This one goes out to those of you kindly asked how Duffy was enjoying the recent snow (for which, as ever, thank you!). The short answer is: NOT ONE BIT, but at least it’s not as bad as <shudder> RAIN.

For those brief, sweet moments, when the snow is deep and crisp and even (and the ground is consequently unsoggy), she’ll just about manage - albeit with as little actual outside time as is caninely possible. She quickly tiptoes out into the garden, prima-ballerina-stylee, then runs at full pelt back into the house at the earliest opportunity (errmm… was that sufficiently delicately phrased? - Ed.), most insistent that this time she has really REALLY earned her post-garden treat.

But as soon as the snow has melted and rendered Outside soggy, a Duffy’s lot is, alas, Not A Happy One, as the photos below attest.

In entirely unrelated news, we have a swanky, hi-tech, waterproof, and toasty-warm coat, perfectly proportioned for a lurcher. Worn twice. Very resentfully. Looking for a good home, as we don’t anticipate it being more useful here in the imminent predicted snow…