I should know better

Thank you all for your enquiries. No, it wasn`t easy here. I am still cut off by road, and during the bad spell a kind friend had to help by hauling dogfood through the snow on a trolley. I had a lot of coal - but it froze and had to be chopped - a jolly job, warming you as much as the coal would.

Main drainage froze, so no water would run away. Fortunately I still had a mains water supply. However, a pipe joint has sprung, so I still have water running from a pipe in the porch....how furtunate that in the years when I was plagued by vermin from the farm below, a considerate rat chewed a big hole in the floor which now lets the water run away - for there will be no plumber until the road clears.

The postman made it this morning for the first time, and took about an hour to get out again, even in reverse on 4 wheel drive, so goodness knows when I will see him again. A huge bundle of junk mail was the result. Which I can`t throw away of course, since there is no refuse collection.

I am getting a bit old for these adventures, and it has not been a good experience. However, to cheer me up, a kind friend took me and some of the dogs for a long country walk through the woods.

I took Merlin and Allegra, who really need the exercise, and the two adolescent girls, Velvet and Ella. We went up to the farm, out into the field and let the puppies down.

Velvet was delighted. Snow! Other puppies! Off she raced with the other two.

Ella gave up. Possibly she thought she was being dumped. She subsided into the snow and quivered. She would not move. I had the embarrassment of carrying her throughout the walk - except when chicken titbits appeared, when she suddenly remembered what her legs were for. Velvet was totally puzzled at her friend`s non-participation. I had been defending the Chin attitude to exercise and outdoor sport (including agility) to all and sundry, and told Ella in no uncertain terms how she had let her race down. She favoured me with a penetrating Chin stare. When would the chicken reappear.....?

Then we took out Merlin and Allegra. I hadn`t been sure how unadventurous Merlin would take to this. But when he saw there would be three adult bitches, he saw his duty clear, and spent a happy time running in circles, guarding them against absolutely nothing, (and earning their total contempt, as male dogs usually do.)

And so we headed off for a couple of hours in beautiful snowy scenery. It was a welcome respite.

But no, I was not at the first major show of the year. Travel conditions were much the same as greeted Captain Scott, and in any case I, like many, am choosing my judges carefully this year.