There were severe weather warnings of gales and torrential rain issued by the Met Office for the morning of this walk. Indeed, as I drove from the Sussex coast and across the South Downs, there were some really deep areas of standing water on many of the country lanes.

Frankie was working an early shift at the airport, so I had the sole responsibility of loading-up our two boys, together with Bessie - who was our house guest for a few weeks.

The weather was foul, and the hounds were soaked before we had even left home.

After stopping en route to pick-up Michael, we continued to the walk venue with no great expectation of seeing very many members there.

I knew that our Walks Organiser, Jean, would be absent as she had prior commitments, so on reaching the car park it was reassuring that many of the ‘hard-core’ walkers were already there. All ‘holed-upÂ’ in their assorted vehicles, so as to escape the downpour. There were very few other vehicles parked there.

Slowly, man, woman and hound emerged from their metal cocoons, all squinting their eyes against the rain. Everyone dressed to meet the conditions - although, that said, I don’t think that my ski trousers were quite as funny as Miranda made out.

Everyone looks odd and slightly inflated when wearing them, don’t they?

Anyhow, ridicule apart, we moved off into the watery wastes.

The thirteen hounds - not a bad turn-out, considering - were raring to be let loose. And they went charging along the muddy, sodden tracks - obviously enjoying every second in each other’s company.

Helen and Callum appeared to understand the lay of the land in these conditions better than most, so we followed them.

As we dropped away, the wind, which had been very strong at the car park, seemed to ease a little.