JD and Lola frolic on the beach. Lola has decided her favourite bit is charging through the surf to get the ball. This is a development. Historically she’s been a bit of a wuss about the sea. She’s always loved it but only if it’s no more than knee-deep. Today though, she’s been charging about with the best of them.

There have been lots and lots of “bests” in as much as about 70% of the dogs on the beach were collies so my beautiful babies were in crowds of equally beautiful babies. They’ve played with lots of their own kind, including a Rosie lookie-likey and a beautiful little young red collie called Rosie who didn't look a bit like my old girl but nonetheless she was spectacularly beautiful and extremely cute. It was a bit strange.

I was on the beach on my own (well, with no other humans) but it didn’t matter. I chatted to loads of people – dogs are, for a lot of people, something that gives us common ground and something to discuss. I love to hear tales of rescue dogs, crazy antics and generally lovely stories about man’s best friend – I also love to share my stories of the same. I met people from all over the UK and even someone who had once lived in Bahrain, just like me.

About an hour later, we all retired to the pub for lunch and they got the chance to sit down and cool off.