Sue Woodcock: After adventures 'abroad' it is good to find I was missed

Without being too specific about our destination, it is sufficient to say that the dogs became the clan McWoof.

On the shores of Loch Lomond we paddled in clear waters and met and talked with two gentlemen from Verona.

We drove on and as we did so the rain began to fall in earnest. Now I have camped for many years and am quite at home in a good tent. My friend is very suspicious of any tent she is not familiar with and elected to provide one. She had not however assembled it before.

By the time we got to pitch it at a campsite we were getting soaked. I took the dogs for a walk and returned to find her struggling to work out what went where. I finally got it up and we got airbeds pumped up and what we needed inside.

Then we took off in the car to find something to eat and to look at a famous castle that I was assured we had to see. It was shut. We did find a great meal and got back to the tent.

My dogs took one look inside and legged it back to sleep in the warm dry car, while we were treated to a very damp and I must say, very badly designed tent, requiring its occupants to be either under 10 or acrobats.

The rain had stopped by the next morning. I was up very early, had explored the town nearby and got back and finally got my friend up by dismantling the tent around her. We continued our journey and after a lot of miles found a fantastic breakfast at a hotel in majestic surroundings.

Time to walk the dogs again and we did so by a sea loch. None of my dogs knew about salt water but soon discovered it doesn't taste that good.

We finally got to our friends' and took them out for a drink that evening. The next day we explored a charming valley and moving on I drooled over volcanic rocks and scenery while my friend looked at the local botany.

I took the dogs on a tough hike among basalt columns and pinnacles and found rare geological specimens. More wonderful scenery and we returned to our base. It was a fabulous day and I and the dogs slept well.

The weather changed the next morning but we did fit in a hefty walk to two coral beaches in the hopes of spotting seals. Brillo found quite a large crab and I had to dissuade her from picking it up.

I found a dehydrating jellyfish which I put back into the sea and it finally recovered and swam off.

After some shopping in the local town and a farewell to our friends we set off to drive home. By the time darkness fell my friend said she had had her fill of majestic mountains and dramatic scenery.

Dense fog that we met just south of the border was quite scary. We had come past Settle before the fog disappeared and as we approached home a stoat raced us down the lane for a while, almost as if to welcome me back.

Then a hedgehog out on an early morning perambulation scurried out of the way. I saw some wonderful wildlife including golden eagles, ravens, a sea eagle, sea birds and even a seal, but give me the wildlife I know and live with anytime. I got home about 4.30am.

We covered well over a thousand miles and a total break like that restores the soul. I communed with nature, made conversation with friends and returned revitalised.

My well is now almost full and the grass has sprung up in a lush green array. The ducklings seemed to have almost doubled in size.

I have continued to have a tidy-up at home. It is amazing how much I can afford to throw away.

I am working on the principle if I haven't used it in two years I can probably live without it. The clothes I have consigned to the rag bag are mainly so huge on me now that they no longer stay up. Then there are the ones that have worn out to the extreme and are not even fit for rags.

The hills and dales around me are just as wonderful as anything I have seen and I look at them with refreshed eyes.

The mountains may not be so big or dramatic and there are not so many forests but I love the dales. Here at least I can understand the locals and know my way around.

Brillo, having enjoyed her adventure, has rushed up to claim my bed. Fair and Froyle have claimed the settee. The cats assured me they were starving which I know they are not and have claimed the armchair.

The dogs keep looking longingly at the shortbread I brought back and I am cleaning out the car with an audience of goats who obviously expect half-finished sandwiches from the journey.

Even the sheep seem glad to see me. One of my very old sheep keeps trying to come into the house. She was waiting on the doorstep for my return. It is nice to know you are missed.