Yesterday we were so worried about Rosie and her funny turn yet this morning she was her usual jolly self so we decided to risk a walk on the beach with her to see how she got on.

Somehow, I don’t think we need have been so apprehensive because she sprang out of the car like a puppy and spent an hour careering around on the sand as though she was possessed. We couldn’t believe how fit and well she looked given how she’s been yesterday.

Since we’ve been home, she’s ‘helped’ (along with Archie) me clean out our elderly wabbit and since then she’s been curled up on the sofa next to me sleeping like a baby. It’s hard to imagine that we were so upset yesterday.

The mussels on this beach are lucky today that it’s just me and DM, both committed vegetarians. If Colin had been with us, there would have been fewer of them still on the beach and there would now be a washing up bowl full of clean water and mussels on the side in the kitchen.

I love ‘free food’ and even though I don’t eat fish, I still love the principle that you can wander onto the beach at low tide and pick something to eat.

After a few ‘false starts’ we have mastered what we think is the perfect technique, though Colin is the only one who will testify to this. The technique is:

Pick a bag full of mussels from as far out as you can – they must be from a bed that’s completely submerged at high tide.

Leave them in fresh, cold water overnight then clean all of the gunk off the outsides of their shells – no barnacles, seaweed or sand to be left at all. Leave to drain for an hour or so.

Sauté some chopped shallots and garlic in a little olive oil in a large, lidded pan then chuck in the mussels, a good slosh (about half a pint) of bone-dry white wine (a Camel Valley dry white will do nicely), some black pepper and a big handful of chopped parsley.

Put on the lid and cook on a high heat for a couple of minutes. Peek inside and if the mussels are open then serve in big bowls, with the broth from the pan and chunks of crusty bread. Don’t forget to discard the ones that haven’t opened.

Of course the rest of the bottle of wine will wash them down nicely!!!

Two years ago, I was celebrating and last year we were preparing to make two little boys happy at Christmas.