Cornflour

That had you didn't it?

It's actually a white cornflower (as opposed to ground maize kernels that you can make tortillas from or use to thicken sauces).

I thought it was extremely pretty, and it was a choice between this and a newly washed and very pathetic-looking dog.

Ziggy lived up to his alias of "Zig the Dig" today. I think he'd heard us saying that our son and family are back on the other side of the world, and decided he'd make a go for it.

This then necessitated a bath. We try not to bath them as much as possible, as it may take out some of the natural oils, but I'm sure an occasional one won't do any harm.

A quick splosh in "Puppy No Tears" (have you ever seen a puppy crying tears?) and most of the mud had gone. However, being curly-haired myself I could sympathise with him when he decided he didn't like being combed when wet to remove the tangles.

The family made it door to door in almost exactly 24 hours - a couple of hours shorter than on their way out, but I think from our son's text message that they are pretty weary.

Thanks so much for all the messages and hugs and love I received yesterday. It helped enormously (my ribs now ache - not through laughing, but with being squeezed). And I made it to spotlight. Not the best way to get there though, but it all helped me take my mind off things for a while.