An eventful day today for Booty. When we took her to the vet last week for her annual booster, we discussed a small cyst that had appeared on her right eyelid. So far, it has not been bothering her, but the vet felt it would be better to remove it via a minor operation. So, no food for her last night, which led to her belly rumbling very loudly while she was on the bed with us last night. I didn't sleep very well thinking about her, and then this morning Andrew took both woofs out for a quick constitutional before we took her into the vet at 8.30. Leaving her there was awful - she really doesn't like it there - her tail goes between her legs and she shakes - I felt utterly miserable. Andy was incredibly subdued without her - spent most of the morning glued to me, sat on top of me on the sofa when I watched some QVC Craft Day and was not his normal self at all. We eventually picked her up around 3.30 - she was delighted to leave the vets. The nurse said that she had been sweet but stubborn - yes, that's our Booty. She has a small shaved area on the front of one of her legs, and hardly any visible evidence on her eye - the vet had done a very neat job. We've given her a tiny amount of food this evening, which she's enjoyed and she's mainly been asleep. Tomorrow, we'll see how she's recuperating. I think she deserves a couple of days of taking it easy.

Another golden autumn day. After a deep sleep last night, needed by all of us, we went out for a walk up in the Forestry Commission at Rudry. We like it up there - it's usually very quiet, the woods are beautiful and we see lots of birds and other wildlife. Andy spent most of the walk looking up into the trees in case he saw a squirrel. On previous walks we've even seen foxes crossing the paths in daylight. Today we saw some mountain bikers, robins, blue tits, long tailed tits, buzzards and chaffinches. Around us the woods were full of birdsong and we couldn't hear any traffic so it was glorious. I've previously mentioned my love for the film "Pan's Labyrinth" - one of the reasons is the film captures the magic of woods, an enchantment willingly undertaken. Today also I felt as though I was in middle-Earth - that glorious, hazy out of time sensation that comes with deep peace, relaxation and contentment. The book is on my mind at the moment, as for some reason, I usually re-read it every autumn. Of course, I read it at other times as well, but there's something about this time of year that drives me back to it. My relationship with the book is long - I first read it aged 9, fell in love totally and re-read it so much that the book fell apart. As an adult I take a slightly more critical view - for instance, the lack of strong female characters is irritating (except Eowyn, of course, and even she goes in for a bit of hopeless yearning at times) and I still find Sam annoying but on the whole it still utterly captivates me, and it would seem, many others as it frequently tops the list of favourite books whenever polls are done. At the same time, unlike say Pride and Prejudice, it is deeply unfashionable and is never liked or admired by any literary critic that I have read. Maybe because it is un-ironic and heroic, qualities not liked by critics? Attach a couple of photos - some attempting to capture that Shire mood and one comedy one of Andrew looking as though he's sniffing Andy's bottom - not really sure what's going on in that one.

A long and tiring day, but I think it was productive. Our aim was to view a number of rental properties in the hope that we would be able to pick one and hence sort out where we will be living and I THINK we have succeeded. As it was going to be a long day we took the dogs with us, and I must say I was very impressed by how well they coped with the travelling and behaving in new places. To celebrate we bought them a sausage roll each and they appeared to appreciate it. On the motorway first thing, it was incredibly foggy with temperatures down to 4 C. As the day continued, the sun appeared and it turned into the most beautiful golden sunshine with a clear blue sky and turning leaves everywhere. A couple of photos attached. Some of the houses we saw were lovely but very unsuitable - fortunately we've seen two today that were fantastic, and one, a bungalow with secure garden that we are very keen on renting. Andrew, with his usual impeccable logic reminded me that the other possibility, a remote and isolated farmhouse would be fantastic to buy, but less promising as a rental when we still have questions about the daily commute, access to local services etc. As usual he is right, so the less romantic but eminently more practical sensible bungalow will probably win out. When this is confirmed, probably on Tuesday, I will be emailing family and close friends with the new details and likely dates. If any readers wish to receive contact details but are unsure if they are in the close friend category - drop us an email and I'll add you to the list. This evening, we returned home and are both shattered. Dogs are quiet too, so I think we'll all soon be heading for bed and a relaxing lie-in tomorrow.

Yet again, the Woodhouse pack is on the move. Andrew has accepted the offer of a new position, subject to usual medical and references etc... so will probably be starting in early November. To ease the process of moving, we've decided to rent somewhere in the area, allowing us to sell our place in Cardiff as a vacant property, and eventually purchase without being part of a chain. The idea is that this should minimise stress.... we'll see. Now begins a period of busy list-making, packing, tidying and so on. Hoping to visit some shortlisted rental properties this weekend - of course, renting with dogs is proving more difficult than I imagined. God forbid we were smokers as well - we'd be homeless.

Once paperwork is completed, I'll write more on the details as they unfold. Although the actual process of moving is never particularly pleasant, I am always someone who enjoys living in new places. Have just been doing a little research on the internet, and it appears that one of the places we're likely to view on the weekend has a very good pub, in easy walking distance with a wide selection of real ales, open fire, and home cooked food. The village also has a medieval church and is only about 2 miles from where the young master will be working, raising the possibility of cycling into work. So, before I get too excited, I'll stop here, and will probably write more on the weekend when we have hopefully resolved some accommodation issues.

Another astonishly beautiful day. We went down to Swansea for the Bay 10K - Andrew's third time in this race. Took the woofs as it is too long a day to leave them unattended. Arrived and parked in good time, and walked the dogs around. Andy was on full squirrel alert. Watched Andrew set off at the start, then back to the car for a read for a bit while waiting. Went over to meet him at the finish - chaos as the normally efficient funnels were completely clogged up. Eventually cleared and returned home in more glorious sunshine. Just about to enjoy a roast chicken and the victorious athlete has had a hot bath to soothe his tired limbs. Some photos attached. Will get Andrew's chip time when they are uploaded onto the race website - he thinks it's around 52 minutes.

Went to the hairdressers today. Had it coloured and cut. As I usually do for the winter, selected a deep purply brown. The cut features a fringe and choppy layers made with a razor. I'm very happy with it, although I always only feel really bonded with a new haircut, once I've washed and styled it myself.

The weather this week has been lovely. While Andrew's been away sadly, I've been walking the woofs over at Tredegar House. This morning, I saw Marianne, wonderful quilt tutor so we had a brief chat. The dogs go loopy over there as at the moment it is awash with squirrels. Andy is convinced he can climb trees and does a vertical take off - impressive height achieved. The temperature this morning coming back was as high as 22 - it felt positively tropical after this miserable summer.

Just taken the dogs out the garden for their evening ablutions - cool and starry overhead with the most beautiful gibbous moon, a glorious champagne colour with bats flitting around. I love bats and wish I was better at identifying them. Tomorrow looking forward to a relaxing day with Andrew.

A long day today, but happy and successful. The GRW show down at Pembrey Country Park in Carmarthenshire. We left home at 8 and arrived at the site just before 9.30. We marked out the rings, car parking areas and areas for stalls etc... By 10.30 the first entrants needed to be registered and from then till 1 it was a steadily building crowd. In fact by 1, we still had a long queue to register (see photo below). Two lovely judges worked their magic, and I helped to keep the supply of rosettes coming. We also had a stall from Ferret Rescue with some lovely little ferrets on it, an animal painter, and a couple of other animal rescue organisations. Amazingly, and I am still shocked to write this, the weather was wonderful. It didn't rain. Judging finished around 3.30 and we packed up. Left around 4.45, both knackered and happy. Dived into a nice hot bath and drank the most enormous gin, then watched a Johnny Cash documentary. Blimey, what a sexy voice he had, and a real presence. Now off to bed, to snore contentedly.

Had a good weekend. My dear friend Leila visited from Plymouth and we had a lovely time. On Friday we went to see Hellboy 2 which I have been looking forward to seeing for some time - it was great. Favourite line. Abe says to Hellboy - "My body is a temple." H replies "Mine is an amusement park." On Saturday Leila was brave enough to come with me to a card making workshop at Inkspot, where we made some very pretty Christmas cards. When Andrew picked us up after having gone for a run, he noticed that we were both covered in a layer of glitter - to me the sign of a successful crafting session. In the evening we went out for a meal to the Armless Dragon in Cathays. Sunday was more relaxed and then Leila drove back to Plymouth on Monday morning. Some pics attached. One shows Leila receiving a collage I made for her. She gave me all the 40th birthday cards she received and I put them together in this frame.

What can I say about this weather? It just keeps on raining. I battle every day with a sea of mud, the dogs seem to be permanently muddy and my boots are finally giving up so will have to buy a new pair. It's been so heavy this week that the few flowers we have in the garden have been trashed with their petals forming a kind of puree around the garden, including some pretty late roses and our lovely Japanese anemones.

Andrew will be returning from Scotland shortly - have made him some couscous with prawns and a peach and blueberry crisp. I did do quite a bit of cleaning earlier but the floor is now covered (again!) with muddy little pawprints. While Andrew has been away, Booty has been keeping me company on the bed - she is a real snuggler and keeps me lovely and warm.

Yesterday visited my greyhound friend Penny down in Carmarthenshire with her two lovely lurchers - we also went to the feed merchant and visited a little Section A pony she was thinking of buying (and eventually did). The pony was a pretty dapple grey mare and was overweight after a summer at grass but had very nice confirmation and a sweet nature. Said hello to Penny's other horses, and when I went into the barn, her cats came and greeted me too, including the one with only one eye and a gorgeous black one who immediately decided that my neck was where he wanted to sit, so did. So I was strolling round the barn talking to the horses with a new scarf on, that was purring loudly and vibrating into my shoulder. Of course, when I returned home, wearing this cocktail of entrancing aromas, the two hounds couldn't tear their noses away for ages.