…………A thorough search of the acre garden established that they were nowhere to be found.
A lot of shouting their names loudly produced nothing and so Grant announced importantly, “I will get the car out” and off he went.
I was really starting to get concerned so I decided to climb up the bank and peer into next door’s garden. The wall was too high for me to see over and so I decided to climb a nearby tree whilst shouting and whistling in equal measure.
Of course very soon I realised I was stuck and that the silver flip flops that were said to be good for your leg muscles were hopeless for climbing trees. I sat there for a few moments and then thought that I better jump for it, as Grant may be gone for a while searching the area. The leap was successful, if a little inelegant and resulted in me cutting my right hand as I grabbed a passing branch.
I staggered back into the house to get a plaster and soon Grant arrived back on the drive with a serious face. By this time the dogs had been gone for over an hour.
We looked mournfully at each other. I knew the dogs collars had the house phone number on one side and eventually the phone rang. A very cheery lady from half a mile away said she had the dogs safe and sound and they were enjoying playing with her little spaniel.
Grant set off in the car again and when he got back I made him a cup of tea. He put the golf on the television and stated determinately “I am not getting out of this chair again today for anything.”
An hour later the sky went as black as night and the heavens opened. I have never seen so much water fall in such a short amount of time. I opened the door to the hall and the beautiful parquet floor was under water. I ran upstairs to get bath towels and when I came back down the front door was open and Grant was hopping about with his broken toe, in a pair of oversized trainers, up to his ankles in running water.
“Get me a lump hammer!” he was yelling as the grid by the door was surrounded by bricks and all the brushing he was doing just sent the water swirling and was to no avail.
I thought he reminded me of the dancers in a show called Stomp that we had seen in The West End but I decided it probably not a good time to tell him.
I had absolutely no idea what a lump hammer was as I blundered about in the dark garage. Eventually I found a suitable implement, it stopped raining as soon as it started and order was restored.
At about eight pm I had just made us a cup of coffee and a dish of strawberries when the phone rang.
“Everything OK, Mum?” enquired my daughter.
“Perfect, love what about you?” I replied…………..