driveway, but he is now insisting that they be pulled out and that fresh concrete be poured in-situ. He maintains that the pits will be stronger this way. He wants to be present at the pouring of the concrete - I'm wondering if we should arrange a pouring ceremony...? I can just see him, hard hat perched on his head, pulling smugly on his grey beard as the cement mixer churns its load into the ground. We are helpless in the face of this whimsical beaurocrat - our builder even went over his head to plead our case but was told to do as the inspector wants. Ever since we declined his suggestion to move the driveway over to save some of the trees earlier in the piece he's had it in for us. He's threatening to make us widen the driveway as well...

On a lighter note - we have had the pleasure of being sacked by our cleaners! Fortunately it has nothing to do with the state of our living quarters. However they have said in no uncertain terms that they won't put up with the umming and ahhhing and postponements we've put them through over the last two months - due to the builders' uncertain appearances and the ever-widening mudbath circling our house. "It is just too disruptive" they declared! So we have to say goodbye to the cheery husband and wife team for the moment. Maybe we can woo them back once the dust has settled...

Yesterday P. and I visited part of the Sydney Biennale exhibition at Whard 2/3, Walsh Bay. Here is a snap of a piece called 'The noise of light' - it consists of a huge chandelier that has been hooked up to ten generators. The generators are powered up every half hour and I was impressed by the practised pull the exhibition staffer performed to start them up while we were there. As she went around the circle, different sections of the chandelier lit up and the layers of noise built up - not to mention the petrol fumes. It brought a nostalgic tear to our eyes as we remembered the not-too-distant days of our lives with the generator...