Back to square one

Foggy. Dull. Wet. Miserable. Not me, the weather. We are living in a sea of mud and with 32 large paws running through it and into Rock HQ clean floors are unlikely to be seen until it freezes or summer next year. Various plans are on the drawing board to transform the yard from a faithful recreation of the trenches, complete with duckboards to a sterile area where you could venture without fear of losing a wellington or drowning. Each plan is thwarted by the combination of inability and finances. While we were trapped indoors we decided on drastic action, bath time for the Clan. So began a five hour marathon of cut and blow drys for seven Bernese and Golden Retriever. Each were coaxed, persuaded, wrestled, bribed and shouted into the wet room where yours truly lurked in his swimming shorts and one by one the muddy soggy creatures were transformed into bouffant shiny show winners. They then spent a leisurely afternoon in front of the wood burner, ate a few choice morsels before spotting the door was open as I was out doing the afternoon feed. Approximately 43 seconds managed to undo five hours of work and the Clan trotted back indoors having rid their coats of the shine and smell of lemons, preferring instead, eau de horse plop and fresh mud. At least we tried.