We arrived home on Sunday and Tony started rehearsals on Monday. After a week of clean, civilised living I was straight back to being knee deep in mud (well almost). The drive that leads to our stables at home was under water on Sunday and I understand that it had been like this all last week. The donkeys were unimpressed. They don’t do rain as they have a different coat to horses. They insisted on making their grievances known by standing by the gate and bellowing as opposed to waiting sensibly in the field shelter until I appeared. And it is soooooo cold.

I have had the usual "can we have an article today please" emails, plus a meeting with the manufacturer of our new dog harnesses and interviews to do regarding the publication of the new book - and I have only been home for a few days! In New Canaan (where we were recently in the US), there is a great community programme that is aimed at enabling the older residents to remain in their homes for as long as possible, offering lifts to the shops and arranging a whole host of social activities. It’s called 'Staying Put in New Canaan' and as I was walking across the top 26 acre field in the company of bouncing, muddy dogs, with the biting wind numbing my face and ears and the rain beginning to fall once again, I was tempted to return and see if I could also sign up.