Maria doesn’t even bother to come upstairs any longer, when she wants me to get up, she just opens the downstairs door and sends the dogs rocketing up the stairs and into the bedroom. “Go get him,” I hear her shout enthusiastically.

This is work they love.

If I’m awake and alert, I scramble out of bed and if I’m really awake, I’ll grab the camera. Zinnia always brings me a gift, Bud barks a few times and Fate tries to lick me and mostly just gives me the blue eye.

It’s not hi-tech, but it’s very effective.