FOR the whole of last week John has focused on demolishing half of our house porch and then rebuilding it again.

I say porch but it probably more akin to a conservatory. But not as elegant.

It is dominated by three dog cages for Fizz, Millie and Moss. Each one well insulated against winter’s cold and snuggled up to each other for warmth and company. A vine snakes under the glass roof. Currently festooned with dead leaves but showing promise of the heavy bunches of fruit that sag each year beneath the foliage. And an old school bench offers a handy seat for when you cast off working clothes and kick off wellies before entering the back door of the farmhouse.

But the ravages of rain and wind and frost have weakened the frames holding in the glass windows. Dogs have enthusiastically chewed and clawed at the window sills when any visitor was in the yard that they wished to welcome or warn. The whole construction needed a makeover. This has necessitated the dogs sleeping al fresco for most of the week. Luckily there has been no rain; although some sharp frosts would have encouraged them to snuggle deeper into their sheepskin rugs. And I did throw a waterproof cover over the top their cages so they were never cold. Not that stopped them in their constant pleas for a place in front of the fire in the snug. For supposedly working dogs they like a spot of comfort.

Outside in the paddock our lambs are thriving. Gambolling. Frolicing Skipping. Romping. Capering. It is a joy to see them playing together on the grass, chasing each other round the pond, hiding behind a tree and then darting back under Mum for reassurance and refreshment.

Meanwhile while the weather can still be cold and frosty at night, we are bringing sheep and lambs back under cover before it turns dark. Fizz, our sheepdog, is thrilled at this opportunity to show that she has a useful job. The lambs still have not quite cottoned onto the fact that they should do as Fizz tells them, and shelter under their Mum, whilst she stamps her feet in defiance at this interruption to her grazing . Once under the shelter of the barn though all is peaceful for the night. And Fizz takes pride in a job well done.