The Robinson family live in one half of Porridge Hall, an old Victorian house in a Yorkshire seaside town. In the other half live Robin Brogan and his Mum.

One Christmas Mrs Robinson gets pneumonia and Old Blanket, their faithful dog, dies. To make matters worse the weather is horrendous and they are battered by storms, so Mr Robinson decides to take his wife on a recuperative holiday to Barbados. Two of the children, twins Perry and Ant, are sent to stay with Mad Aunt Mabel in the Dales, while Sun Dance and Beany stay with the Brogans.

When Perry and Ant arrive there's no sign of their aunt. Eventually they find Tilly, but she disappears after two days leaving them to look after Samson the parrot, two dogs and four cats. As there is only one place big enough for such a menagerie, the children set off back to Porridge Hall.

Meanwhile Sun Dance has perfected his burglar trap and Beany's search through the house for the Dolphin Sword, which is supposed to at bring luck and grant any wish, has proved successful. She wishes that Old Blanket will go to heaven and just to be sure they exhume him, only to find he's gone. In a hectic flurry of events, Sun Dance captures a burglar--who turns out to be Mad Aunt Mabel, up at Porridge Hall because she was worried about the twins.

A highly enjoyable read by the award-winning author of The Exiles. Hilary McKay has created a family of quite extraordinary characters, whose compelling stories will entertain children of all ages, and their parents.