Physical stuff is just not enough.

Note to readers (my lovely Baggees): For the avoidance of any doubt - every character in this blog is me!!! No Baggy was harmed in its writing.

Baggy's daily state!
Depression (Black = really bad/Grey = not great/Blue = okay/Yellow = sunny day): Yellow.
Anxiety (From 1 = barely any to 10 = gibbering wreck standard): 1.
Tears: No.
Overall day: Exhausting.

Having spent a few nights "free" as it were, Pepper has decided that being shut in his crate is not an option. The minute that he's finished his treat (for getting in it), he starts to yelp and then whimper. Because Hormonal Hannah is a total softy and can't cope with such a distressed puppy, Furry Mama lets him out. Considering that he needs to be renamed The Dark Destroyer, letting him have the run of the house all night is rather a large risk. Yesterday evening's destruction was of the duvet in his downstairs crate; a tapestry cushion; three plastic carrier bags; a pen; two books and a plugged-in phone charger! (At least, that's what The Domestic Goddess has discovered so far, there may be more). Eating live wires is particularly worrying to Freda Fretter, who really does not want an electrocuted puppy. But Baggy doesn't have eyes in the back of her head, so the only option is to totally wear the pooch out. As Baggy was so ill yesterday, Furry Mama "just" took Pepper for three long, ball throwing sessions - apparently physical exercise alone is not enough!

Despite Freda's concerns, Pepper curled up and went to sleep at the foot of the bed. A few hours later when Hannah went to the bathroom, Freda panicked - no sign of the pooch. Furry Mama checked the spare bedroom - Hinge and Bracket were asleep on the bed. He wasn't there. She went downstairs. He wasn't in the kitchen. She checked the sitting room. No sign. Weird. "He must be upstairs then", thought Clever Bird. He was! Curled up, fast asleep in his open crate.

Baggy coughed and spluttered her way through the night. She is not at all well. But Furry Mama was determined to "stimulate" the pooch today, so at 9.00am this morning, they headed off to their new favourite place, Southwold. Baggy wrapped herself up: jeans, thick socks, thermal long boots, one of Calum's thermal vest shirts, a long-sleeved top, a thick jumper, a padded windproof jacket, a scarf and woollen mittens! She needed them. To say that it was wild and woolly at the beach would be to understate it. The sea was great! And they pretty much had the beach to themselves.

Furry Mama walked and threw the ball, so that Pepper was running all the time.

They walked (and ran) all the way along the beach, until they had to head onto the promenade, or risk getting swept away by waves. Furry Mama put Pepper on his flexi-lead. All was well until he decided that he'd rather be on the beach. In a flash he'd jumped off the promenade - over a five-foot drop!! - nearly taking Baggy with him. Furry Mama then had to walk along the prom, trying not to get pulled off it until Pepper reached some steps and came back up again.

They finally got to the pier. The sea and wind were even wilder. Pepper loves the pier though, so they walked to the end of it, before popping into a café so that Baggy could have a cappuccino to warm Furry Mama up. The view was great.

After twenty minutes Pepper decided that it was time to get back to the beach and his ball.

By the time they got back to Billy Bob campervan, they had been in Southwold for two hours; no wonder Baggy's legs ached. Furry Mama put Pepper's car harness on and he promptly hopped onto the back seat and went to sleep. As Baggy got in the driver's seat, she realised that she had had one of nature's own exfoliation treatments - her face was entirely covered in sand.

A twenty-minute drive home, while Pepper slept. Furry Mama needed to go to the farm shop for cat food. She intended leaving Pepper in Billy Bob. Nope, he insisted on going with her - not surprising really, as he gets a treat every time he goes in. In fact he automatically went and sat behind the counter, just to make sure that they didn't forget!

But for the last hour or so, while Creative Clara has been writing this blog, he's been fast asleep on the sofa. Baggy will continue to enjoy the peace while it lasts.........