Am I getting paranoid? A couple of weeks ago I inserted a couple of references into the text of the book I’m currently working on – full publication details, etc – which I got from the British Library website. 24 hours later Amazon sent me an unsolicited message suggesting I buy these selfsame (and rather obscure) old books from them. Do they monitor one’s ‘Word’ files? Then I saw my (Swedish) doctor about a (query) broken ankle, only to receive an advert for elasticated ankle socks: again, shortly afterwards. Thirdly: we’re in the process just now of buying a new ‘Soft-Coated Wheaten-Haired’ puppy; again, I’ve been plagued with unsought offers of exactly the same breed from all over. And yesterday we went to a friend’s summerhouse for lunch under a canvas awning that had been (mysteriously) torn; we were discussing – verbally – how our friend could get it replaced, when – immediately – I got more Facebook adverts from an awning-maker. Coincidence? Or Big Brother? 

At least I don’t get any of those adverts for penis-extensions any more. (I used to wonder how they knew.) Or about Lesbian sex, apparently prompted by my googling ‘Mata Hari’ – the WW1 exotic dancer and spy. (I was working on the history of espionage at the time.)

Anyhow, here’s the new doggy. We collect her at the end of the week. Kajsa wants to call her ‘Doris’. Sounds a bit like ‘Boris’; which will be very apt when she starts pissing all over the floor.