Well, I hope I've got everything I thought, mentally checking off the contents of the cardboard box as I carried it towards the car, looking down to avoid the sun in my eyes. Paints, brushes, water - I'll give Katy a run on the beach first, then settle down to some painting, it'll be lovely down at Chad.

As I approached the car in the Hotel carpark, I noticed a long thin piece of blue packing tape trailing down from the bottom of the rear passenger door. Must have fallen out and got trapped when I put Katy on the backseat - still don't know where that came from.

I went round to the back of the car, to the other rear door and put the box down on the ground to open the door.

Gosh! Look at all the dog hairs on the back seat now, I hadn't realised that Katy was moulting - that's another job now before anyone can sit on it. Oh! And two tins of cat food on the seat too. Someone must have left them there. Maybe for the dogs - perhaps their cat doesn't like Whiskas, wonder who it was. Funny how people leave things for you in your car here - couldn't do that on the Mainland, everyone has to lock their car doors there.

Well, I see Katy has jumped into the front seat whilst I've been gone - more dog hairs. I lifted the box up and put it onto the back seat.

"Get in there you naughty dog, go on, get in the back!" I said as I straightened the box without looking up.

I turned to look at the dog in the front and was met by an expression of utter bewilderment. The black and white collie looked broader in the face and had a thicker coat all of a sudden - then the penny dropped! I hastily took the box off the back seat and slammed the door shut quickly. Stepping back I gazed at the car - Martin's car. Then I looked around guiltily to see if anyone had noticed me `breaking in', and before anyone did appear, turning around to face the next green car, mine! There was Katy, still on the back seat, gazing thoughtfully at me through the window, a silent witness to my odd behaviour.

Well, I reasoned, as I drove past The Herbals, same dark upholstery, same breed of dog, same coloured car - well, almost.

The dog in Martin's car was Ken and Barbara's dog, in Martin's care whilst they were away ski-ing. The cat food was for Mum's cat, also in Martin's care whilst they were away.