🐾 & 🐾 & 🐾 & 🐾 & 🐾

Being introduced to five sets of paws on a late February morning

Recently returned from a warmer place, I was delighting in East - West jet lag and how it allowed me to rise at 06:00 with no struggle. I went to Phoebe’s mystical Highbury flat where behind the tall black iron gate there is a room with many musical instruments hanging on the walls, ferments on the windowsills and candles burning scents of bergamot and cinnamon.

We chatted and caught up, setting the scene by draping throws over sofas and pouring Phoebe a post-breakfast Margherita as a prop. Five puppies tugged at the hem of her velvet dress as she arranged things.

After taking 36 shots of a colour roll, Phoebe gestured to a cabinet where there might be more camera supplies. A lone roll of Ilford was resting at the back, as if waiting to be exposed on this morning at the very start of Spring, just before two of the five would be collected by new owners. Shooting in black and white is usually not instinctive, but I see now that it places Phoebe and the puppies in an intriguingly antique space. Which decade do they belong to? I can’t quite say… I’m leaning towards the 70s.

As the first nap of the day drew close, Phoebe plucked a harp from the wall and began to serenade the puppies with a gentle lullaby. Few things could bring about sweeter canine slumber.

Below is a rendition of Puppy Love, recorded by Phoebe.

Human: Phoebe Coco

Puppies: Lily, Figgy aka Lyra, Dougal aka Apollo, Selkie, Captain Cutie aka Otto, Mon Cherie aka Bertie, children of Molly and Buddy. Molly and Buddy’s romance began on the eve of Phoebe’s birthday.