If Lola looks a bit bedraggled, it’s not surprising. If she looks scared, equally it’s not surprising.

We were out walking the dogs earlier today when the heavens opened and someone started throwing thunderbolts and lightening at us. We’d heard a couple of rumblings of thunder and decided to walk down into the valley rather than over the hills and as we neared the valley floor the storm was right above us. We had to put the dogs onto their leads because it was obvious they were terrified. To get home we had to go through a gate then up a public footpath between two wire fences. The lightening rods were firing down to ground all around us and the thunderclaps followed them at huge volume. I don’t think I have EVER been so scared.

Then I heard DMs anxious voice “Linda – are you OK?” Apparently, I found out later he’d already asked once and met with no reply. What I didn’t realise was the request for information was more than simply a reaction to the ferocity of the storm. He’d been behind me when the fence alongside was hit by lightening and he saw it jump across and hit me. I had no idea this had happened. I knew they were close, but not that I’d actually been hit. DM later said that he thought that most of the voltage had already gone to ground and that what had hit me had probably found a direct route to ground through my wet clothing.

By the time we reached the road, we both agreed that we’d stay on the road for the last 200 yards home rather than go into our field because the field was more exposed. We were running along the road with the dogs but made it home with no further mishap. Once inside we had to strip off because we were soaked to the skin. Lola recovered quite quickly from the fear but JD was really scared for some time. By the time I took this shot, we were safe, dry and warmed up from a cup of coffee and the only evidence of our ordeal was a dead internet connection (fried router for the second time since we’ve lived here) and a pair of decidedly bedraggled looking dogs!

I had my camera in my pocket throughout but was much more concerned with staying alive than photography so this grab shot was obtained from the safety and comfort of the sofa!