Soggy doggies

We're on orange alert here in l'Herault. Up to 5.9 inches of rain is due between now and Friday evening. I've only just learned that, so little wonder that today wasn't the best day to pick to take Jonty for his first walk away from Le Couvent garden.

We decided to try him on the fenced land where we're about to start building our new house. Here is the threesome waiting for the rain to stop. They are riding in a 30 year old Renault 4L Fourgonette vitrée. Perfect for three largish dogs.

Once out of the car we'd hoped that the new temporary gate would contain them all, but Kit ran straight through it knocking it for six and leaving Jonty free to run off into the wilds of La Caumette. After a panicky ten minutes he realised he was out of his depth and clung on to Flynn the husky who'd gone to find him, so Ali was able to catch them both.

Meanwhile I went for the old car, which I managed to get stuck with wet wheels spinning on our hilly land. Fortunately Ali had gone up separately in the 4x4, so I used that instead. I recovered all the dogs and Ali, then we went back to slither out the 4L.

We're home again now - everyone's been towelled down and we've learnt a lot. Phew! We'll have another go when it's drier. And when we've fixed the gate better.