The swallows are back, hurrah! Now summer has officially begun. The bats came back and started their dusk aerobatics over Easter, but I always feel summer is on its way when you look up into a clear blue sky and see that beautiful, endless swoop. Somehow, it manages simultaneously to remind you of childhood summers never ending and also to be intensely in the moment, as the swallows are only a summer visitor and their time is precious with us. The feeling is magnified by this glorious weather - we are spending hours out the garden and the temperatures are more like June than April.

Yesterday we went to the garden centre and got our summer annuals for hanging baskets and pots. I don't know if it is because I am more interested in plants now, but there is definately an improvement each year in the variety and range of these plants. Of course there is always a need for old favourites such as petunias and lobelia, but even these come now in such a wide range of colours, foliage, type of blossom etc. We selected a variety and planted up our baskets and pots - now looking forward to them growing.

Watched "The Queen" on DVD last night over a delicious chicken and mango curry. An excellent performance by Helen Mirren that really drove home the point that the royal family do seem to live in this extraordinary bubble of protocol and tradition that effectively acts as a stifling blanket. Their remedy for most ills seemed to be to go on a good walk and to blast some innocent Scottish wildlife into the hereafter. I found myself veering between feeling sorry for them as individuals but even more strongly loathing the institution they inhabit and longing for its end, along with the hereditary flummery that goes with it.

Today we woke up early after a very good night's sleep and took Andy over to Tredegar House - we like it there. Their rhododendrons were in flower, and the iris were just starting round the lake. Nice and quiet so no problems with Andy wanting to chase other dogs but because it was early, lots of rabbits were out so Andy went nuts over them. I just wish we could let him off the lead as I really would love to see him at full pelt.

He supervised me closely while I was doing the ironing via a commanding sprawl on the bed. I was reminded of a Roman emperor surveying a consignment of slaves. There is a delicious smell wafting up the stairs as I write from a beef casserole along with some cracked wheat.

Andrew is in the garden - the pond now has a small fountain running off a pump which was installed by a "pond doctor" on Saturday morning. He rolled up his trousers and paddled around in the pond barefoot, sorting out the pump which has a UV cleaning filter on it as well as the fountain which apparently contributes to the oxygenation of the water. He also gave the pond a kind of hoovering to remove the layers of sediment that have accummulated since its inception last August. With all the building work going on around us still, it is quite dusty and I was not surprised by the amount. This has noticeably improved the clarity of the water and should help to maintain a healthy pond through the summer. I am already amazed by how much life is in there. Today we were looking at the freshwater snails and the baby water boat men. The sound of the gentle bubbling trickle of the water is hypnotically restful - we love it.

Work tomorrow - and a busy week ahead with two days out of the office. Tuesday is the Flytipping Forum in Pontypool and Wednesday is London. The following week I'm off as Andy goes in for his nadger-ectomy on Friday morning, so I will be supervising the care of the convalescent.

Tuesday evening already - why does time go so quickly? Had a good weekend. Favourite aunty came to stay on Friday and we enjoyed a fab day out on Saturday at RHS Flower Show. Weather at hot summer temperatures, huge crowds and mouthwatering plants. Bought many and staggered home in state of contented collapse. New arrivals include a cardoon, a pink bergamot, lovage, salad burnet, grapefruit mint, four fuchsias, a sea holly and an omphalades cappadocia which has the most gorgeous blue flowers.

Sunday had a relaxed lunch, dropped off our guest at the station and returned home to do some planting up of the new purchases. Also planted our sunflower seedlings as they were starting to look a bit leggy. The ornamental gourds will probably be ready to go out next weekend. Andy of course was supervising closely.

The weather has now finally broken after about four weeks of hot dryness and the rain will be helping the new arrivals.

Yesterday was a busy day at work - after being away last week, 141 emails were waiting for me. Had a good meeting with Internal Audit who are looking at our management information processes at the moment, very interesting and should be useful. Signed off the recruitment forms for three new enforcement posts and the recently interviewed drivers. Starting to get lots of calls about the weekend supervisor position which has now been advertised.

Ordered train tickets today for next week. Going to the House of Commons for a posh lunch as a guest of the British Cleaning Council as we were a finalist in the Cleanest City competition. Am looking forward to it.

On Thursday this week, am doing some training on Clean Neighbourhoods Act and next Tuesday is the regional Flytipping Forum so it is likely to be a busy couple of weeks, especially with a few days out of the office - the time always flies then. Have some time off booked after the first May bank holiday as Andy is having his nadgers off - so will be at hand to supervise convalescence. As he is a fit, healthy boy should be straightforward. The attached photo shows what a contented greyhound looks like who has found how comfortable a well sprung kingsize bed can be for an afternoon snooze. Hmmm.

Yee-haaar, y'all! Well, Hayseed Dixie - what can I say? Absolutely fucking brilliant. What I had seen on their website and online reviews had whetted my appetite, but the real thing surpassed my expectations by miles. A picked me up and we headed off into town. A good crowd and a lovely mix - everything from family groups (gar- why bring kids to a gig? They should be at home doing sums), oldsters, punks in kilts, metalheads, country guys and just the plain curious.

The support group were bad, sort of Goth metal ish. All had spent a lot of time perfecting their posing. The singer wore a tiny little vest and every time she did an Avril Lavigne style bounce and stroked the back of her head to indicate her inner torment her boobs (which were large for her overall size) bounced perilously so I spent most of the evening waiting for them to escape.

Time for an interval drink and then it was time to head back in for the main event. The band came on wearing their trademark sawnoff dungarees, and got stuck in. Where most bands have a drummer, these guys had a large fridge full of real ales which they swigged copiously. Between songs they expounded briefly on their philosophy. This comprises such nuggets as:- There are only four things worth singing about - Drinking, Cheating, Fighting and Hell, and a surprisingly heartfelt plea for us all to ignore size zero models with salt water bag tits in favour of real women who eat food.

I spent the entire evening in a state of utter entrancement - it's just so bloody good to find a new band to like and watch play live. They are cracking musicians and seem to really enjoy themselves. What can I say about the music? Absolutely great. Particular highlights were Ace of Spades, I don't feel like dancing, and that hymn to pathetic break ups, I keep your poop in a jar. Grinning wildly on the way out, I treated myself to their latest CD, Weapons of Grass Destruction which I have been playing today. It's fab, and I feel it is likely I may be persuaded to purchase some of their earlier offerings. If you get the chance to go see them, do. A bluegrass take on heavy metal sounds weird, and shouldn't work, but somehow it does, defying logic, musical genres, and being grown up and sensible. Long may they continue. They finished the show with the duelling banjos - amazing.

From bluegrass to Andy, who is definately turning out to be a rock and roll sort of dog. Got home from the gig, he had knocked off the butterdish, broken it and had polished off nearly half a pound of best organic butter. I honestly didn't know whether to laugh or cry, as he looked very apologetic and I was incredibly worried he would hurt himself on the broken china, while being cross he had been so naughty and also imagining what half a pound of butter would do to his poo the next morning. The fun didn't stop there. I went up to bed pretty much straight away, leaving him on his favourite sheepskin, but woke this morning at the usual time around 6.30 to find a slumbering hound at the side of my bed, looking very contented. I wasn't too worried about that, but later on, after I had been to the bathroom, I emerged to find he has mastered the knack of jumping on the bed, and was curled up looking innocent, comfortable and very much at home. I've been pottering round today and when I have been upstairs, he has been on the bed a few more times - I suspect this will not be the last of it.

Finished an article today for an APSE e-bulletin on predicting the future of local authority environmental services. Unfortunately only 800 words, so just getting into my stride and time to cut short. Ended up going a little bit over but Debbie at APSE said that was fine. It's another lovely day and I'm looking forward to going out the garden this afternoon to do some stitching in the sunshine.

My sampler is finished, back from the framer and hanging on the guest bedroom wall. I am very pleased with it. Also in there are our seeds germinating on the windowsill for the ornamental gourds - they have nearly all sprouted which is very encouraging. The young master returns this evening from Scotland and tomorrow I am going to the CIWM Welsh AGM at Swansea, being held at the Liberty Stadium.

Life is good. Haven't posted in a while but the weather has been so fantastic we have been spending most of the time in the garden. Sunflower seedlings almost ready for planting and gourd seeds just beginning to germinate. Only downside is that along with doing no blogging, I am also doing no ironing or other domestic chores and what's more, I don't care!! Andy continues to settle in well, although we had a traumatic day yesterday when in a rare moment of domestic goddessness, I made a loaf of home made bread while the young master went for a run. It emerged from the breadmaker looking delicious with a fine golden crust and appetising smell. When it had cooled a little, I sampled a slice and was heartily impressed. I replaced the bread in the kitchen in what I thought was a safe location and went about my business. I was drawn to a soft thud from the hall. The little bastard was dragging the loaf across the floor with nefarious intent. I immediately retrieved it and the culprit shot upstairs and continued to peer at me through the banisters looking both desperately cute and rather guilty. When Andrew cam home I showed him the slightly battered bread and again replaced it - when we were watering later, it vanished again! Nothing if not persistent and determined. Andrew has yet to enjoy a single slice of the lovely loaf.

On a non-dog theme, going to see Hayseed Dixie later this week. I can't wait - they are a bluegrass interpretation of AC/DC and other similar heavy rock. Sounds amazing. If you are interested, check out their website - it's superb. I may very well buy one of their musical discs. Am attending with lovely colleague A (maker of champion tarts) as the young master is up in Scotland this week. On the weekend will be attending spring RHS show at Cardiff Castle - ooh, plant heaven. Yippee!!

One of the more interesting Cllr requests today in my inbox was for an immediate light meter reading in a residents house - it never ceases to surprise me the way that all sorts of odd requests end up with our service. Will finish here but will post later in the week to report on HD performance.

Life is good. Haven't posted in a while but the weather has been so fantastic we have been spending most of the time in the garden. Sunflower seedlings almost ready for planting and gourd seeds just beginning to germinate. Only downside is that along with doing no blogging, I am also doing no ironing or other domestic chores and what's more, I don't care!! Andy continues to settle in well, although we had a traumatic day yesterday when in a rare moment of domestic goddessness, I made a loaf of home made bread while the young master went for a run. It emerged from the breadmaker looking delicious with a fine golden crust and appetising smell. When it had cooled a little, I sampled a slice and was heartily impressed. I replaced the bread in the kitchen in what I thought was a safe location and went about my business. I was drawn to a soft thud from the hall. The little bastard was dragging the loaf across the floor with nefarious intent. I immediately retrieved it and the culprit shot upstairs and continued to peer at me through the banisters looking both desperately cute and rather guilty. When Andrew cam home I showed him the slightly battered bread and again replaced it - when we were watering later, it vanished again! Nothing if not persistent and determined. Andrew has yet to enjoy a single slice of the lovely loaf.

On a non-dog theme, going to see Hayseed Dixie later this week. I can't wait - they are a bluegrass interpretation of AC/DC and other similar heavy rock. Sounds amazing. If you are interested, check out their website - it's superb. I may very well buy one of their musical discs. Am attending with lovely colleague A (maker of champion tarts) as the young master is up in Scotland this week. On the weekend will be attending spring RHS show at Cardiff Castle - ooh, plant heaven. Yippee!!

One of the more interesting Cllr requests today in my inbox was for an immediate light meter reading in a residents house - it never ceases to surprise me the way that all sorts of odd requests end up with our service. Will finish here but will post later in the week to report on HD performance.

Yesterday was my birthday - 42!! It was a lovely happy day, and thank you to everyone for all the lovely cards and gifts. With it being Easter as well, the house is full of lovely cards. It was a day of glorious sunshine - impossible to feel anything other than happy and hopeful. I attach a photo of a wood anemone that we took up in the woods by Rhydry. The woods are Forestry Commission, and we enjoy walking up there. There are a wide range of flowers, trees and birds to enjoy as well as butterflies. We usually end up stopping to admire something natural. Yesterday we were treated to these wonderful flowers, and also just beginning to bud were some early bluebells. If this sunshine continues they will be in full flower in a week to ten days. We also enjoyed listening to a woodpecker as we walked. It was quiet up there - only saw one other dog walking party, but the walk was marred by discovering two burnt out cars, still smouldering. What was particularly distressing was that the personal possessions of the owners had been strewn around the cars. We picked up a letter and tried to get the phone number of the person but unfortunately they were ex-directory. Notified the police when we returned home. Enjoyed the rest of the day pottering in the garden and enjoying the sunshine. Had a bottle of champagne last night to celebrate - delicious.

Saturday also should have mentioned that my sampler was finished, washed and pressed, so ready for framing. Took it to be framed (pale blue mount, and limed plain frame) on Saturday morning as well as a John Knapp Fisher print. Picture attached.

Today is another beautiful day. We went to the garden centre this morning, along with I think most of the adult population of the country. Picked up some more shebunken for the pond and and a couple of pond plants, including a marginal marsh marigold. We walked Andy this morning over at Park Tredelerch which is right by work. Nice and peaceful as it is mainly frequented by fisherfolk. Enjoyed looking at marsh marigolds in situ on the margin of the pond, a lovely resident heron, lots of coots and moorhens, and further over in one of the rheens, a newt was visible. Andy went absolutely bonkers as the far end of the park is a rabbit paradise, and as it was still fairly early in the morning and so peaceful, lots of the little creatures were hopping about. Andy was literally bouncing with excitement, and uttering frantic squeaks. I wish we could let him off the lead but there are too many roads nearby for that, and a hyper greyhound with rabbits on his mind is not best placed to think about traffic. I am just about to do some ironing, as like the poor, it is always with us.

Andy has now been with us for just over a week. It has flown by. Andrew collected him last Thursday morning from the kennels and brought him home. Since then, we've begun to settle him in to a routine of sorts and he's experienced a number of firsts, including a visit to the vet on Saturday and a B.A.T.H. (traumatic for all concerned). On the plus side he has settled in remarkably quickly. He has a bed which is an Ikea sheepskin which he adores. This is in the living room, and when he is particularly relaxed he lies on it with his legs in the air which looks hilarious. He is a greedy eater and will cheerfully devour anything he can reach, which as he is a tall and intelligent dog, is quite a lot. A leg of lamb came to grief on Sunday, but we have learnt from that. He is great at travelling in the car, being very relaxed, but we still need to teach him to get in - at the moment, Andrew has to lift him in. He mastered the stairs very quickly and easily. Like most dogs, he is not over-fond of the hoover. He takes an immense interest in all the basic household tasks, such as hanging out washing, or washing up and likes to sniff everything with gusto.

On Monday and Tuesday we had the men in doing the floors, which of course created chaos. We tried to be out as much as possible. Now they are in, they look fabulous. I am so pleased with them. Andy's paws click as he walks over them. As we had to empty the rooms, all the bookshelves had to be cleared so on Wednesday, we emptied the last two boxes of books from the garage and had a tiring review of our entire library. There was a fair amount of pruning, re-ordering and the inevitable realisation that we never have anywhere near enough bookshelves - why is this? Is there some mysterious spatial law relating to books?

Today is a beautiful day and we are looking forward to just relaxing and enjoying the sunshine. I spent some time out the garden earlier giving Andy a good grooming. He loves it and visibly relaxes while I'm doing it. He is just losing his winter coat so is shedding a bit at the moment. My birthday on Sunday, and Andy's which is really spooky, although obviously he is quite a bit younger than me.

Yesterday Hil came up from Swansea on the train, and we raided Ikea for her new room layout. We ended up with five trolley loads, including a sofa, sofabed and armchair and a vast assortment of Billy bookcases. She is receiving the delivery tomorrow. We used the opportunity to stock up on Swedish meatballs and the shrimp cheese paste which Andrew likes, and has just had on toast for breakfast.