At the risk of sounding like the good folk at BBC weather, I have to say that we do seem to be in the midst of some real winter weather here in Surrey. It was minus 4 when we whizzed out first thing this morning for a quick pit-stop on the common – I was secretly pleased it was Friday which means the girls spend the morning at the daycare place so less need for me to give them a good walk before I start work. Once again, Susie-Belle was less than thrilled at leaving her comfy bed by the woodburner when Mark collected them, I toyed with letting her stay at home but know that they have a great social time there and there’s huge heaters and indoor spaces for them to be sociable in; although the daily diary tonight talks about some of the dogs having a brave and chilly swim, I doubt very much that either Renae or Susie-Belle were anywhere near the pool, they leave that to the labs.

If I dwell on it, and I do try not to, the cold weather does make me a little worried for Susie-Belle in view of her past – from what I’ve pieced together this was spent in the back of a cold and miserable barn and last winter was particularly cold, so no doubt at all, the poor thing suffered in the cold. I don’t ever want her to remember those dark days of her life before arriving in Surrey and we offer her every comfort we can so that the good times will eventually overlay the bad memories to an extent that she’ll never recall that misery.