Wind, Cheese and brittle teeth

We hear reports of fierce weather in Irlanda. I write this from the indoor terrace of Villa Ducale, perched high above Taormino. Outside I see the town and country lights as if from an aeroplane. I also hear the fierce winds that swirl around the villa....very unseasonal. We are not sure whether to venture out tonight, it involves a climb down of 738 steps and back of course after the poodles have been at the trough. Last night we chose the vegetarian dinner at the Restaurante Duomo...a five courser which consisted almost entirely of cheese. The main course, secondi piatti, was 'hot and cold cheese' which was one cheese fritter surrounded by vast slabs of cold cheese. The dolce courses were three fifths cheese as well. There was a severe danger of constipazione.

Much worse has been going on for Mr Poodle though. It gnawed on a very hard block of chocolate and lost a filling.....since then constant pain and a wait till Monday for dentisti. At the moment clove oil has been introduced into the muzzle with some relief ensuing. The moral is horribly clear. Mr P's fangs are not up to solid blocks of cioccalata. What lies ahead is an interesting investigative thrust into the soft underbelly of the Sicilian Dental Services, starting with attendance at a free clinic at the suitably named village Castelmola, itself perched on a 500 meter above sea level rocky excrescence remarkably denture like.