I AM sitting looking at Baby, my little shih tzu dog and yes, she definitely needs a bath, which she absolutely hates.

What is more, she is also very clever at reading all the preparation signs and no matter how discreet I try to be, the minute she suspects my intention she is off into hiding.

Only time and the temptation of food will entice her out, so I have to be very clever and try not to give her any indication, which is not at all easy as she is very attentive and usually follows me everywhere.

And yes, I mean everywhere, she even sits outside the bathroom door, and every night she takes up her position on the rug by my bedside.

We call her baby, but it is a bit of a misnomer, as she is really, in dog terms, an old lady.

I adopted her as a little puppy in 1999 and since then she has spent all her life either in the house or in the garden.

I must admit sometimes I think that it’s been a bit restricting but then again, she always seems to be happy and content.

Our Andrew says that’s because she doesn’t know she’s dog but thinks she’s human and one of us.

Well, whatever it is, it really doesn’t matter, because if she’s happy with that, then so am I.

I wonder about the need that a lot of people have for dogs – is it that we enjoy their unequivocal love and the feeling that to them you are very important and not alone?

Or is it the fact that you can talk to your dog, tell it all your worries and concerns and it will never tell a soul?

I have a friend who says she can vent all her grievances and dislikes when talking to her little pet dog and that in the long run, it makes her a better person, which means she keeps all her friends.

PLANNING my bucket trips is proving difficult because I want to see so many people, who all live far apart.

As a kid everyone I knew lived in Feniscowles – apart from relatives who lived at Bury.

These days I am fortunate that I have friends all over the world, but that said, it’s very difficult and expensive to see them all, but in my mind, well worth it.