Some delay in posting for a variety of reasons. Firstly, computer has the sulks and the big decision to be made is whether it is terminal. Unfortunately, it looks that way. DH has kindly rigged up a very old laptop, so we are making do with that at the moment. This does allow access to the Net, although many of the bookmarked sites have of course been lost, so am busy trying to re-establish that.

Anyway, what else is happening? Andrew returns from Scotland in about an hour and a half. As I write he should be in the air somewhere over Manchester (Jonathan, I'll hope he waves at the builders at the flat). I'm about to go and put the oven on, to cook some chicken that's been marinading in a red pepper and peri-peri marinade. Free range, natch, nearly a fiver for four thighs, and they were selling whole battery chickens for less than three quid. Also there were only two packets of FR chicken on the shelf, so I didn't feel we had a lot of choice.

I've been working on a quilt now for a few days - I can't say too much about it as the person it will be given to occasionally reads this blog, and it will be a surprise for them. In any case I will do a more detailed posting over on my Silver Nutmeg site, with all the exciting technical details. All I can say is that I am absolutely delighted with it, and I hope the recipient likes it.

Over the weekend, we popped down to visit a fellow greyhound enthusiast who lives on a lovely farm in Carmarthenshire, actually just down the road from my friend Liz. She has two lurchers who were delightful, although one was incredibly shy, owing to some previous bad experiences before being rescued. We also had the pleasure of a tour round her stables and had a nice horsy natter. Andrew (who doesn't share my love of horses) made friends with the stable cats and ended up wearing one as a kind of draped parrot, as he strolled round the yard. Came home wearing lots of sweet little muddy paw prints and sniffed very thoroughly by Andy and Booty who could obviously pick up the aromas of the other dogs.

There isn't really a lot else to write about. Andy has been going through one of his phases of collecting random objects for his nest upstairs, which has been downright surreal at times - may be he is a surrealist? The world's first surrealist greyhound - now there's something to conjure with. Objects I've had to rescue have included the cheese grater, a rug, several very sharp knives, a saucepan, cushions, some quilting batting (the stuffing in the middle), a fish slice, a measuring jug and Andrew's Duke of Edinburgh Award certificate. He also wasn't very happy today that I washed his duvet - I think dogs spend a lot of time working on the patina of fragrance (to them) in their den, and we humans come along and remove it, and replace it with boring old fabric conditioner.

Last week was busy, although it was half term in many places, including our quilting class. However, Wednesday night was Greyhound meeting up in Merthyr. We drove up there and found the venue which was a bowls club attached to a leisure centre. When I walked in with the lady I was travelling with, we were met by a lone bloke in the bar who regarded us as alien beings (as we were female)! I had forgotten that there were still these pockets of dinosaur men around up in the valleys - quite depressing really. Anyway meeting went well.

On the weekend, topped up Booty's medication. We arrived at the vet's surgery on Saturday morning, when he does a short clinic to find him in the doorway angrily wielding a hammer. I must have looked a bit startled but he immediately started banging hell out of the door frame which was apparently sticking. As he is a tough, no-nonsense Antipodean, (although wonderfully gentle with the dogs) this was quite impressive once I got over the shock. Anyway, got Booty's meds and disappeared for a walk, which was very cold.

Sunday, we were visited by Andrew's sister, husband and three boys. Nephews were happy, noisy and pleased to see the dogs. We had lunch first and then went back to Hamadryad park and over to the wetlands area. Although sunny, there was still lots of ice in the ditches. All had a good afternoon, returned home and we all watched a Wallace and Gromit DVD - thoroughly enjoyed it. Photos attached, taken while out.

It sounds like he's being tickled on the point of orgasm, or the nipple clamps were dipped in chilli before being applied. Yes, young Mr. Plant's magnificent howl opening up "Immigrant Song". That, combined with the thundering riff makes it a classic. Earlier in moment of idleness I was looking up the song lyrics on the web (so I could at least sing along with a degree of accuracy) and was tempted by a detour to the Viking Kittens. I've posted a link alongside; if you've never seen them before, these are animated kittens dressed as vikings doing their thing to the soundtrack of Immigrant Song - wonderful. The same team also have the kittens performing to "Gay Bar" by Electric Six. If you ever have a spare moment, which I know many of my readers do ( why else would you be reading this?) take a quick detour over there but make sure you have the volume turned up to get the full Zeppy glory. All together now, "WE ARE YOUR OVERLORDS".... dum dummde dum, dum dumm de dum..... This is one of the few possible alternative songs I can imagine emerging from the speakers during the scene in Apocalypse Now, when the helicopters swoop in playing "Ride of the Valkyries". Suggestions welcome for other alternatives......

In other news, it's been another sunny, clear day. I was over the park this morning just after 7.30 walking round the lake. As usual, a gorgeous close up of the herons, at one point I must have been barely 2 yards away from one, sitting on the fence over the outfall. They are such beautiful birds, and I never tire of watching them. Anyway, as I walked round to the other side, there is another sort of sluice gate, and what should be perched on top but a mink with a large fish in its mouth. Amazing. I have never seen one before in the wild and was stunned to see it, and impressed by its thick, lustrous black coat. It then disappeared into the reeds, and the dogs immediately assumed it was a new form of aquatic squirrel, so any chance of a second view was lost. News on other sightings welcome.

Another lovely sunny day. No more naked Scotsmen today, but I suppose it wouldn't do for that to become a habit. I attach some more photos, firstly one of Andrew yesterday doing manly stuff with the pond. You can see how green the garden is looking, and should be able to see the crocus flowering behind him.

Today we went down to Staples to collect the completed photocopying, so while there decided to visit another park - Hamadryad Park which then links up with the wetland behind the St Davids Hotel, overlooking the Bay. Enjoyed ourselves as did the woofs, and as it was so quiet, with no other dogs visible for miles, we took their muzzles off for a while, which they thoroughly enjoyed. Pictures attached. In the first one, you can see the St Davids Hotel behind me, and the Norwegian Church, which we like visiting when we are down the Bay (they also do lovely home made cakes).

Hoovered the car this afternoon - a never ending battle against mud, but I'm giving a lift to another Exec member on Wednesday evening, and would like her to be able to emerge from the car without being encrusted in mud, hair and hound aromas.

Tonight I am going to start thinking about garden seeds - a pleasant anticipation of summer growth to come. We need to decide what we have room to grow. We'll definately be doing sunflowers again though - I am not giving up on those. I am also very keen to try squash/pumpkin, and courgettes.

An update. We went into town tonight to see "And then there were none", adapted from the novel by Agatha Christie. Town was heaving with many exuberant and drunken rugby supporters, many wearing kilts. Anyway, during the interval, we stepped outside the theatre for a breath of fresh air, as the New Theatre has only a tiny bar area, and the house was virtually full. Fought our way through the smokers and noticed a whole crowd of mixed Scottish and Welsh rugby supporters opposite, all singing together which was lovely. Then noticed a moment later that an exuberant Scottish supporter had cast off his kilt and was prancing around the street, completely naked except for his sporran and a large smile. Brought the entire street to a standstill - although I suspect he was more at risk from marauding hen parties than anyone else.

The play was good - thoroughly enjoyed it, although the music between acts was deafening.

Sublime and ridicolous - that's today. Firstly, the weather has been gorgeous, beautifully sunny and warm, really springlike. There are crocuses in the garden, the hamamelis looks good, and I think the quince is starting to wake up.

We took the dogs this morning down to Grangetown, to the old tip at Ferry Road, now covered over and turned into a park, near Ikea. The views from the top are fantastic, especially on a sunny day. We could see right up to Castell Coch to the north, and the city centre landmarks such as the Millennium Stadium were easily visible.

Apart from the fact I can't seem to keep away from landfill sites for very long, we went there also as Staples is nearby. Last night I finished working on a poster for the forthcoming GRW Easter dog show, and I wanted to photocopy it at the shop so I can distribute copies at the Executive meeting on Wednesday night. So, off we went, but I made the fatal mistake of not wearing my normal red walking boots, but put on my comfy old Clarks pasties. Wrong shoes, bad mistake. So, up we climbed and the hill was lovely but slippery. All around us, larksong (isn't that the most wonderful sound in the world?), a hovering kestrel, blue sky and sunshine. Sadly also, huge piles of dog crap and near the top, masses of litter and even worse, broken glass. Not a bin in sight. That doesn't excuse dropping litter, but I firmly believe it should be made easy for people to do the right thing. I doubt if there is any point complaining as Parks a) are terrible at answering letters and b) have just cut their budget for litter clearance in parks - grrrr. Anyway the woofs and we enjoyed the sunshine and the views, as evidenced in the attached snaps. Coming down a slippery bit, I did the comedy pratfall beautifully and ended up with a posterior lavishly coated in mud and grass. Nothing hurt except my dignity, thankfully, and Andrew kindly volunteered to go into Staples for me, rather than me wander around with a large posterior liberally coated in gunk. I sat in the car, on my fleece like a naughty girl and when Andrew returned, we went home. Have pottered around, and Andrew has been in the garden cleaning the pond filter, and similar tasks.

Finally, should also mention that my Moo cards have arrived, and I am absolutely delighted with them, the speed of service and am already thinking of ordering some more. If you ever correspond with me, you can now expect to receive some of these with cards, letters, etc..

Lunch went well yesterday. Heard all about the plans for the big day, which included their greyhounds being ring bearers. That is just so gorgeous. The event is going to be a fiesta of high campery, with a glamour theme, and what sounds like half a ton of Swarovski crystals. Instead of a trad wedding cake, they are having a six tier cake stand (which lights up!! How camp is that?I want one, NOW) filled with hundreds of chocolate muffins on the very sensible grounds that wedding cake is usually grim, but everyone loves chocolate muffins. Also the plan is that this way they get round the cliche of the two groom mannequins on the top - I must admit it all sounds wonderful. We had chocolate cake at our wedding.

The two new recipes worked well - lamb was beautifully tender, there was a tiny bit left over, nestling by bones in the kitchen which the young master had earmarked for some late evening nibbling - unfortunately Andy got there first, sprinted upstairs with the lamb bone, and an unseemly tussle followed. Meringue was yummy, and fortunately so far no greyhounds have stolen any. The chocolate and ginger sauce was subtle but delicious, and complemented the pears very well. It was also a very easy recipe to do, so I think that it could become a standby.

After our guests departed, we had a relaxing evening watching the last of the Bourne films (I got Andrew the trilogy for Christmas on DVD) - a good film, not too taxing on the brain. The night before we made the mistake of watching Pirates of the Caribbean At Worlds End (also the last of the trilogy). AArgh! I really did think it was a waste of three hours of my life. It was way too long, and couldn't decide what audience it was playing to. Utterly dreadful. If you haven't already seen it, let my pain not be in vain, and don't.

Andrew got up at some ungodly hour this morning and flew up to Edinburgh for work. He called me later from just under the Scott Memorial - this brought back many happy memories for us both, as we both love the city, and I wished very much that I was with him. I attach a photo of it, taken when I was last there. However, greyhound compensation - as I type one is lying by my feet, and the other is on the landing having evil wind which may be the consequences of his lamb theft yesterday. Tonight I am hoping to watch the new David Attenborough series on reptiles. Am expecting the usual breathtaking photography and fascinating creatures, a wonderful reminder of the beauty and strangeness of our planet.

A cold morning. There is frost on the table in the garden. Will be taking the dogs out shortly, all of us wrapped up warmly. Tomorrow, some fellow greyhound people are coming over for lunch to have a chat about websites and so on. They're a gay couple who are planning their Civil Partnership (so, engaged? Is this the appropriate word? Advice welcome. ) so it will be interesting to hear about that, and compare notes on wedding planning. Had a pleasurable browse through the cook books last night deciding what to cook. Was tempted by our old standby, ham in Coca Cola, which we do regularly, as it is so lush, but eventually decided on a very slow roast shoulder of lamb, followed by a meringue served with pears, chocolate and hazelnuts. Both recipes are from the new Jamie Oliver, which we got for Christmas and have already enjoyed some of the recipes. I made some bread yesterday evening, so that will be waiting for us when we return with the dogs, probably to enjoy with some bacon. Not sure what else we'll be doing today - need to do a supermarket run, and will probably do some housework, but otherwise a day of gentle pottering. When the weather is cold and grey, that is sometimes the best way to spend the day, snug indoors.

I've also added some new links. They include the Guido Fawkes blog, which is a wonderfully refreshing and scurrilous political site, with all the news that doesn't go on the BBC. Also, CIWM, which is my chartered institution - it's a boring website in many ways, but can be useful if you feel like browsing the world of waste. The New York website is a model to us all in local government, and when I read this one and then look at Cardiff's I feel like kicking someone. Check out their pages on cleansing, recycling etc... the Dept of Sanitation (NY's Strongest) are awesome. We have a long way to go before we can be this good. And of course, the inspiration for me to start blogging in the first place, cousin Jonathan and his words of wisdom. I'll continue to add links of interest as I feel like.