Really grotty today. I had Em overnight so that her parents could get the early morning ferry to go to the mainland to pick up the new dog. She doesn't sleep very well but I got her to bed by 10 pm - quite a challenge - and to sleep by 11.30! (In my bed.) She insisted that I should stay with her but I told her I would probably have to get up after a while, to sit in the kitchen because of my arthritis and she promptly decided that when I got up, she would come and keep me company and we could share the big chair. Anyway, she went to sleep and I did drop off around midnight. I had to get up about 3 am but crept away, not waking her and took some pain killers and was just dozing off in the chair when she came through, as bright as a button, to keep me company. So that was the night over. She seemed fine despite the lack of sleep. I wasn't sure that I would survive the experience!
But I did, of course, and have just been "treated" by being shown the new dog. No 2 son took it up to the school to meet Em when she came out and dropped by to show me. She's a beautiful young dog, clearly calm and well behaved but she's already huge (5 months old). Her previous owner became wheelchair bound just after he got her as a pup (8 weeks, I suppose) and she has spent her entire life in a town house, not able to get out and run. She appears to be a bit underweight under all her fur, but presumably she'll put some on, as well as some muscle, over the next while. Not at all sure what the target weight for a St Bernard is.
Edited to add: I was wrong, the St Bernard is not 5 months, but 10 months. I thought she was pretty massive for 5 months! Still a pup though, apparently, even though well behaved when on the lead; when playing with the other dogs, she's as mad as everything/body in their house!