On Christmas Day , in Brisbane , a relative , who is a recently retired hard worker in the medical field and a caring , considerate grandmother to boot , shared lunch with some family members who visited , then had a nanny nap to prepare for another lively event later with other family members at their house , some distance away. This second part of the festivities required loading into the car her two pet dogs , Charlie and Cookie , their beds, their tucker , her toothbrush and nightie, an esky , presents , floral posies , so that they could stay overnight .
The dogs were each placed in a car safety harness , and set off on the trip . Along the way , Charlie began to bark each time they stopped at lights , so she stepped on the gas to try and beat the lights . People that pulled up alongside at stop lights stared at the car to see what was causing the dog to bark .
Along the way , she slowed down at a cemetery entrance , intending to put a bunch of flowers consisting of New South Wales Christmas Bush and Chrysanthemums on her mother's grave . Charlie immediately began to howl mournfully.
After a quick talk to her mum, she apologised for having to dash away-but Charlie was really upset .
On to another cemetery , where here father was buried . Emerging from the car, with a similar bunch of flowers , Charlie continuing the dirge with gusto , she was immediately attacked by a shrieking plover running along the ground. Its mate dive bombed her like a kamikaze pilot .
From a distance , a strange woman could be seen running about the cemetery , waving a bunch of flowers over her head ... and was that the hound of the Baskervilles baying nearby ?
When Grandma tottered out of the car at the final Christmas Day destination she was given a large Scotch to settle her down . The dogs slept well in their beds .
