After visiting my niece, Lizzie, in hospital yesterday (don’t worry, she and her baby bump are doing well) Chris and I thought we’d pop in to see Mary at Rosie’s farm. My lovely sister is looking after the animals while Rosie is attending to the latest addition to her own family.

As you can see from the photographs, we joined Mary for a pleasant evening walk with Sasha, Jaz, Malachi and Inca; along the way we met a few of the other interesting (and interested) characters on the farm.

It warms my heart to see Mary in her element. The dogs adore her and she loves them back.

“I know why people have more than one dog,” Mary began.

We smiled and listened, although the rest came as no surprise…

“When they have one gorgeous, intelligent, faithful and loving dog, and they have the space, they think, ‘Why not have four?'”

And who could blame them?