Washing muddy dogs: the glamour of my life

Poor Posetta. Having such a low undercarriage means a dunk in the Bristol sink after every walk. That low slung tum picks up mud, twigs, and all manner of grime which I then get to wash off.

Emily & I had a wonderful walk on the 27th. The light mid-afternoon was extraordinary. We headed off with all three dogs up the cart track to the pines by the disused railway bridge:



And then down past the frozen fishing lakes:



The dogs started to concentrate on the business of getting as muddy as possible:



There are still sloes on the blackthorns:



As we crossed the disused railway line, the sun came out over the hill towards Canons Ashby House and Priory in one direction,



Amd towards Eydon in the other.



I am going to miss this countryside. We've lived here for nearly twenty-five years, but I think the house will be sold in 2010, and so we will move away, probably never to return. It's been a very bittersweet Christmas for that reason.