Guard mutts and thunderstorms are not a good mix.

Well that was quite a night in little old Suffolk. Terribly dramatic thunder storms once again. Baggy woke up at 1.30am and gave up trying to get back to sleep at 3.30am. She wandered downstairs, only for Furry Mama to find Minty Mutt in an incredibly stressed state. He was trotting round the house, backwards and forwards from the back to the front door, into the bathroom, then to the bottom of the stairs, then back round again. He was panting like a train and clearly upset. The poor sausage obviously couldn't work out where he needed to be to save his Mum and sisters from the bangs, cracks and sinister rumbles, that at times were shaking the whole house. Hinge and Bracket didn't seem bothered at all; they just wanted an early-hour's meal. Minty Mutt stuck to Baggy's leg and wouldn't let Furry Mama out of his reach, even when she went to the loo. Then he resumed his pacing. He scratched the back door, so Furry Mama let him out to check out the garden. It was pouring with rain, but there was no thunder, so after a rapid circuit, he came back in and resumed his pacing. Furry Mama was worried about him, so she turned on a night light for him and switched on the television and then sat with him for a while, until his breathing got a little more normal. Of course, while sitting there, Grotty Groom started to worry about the horses, but actually they probably felt less scared out in their paddocks than they would have in their stables. Clever Bird tried to work out why Minty is suddenly "afraid" of storms and concluded that it's not that he's afraid, it's that he feels he has to protect Furry Mama (much more than usual since her surgeries) and storms seem to be an indistinguishable threat from all directions. Bless the mutt for caring so much. Baggy finally went back up to bed as it was getting light. She couldn't sleep. The Hinge launched herself on top of Baggy, Furry Mama gave her a cuddle.

The phone rang. Grrrrrrrr! It was Calum. "What time is it?" "Half eight, you said you were getting up early". "Change of plan, I've barely slept". Furry Mama went down and checked on Minty, texted her friend to say that Grotty wouldn't be riding after all and went back to bed. Ten minutes later she had to go back downstairs to turn off her alarm on her phone - well done Clever Bird. Baggy finally woke at 10.45am with Minty Mutt barking his little head off at the dustbin men. Baggy had cramp in her right calf muscle. Agony!

Calum showed up shortly afterwards, having popped home in his break to vote in the EU Referendum. He reassured Minty Mutt and Baggy, had a quick shower and a cuppa, then went back to work, leaving Minty and Baggy feeling bereft. Furry Mama decided to take Minty out. At least Baggy was dressed for it as Grotty intended going to the yard - proper waterproof boots over jodphurs. She needed them! She popped into the village hall with Minty Mutt and Clever Bird posted her vote. She hopes she's made the right decision, it struck her once she got there, just how big a deal it was and how uninformed she really was to make such a monumental decision - but at least she did make one. Now the country waits to see the result. Minty didn't care, he just wanted to get to The Thickets, so that he could jump in every single puddle that he reached.

And there were lots of them!

Minty made very sure that he checked out every single one - the muddier the better.

The Domestic Goddess was told to, "shut up" by Furry Mama who decided that Minty needed the chance to relax and if that meant getting soaked and filthy, then so be it. Baggy's cramped leg hurt, as she worked her way around the gloopy paths that Mint insisted they explored. It turned into a long walk, but they both needed it.

Clever Bird has no idea why Minty Mutt loves puddles so much, but he was in his element today!

By the time they got home, Minty was so filthy that Furry Mama had to give him a hose-down in his (punctured) swimming pool. Baggy was hungry, so got The Goddess to rustle up a (not very) healthy lunch. It looked as though there was going to be another storm, so, as it was already 2.30pm, Furry Mama decided to stay at home with Minty, rather than taking Grotty over to the horses. She had already decided it was way too hot and humid to ride anyway and they will just recoat themselves in mud, so she'll go tomorrow instead after Fat Club - she'll probably need a reassuring horse cuddle once she gets off the scales............