I am in no doubt that animals have personalities. Today’s inclement weather brought them all to the fore.

Amanda the sheep is an Independent thinker. She’s not going to let a bit of rain stand in the way of her and breakfast. “Let the rest of the flock hunker down under the trees, I’m not made of sugar!”

Paul the rooster’s plumage was getting more and more sodden as he strode around searching for his one missing lady who fixed me with a beady look when I spotted her cuddled down between two bales in the barn. “Not a word,” was the unmissable message in her eyes.

Shirley feels her self-appointed role as my best helper very keenly.  Despite being soaked from assisting me in the outside chores, she was also front and centre when it came to tidying the bedrooms. A mixed blessing. As it was baking day, she felt she could ease off a little in the afternoon.

Unlike Babette, who needs no encouragement to take it down a notch. Of course, her very presence is blessing enough for us mere humans.

But it’s the goats who illustrate my free-thinking animal theory the best..

Look at that parade of personalities!