Nick got up with the dog a couple of times over night and so did I. She would have slept longer but Matty woke up at 5 am needing the toilet and that roused the dog. Outside the mist was incredible and the lake was hidden. It was too cold and damp to stay outside until everyone woke up so I went back to bed and Annie and Matty entertained the dog. It meant we were all awake by 7. The kids climbed into bed with us and chatted away quite happily until it was...

Tally woke up at 6 am and Jonny wasn't too far behind her. After a slow walk up to the toilet block we sat in the sunshine trying to get warm but in the end I had to boil the kettle and make a hottie. At this point Tally jumped onto my knee and fell fast asleep and it took me a while to realize I could have gone back to bed!! Nick slept in until 8 when the smell of coffee got him out of bed and we sat in the sunshine and watched a number of people pack up an...

Tally slept right through until ten to five and then woke me for a wee. It was just begin to get light as we went outside and the hills around us were all edged with a silver glow. There was mist on the water and the birds were going ballistic - it was very pretty. It was also very very cold and as Tally had no intention of going back to bed, I got dressed in multiple layers and we went for a walk. By the time we got back she was more then happy to nod off ...

What a dog! She slept through until 4 am and although it took a while to get her back to sleep she next woke at 7 when Anna decided it was time to get up! It was another stunning day and the sun already had a bite to it. We sat outside and had breakfast and then went off for a walk around the dam. Tally got as far as the toilet block and refused to walk any further so Nick had to carry her the entire way. This put Anna's nose out of joint, as she also want...

It's like having a newborn again!! Another night spent getting up at regular intervals to toilet the dog, which is fine because she's very quick at having a wee once she goes outside but it's the refusing to go back to sleep which is exhausting!! At 5 am I gave up getting her back to sleep and instead got dressed and sat outside with her until the rest of the family was awake. By 730 am I was desperate for coffee and warmth and so made coffee, which got Nick...