Pathetic!

Yesterday, being mid-summer and all that, our friend had a traditional bonfire for the solstice. And it rained, and rained, and although the wood was straight out of a nice dry shed, it would not light. A rag soaked in paraffin didn't help, nor did the best part of a box of matches, but eventually Mike, with the help of a flaming log from the stove in the house, managed to get it going. And it roared away!

The kids toasted marshmallows and themselves, their parents and their grandmother while we stayed in the dry with just soup, pearl barley and beer flat bread, cake and wine to fortify us against the weather outside.

Ollie and his little friend Scratch both got very muddy and very wet and got fed far too much by the gullible kind-hearted members of the party! By the time we got home Ollie was as knackered as we were!

This morning I decided to give him a good bath. He's realised over the years that there is no point in fighting it, so he jumps in and stands like a lamb while I give him a good going over with the baby-kind gentle shampoo. The resulting bath is not fit to be seen on blip - or anywhere! There is generally a fine covering of seeds and bits of vegetation, and sand, at the bottom of it by the time we are done.

And yes, I'm afraid he does look a bit like Mother Teresa . . . !