When we left France, we needed to find a home for was Sushi Sam, Olivia’s goldfish. He ended up in a lovely place. In fact he ended up where I want to end up – in the Savoie. I don’t want to live in a washing trough but I do envy his view of the green hills and the little lane he lives on that leads to our friends’ house one way and the church the other way. Sushi Sam has a friend in the Savoie as well. He is called Sausage John. We left them in August and were confident they would remain close friends. Then we had this email from our friend Norrie…..
“As you know I walk past the old stone washing trough near the dairy-farm twice every day and always check on Sushi Sam and his friend Sausage John. Three evenings ago Sushi Sam was nowhere to be seen. Perhaps he is hiding in the weeds,I thought. But in the morning he still wasn’t around and I prodded the weeds and dead leaves at the bottom just to make sure. Sausage Sam swam away from my stick, but no sign of his friend.
I then remembered that I had seen a family with two children looking into the trough on Sunday afternnon. The schools are on Easter holidays and there are a few strangers about.

The Rescue: I waited around one evening until I saw them again and asked if they had seen the missing Sushi Sam. I explained that he was the friend and pet of  a family I know and especially their older girl who would miss him if he wasn’t there when they came back in Summer.  There was an exchange of looks but no-one said anything.

Yesterday Sushi Sam was back and swimming happily side by side with Sausage John.
It seems that the little girl only wanted to keep him during the holidays and was sorry that she didn’t know he really belonged to another little girl. Could she still come and watch them from time to time on their walks.
End of story.
Love from The Rescuer.xxx”