A thrilling Dorset ramble

I'd like to live here

This cow licked my camera!

Flamboyant horse

Beautiful Bockhampton

Spent the best weekend ever in Dorset. It started with an exploding tyre that had us scrambling up the motorway embankment to safety to wait for the AA and finished with my first swim in a river. Exciting! I also went inside Thomas Hardy's cottage, witnessed a flamboyant horse and ran up a ridiculously steep hill. And my camera got licked by a cow. A weekend break doesn't get much better! Loved it!

Dinner for two

"Waiter, can I get the bill please."

A product for people who want to have dinner with their dog.

An unexpected Bargain Hunt

Caught in action! (Busy studying antiques)

Today I went to a big antiques fair and saw Tim Wonnacott filming Bargain Hunt. Nice surprise! That's me seen him and David Dickinson in the flesh now. So I can say with some authority that Dickinson has got more X Factor.

Low-rent furball battler

The fat trainer, the flat pile carpet, the ridiculous amount of dog hair that looks like a Hoover has exploded... this picture makes me feel sick on so many levels. But Tracey from Amesbury won £25, so power to her!

Missy's new blanket

Want her off the bed? Forget it!

The royal seal of approval

Yes, it's a bargain

Fluffy tail

Mum bought Miss Marple a new blanket and she's fallen in love with it. The first time she saw it she sniffed it briefly but thoroughly, then did a nesting dance on it whilst purring her head off. She also killed a mouse yesterday. Life could not be better for this happy cat!

Butlins best buy

A tin for every occasion (not that I really know what to do with any of them. More dust-gatherers!)

A lovely souvenir

Water fun

fun with friends

Bought a couple of new tins to add to the lovely ones I already own. I think Butlins looks like lots of fun. I've utilised the tin by filling it with Miss Marple's fur. Eventually I will show this to mum and she'll be shocked.

Hyde Park heron

Here he is!

Three quarters of a Bourbon biscuit

I'm always agog and aghast at what real life stories people will tell a magazine. But honestly, this takes the biscuit. Three quarters of a Bourbon biscuit to be precise.

Bee, are you dead?

Hello bee

I hope you're not dead

Today I saw this bee. It didn't move for ages, actually, at all. I don't think it'd be snoozing. If bees sleep much I think they'd go back home to do it. It's not safe out there on that flower. I could have been a predator. I wasn't but I did gently shake the leaves - the bee didn't budge. I think it's dead but I don't know for sure because I got bored of waiting for some sign of life and came inside instead. Maybe it's just played the best trick on me ever and is back home laughing with his mates about the fantastic jape he's just pulled off. I hope so.

July garden highlights

Hydrangea and fuschia

Pink things and big daisies

Whoop-whoop! Beans!

Step 1: Grow them

Step 2: Harvest

Serving suggestion: Spread 'em out by some frankfurters

I've finally picked the sugar snap peas I grew from seedlings. They were a triumph. So sweet and juicy. The only downside was that there were only about five each, but if you spread them around the plate it almost looked like a whole portion. It's my first step towards living The Good Life. Sadly the squirrels dug up 95% of my carrots, the slugs ate my strawberries and I forgot to water the tomatos so there are only three sad looking ones left. But I remember the episode where Tom and Barbara lost all the potatoes in a storm. Sometimes these things happen.

New shoes and a fox

New shoes

...and a fox

New lodger on the horizon

Elsie Bellevue and friends

The ladies

Pat might be moving in with us for a month in September. The spare room has become a bit of a haven for my precious things. I hope he won't mind sharing a room with this lot?

Cat rescue. The plan of action

Come here black cat, a tasty treat is waiting for you!

My goodness me, I've just seen a sad sight on my walk back from work. That cat that was bothering Missy months ago is now hanging out by the tennis courts. He's too thin and looks like he's got a skin infection. I hot-footed it back down there with some food but he'd already vanished. I will have to stalk the area until I can find him, feed him and get him to the vets. I can't not help that poor little tinker. I'll have to carry a sachet of cat food in my bag at all times, just in case I spy him again.

The best footwear song- ever!

My favourite song about Clarks shoes!

"Mi tell my man seh memba proper hygine and dont forget
bagga sneakers gi u cheesy foot
if u kno wah mi kno boy low di crep
memba pointed mout corn u toe
wear di dessert clark di easy step
my code that can save you boy
you atheletes foot ago lead to death"