One of those busy but fairly peaceful weeks that seems to fly by and leaves you on Friday night wondering where it went. On Wednesday we went down to Swansea to see visiting cousin Jonathan who is recuperating at his parents house. A slightly stormy journey down as once past Fforestfach, Andrew seemed to suffer a strange amnesia leading to marital disharmony at several road junctions and some unexpected sidetracks through Cockett. Anyway, it's traditional for married couples to bicker about navigation in the car. We arrived safely, saw Jonathan and had a lovely time with him, although sadly too short, as we needed to get back for the dogs. Thursday Andrew had running club, which is going well. Other than that, a peaceful round of domestic duties, greyhound wrangling ( a constant pleasure) and assorted craft related activities. Things are taking shape for a greyhound Fun Day in Pontardawe on Easter Monday. This week one of the guys from GRW ordered the rosettes after I worked out how many we'd need.

The only other thing to mention is that the iron has an unfortunate habit of blowing the fuses in the house. When it happened the first time I just thought we had a power cut, but the second time I realised the connection straight away. Of course there is a very good argument for saying that I should take the hint and cease to iron, as clearly the activity is not good for the house's electrical system. On the other hand, there is something very satisfying about a crisply ironed and laundered tea towel hanging up in the kitchen.

On Friday, Andrew had a half day. It was a beautiful day, sunny and mild, so we went for a gorgeous walk along the Wye from Erwood. We had the walk to ourselves apart from the ducks on the river. There were celandines peeping through and lambs in the field - starting to feel like spring is on its way. Some pics attached. We toddled home and had a gin and a curry. The computer has been playing up and on Friday night the internet both via Explorer and Firefox became unusable.

Saturday, Andrew took the woofs out and then we had some bacon sandwiches (home made bread). Had a shower and then trundled off to do some food shopping. Because there are no proper supermarkets round here, this means doing a run round Aldi, a run round Somerfield and then stopping off at the butcher on the way back. Half the world seemed to be doing the same thing. At the butcher, picked up a nice belly pork cut which Andrew will be roasting for a long time this afternoon. Again, it was fabulously mild - I was able to go out with just a top on, no jacket. Andrew made a delicious butternut squash lasagne with Perl Las cheese - scrumptious.Then he was heroically taking off all the computer programmes and reinstalling everything.

Today a quiet day with another walk on the Wye, this time a bit further down than Erwood. Parts of the walk are an old railway line and it was very pleasant. We saw some canoeists on the river, but again it was very quiet and peaceful. Andrew has just gone for a run and the dogs are sulking cos they didn't go with him. Now just off to put on the oven to warm up for the pork joint.

Quite an eventful end to the week. Greyhound Exec on Wednesday night down at County Hall in Swansea. A long drive and it is always late when I return as we don't leave Swansea until 10. However, the drive is usually very beautiful and I can practically guarantee that once past Llandeilo I'll have the road to myself. The route I take from Swansea is up through Fforestfach, down to the M4, west on M4 to Pont Abraham, pause to wave at Liz, then on to Crosshands and Llandeilo (quicker than going via Ammanford)and thence onto Llandovery, Llanwrtyd Wells, Beulah, Garth, Cilmery and then home. I've considered taking the Heads of the Valleys route, but am not convinced it would be quicker. Reader suggestions and ideas always welcome. Anyway, the moon was nearly full, it wasn't too icy and there was something so beautiful seeing the hills shining, still with their cover of snow, and the shapes of the trees. The absence of street lights in Powys does lend itself to a rather romantic approach when you're doing this sort of drive, although I'd be the first to welcome them back for all sorts of other reasons. One of the things we'll be doing is an Easter Monday greyhound walk in Pontardawe by the Tawe, with an Easter egg hunt and an Easter costume parade. Lots of rosettes and hopefully lots of fun too.

Friday morning I had an appointment with the nurse in the surgery. Every time I go there I am struck anew by the pleasurable contrast with the practice in Cardiff, and find myself wondering how and why a national service does vary so much. Although no GP surgery is ever a pleasant place the one in Builth is spotlessly clean, neat, has friendly efficient staff and so far I have always been seen promptly. The nurse was lovely, most impressive, being both highly professional and very approachable. Top marks. The GP I was assigned to in the practice is apparently retiring in the spring, and his replacement is female, although I have yet to meet her, and in the best of all possible worlds would prefer not to.

Andrew came home on Friday afternoon and we set off for Cardiff after loading up the car. got some fish and chips to eat, hastily changed and then scampered down the Bay to see The Marriage of Figaro. Setting was nice, in a 1920 milieu, with attractive costumes. Singing was fine but the direction was terribly slow and rather quiet. We has stall seats very near the front but I would be concerned about hearing detail if I was sitting further back. If Mozart is going to work, it really has to sparkle and this just plodded. Poor Andrew was looking more and more miserable and fed up, so by the interval we decided to call it a night and walked out. I think life is simply too short to sit through things if you don't like them. Not helped by Welsh speaking friends either side of us who kept leaning over us to whisper "Enjoyo?" at each other at every possible moment. We called in Sainsburys on the way home and bought a ready chilled bottle of wine and some breakfast ingredients, then came home to an ecstatic welcome from the woofs, who were slightly confused to be back in their Cardiff domain. Had a peaceful night on the bunk beds in the spare room, then had breakfast with woofs. Andy normally likes to play with yogurt pots and this is a well established custom with us. However he was rather dismayed as I had treated myself the previous night to a raspberry yogurt from Losely which come in glass jars and accordingly are much less amenable to greyhound nibbles.

Then had a tremendously exciting text from friends who we were going to meet later in the morning. A Valentine's day proposal!!! Accepted!!!! How wonderful. So off we went to Tredegar House for a nice walk with the happy couple and their lovely greyhound, Paco. He gets on especially well with Andy and it was great to see the two dudes hanging out and having fun, scoping out squirrels, having peeing contests and generally being boys. After a lovely walk, we headed home via the farm shop at Berryhill which is en route, and stocked up on some veg, some gorgeous looking steak, local honey, eggs (they keep chickens there and it is nice to see them out in the field, having fun)and some home made sausages. Anna and Bec stocked up too then we all went our separate ways. I popped into Inkspot for a craft fix then it was time to go back home. Cardiff was teeming with people for the match and it was nice to see how many ways you can wear a Wales shirt. Home, unpacked and a quiet afternoon and evening, with Andrew cooking a sumptuous Valentine supper of the aged steak (thick, tender and mind bogglingly tasty)with potatoes boulangere with a Perl Las topping, followed by a chocolate and raspberry pudding that he made. To drink, a really nice Crozes Hermitage. Bliss. Greyhounds contentedly snoring and an early night for all.

Quiet day today. Andrew went running and took hounds with him, which they loved. I've spent the afternoon doing some ATCs and have made some bread to eat with some home made soup later. Generally feeling peaceful, happy and romantic. Some pics attached, taken over at Tredegar.

Saturday afternoon already. Last night we enjoyed Nigella's maple chicken where you marinade it in apple juice, maple syrup and various other goodies including lots of garlic before baking it in the oven and then devouring the stickily adorable results. The recipe suggests also using ribs and we've often done those too as a mix with chicken. Everyone who's ever eaten it has loved it, usually resorting to animal greed and spectacular displays of Henry VIII style gnawing and hurling of animal bones. Sometimes it's good to let out your inner Tudor tyrant. Nominally healthy green salad served with, then downhill all the way health wise with a delicious pudding of golden syrup roly poly pudding served with double cream (again a Nigella recipe). Devoured contentedly then a happy evening spent watching "A River Runs Through It", one of my favourite films. Robert Redford as director has actually made two corkers - this and "Ordinary People" which I think is genius too.

River features a very young Brad Pitt - the story is wonderful, the scenery is gorgeous and every time I watch it I swear to visit Montana. Robert Redford provides the unseen narration, and as usual I am in floods of tears by the end. Interestingly my opinion of the film has shifted with successive watchings. Brenda Blethyn as the mother of the family is magnificent. For years I never really liked Brad Pitt's performance, finding it just too light. Watching it last night though, although it was flawed, I think he did capture the essential nature of the character, while the other brother,the narrator, just seemed so lumpy by comparison. The biggest change has been my view of the father's character - with each viewing I warm to him more, and like the underplaying. I think that's often a mark of a good film (or a book or play actually) that you can get different things out of it at different times.

Earlier in the week, I caught up with Nosferatu the Vampyre, the version made by Werner Herzog, not the original Expressionist version, although of course Herzog pays tribute to the original with many similar shots. As a teenager watching it, I fell madly in love with Klaus Kinski and still find him curiously attractive in the film, in a bruised and wounded way. Far from being an all powerful vamp, as we are now used to seeing in so many productions, he seems old and hunched and strangely vulnerable in many ways. I do also think that he has a gloriously sexy voice - that gorgeous broken accent as he says "Listen to the children of the night make their music" while the wolves howl. Ah, bliss. How I long for a push-up nightie and a four poster at moments like that. Isabelle Adjani's performance hasn't stood up quite so well. She's still astonishingly beautiful but because English is not her language, she seems curiously wooden while speaking. Fortunately she is more than able to earn her keep simply drifting around in gorgeous lacy dresses, looking pre-Raphaelite and scared.

Today we went for a walk with the woofs from Erwood, a small village near Builth on the Wye. Had a slightly sticky start by taking a wrong side path leading to a mudfest and a sticky moment on a stile (most undignified) but generally good. Magnificent views of the river, snowy hills, eccentric fishing huts and grazing sheep. Happy greyhounds and happy people. Returned home to homemade bread bacon sandwiches and a snuggle on the sofa with the paper. Just had a shower and am now pottering about as it starts to get dark. Just been accosted by a greyhound requesting a cuddle so am happy to oblige.

Snow continues. It eased yesterday and Andrew was able to drive to work this morning on fairly clear roads. Then it started again and has been gently falling all day. His running club was cancelled tonight, and more is forecast for tomorrow and possibly the weekend. We are continuing to put lots of extra food out for the birds and they seem to be appreciating it. Had an interesting conversation on Facebook with a friend earlier today on what we would do if Prime Minister. Here in no particular order are my top 20 of laws I would enact - bear in mind that some of them may be a teensy bit impractical. I welcome thoughts, comments and suggestions on others. You'll notice shooting seems to feature a lot.

1. Ban caravans travelling on roads, except for when on a transporter.
2. Shoot people who fly post or spray graffiti tags. It is criminal vandalism of the worst sort.
3. Cease the revolting practice of flooding death sites with mawkish bunches of flowers and soft toys. Hideous.
4. Move all soap operas to a dedicated "soap" channel. Anyone wishing to watch it should pay a large annual fine payable to a mental health charity.
5. Middle lane hogs and tailgaters to have their licence suspended for six months.
6. A "stupidity" tax on all "sleb" magazines of at least £10 per issue sold, again to be used for subsidising mental health services.
7. Improve chicken welfare radically.
8. Combovers (a la Arthur Scargill) to be banned, along with cardigans with zips for men.
9. Improve pig welfare by stopping the import of ANY pig meat into the UK that does not meet our welfare standards which would be uplifted radically as well.
10. Reform of the Sunday trading laws - any shop should be able to open when they choose - three days a week or seven at hours to suit them, not outmoded ideas of antiquated politicians.
11. Reform the Common Agricultural Policy - actually, scrap the CAP. Farmers should make their own choices about what to grow. No tariffs or bars to developing countries so they can trade fairly with us.
12. Scrap S4C - why does the taxpayer subsidise nonsense like Pobol y bloody cwm?
13. Installing a proper fibre optic broadband system into the UK.
14. Get rid of WAG once and for all. It is nothing but a superannuated council chamber, with no proper powers and spectacularly lacklustre politicians.
15. Improve the lot of greyhounds - this could have twenty recommendations to itself.
16. Abolish the Royal Family after the death of the present Queen. A charitable foundation could be set up so that anyone wishing to contribute to their upkeep could continue to do so voluntarily.
17. Disestablish the Church of England and remove all ties between Government and ANY kind of organised religion. No state money should support any faith school and all faith schools should be inspected to the same standards and expectations as secular ones. Individual parents would be free to support and subsidise faith schools if they chose, but not expect the rest of us to subsidise them.
18. Shoot corrupt politicians, in either House, national or local.
19. Major reform of the NHS and local government.
20. Remove VAT from sanitary protection products.

There, that will do to begin with. I welcome comments, ideas and views.

Not surprisingly this is all about snow. It started snowing yesterday. Andrew was able to get home carefully, but it was apparent that it would be difficult today. Sure enough, it snowed all night and this morning we awoke to a beautiful white world. Andrew has been working from home with his laptop. A few vehicles, mainly 4 x 4s have been up the road, but mainly it has been all quiet, although I was hugely impressed by the post being delivered.

Andy and Booty have been loving to play in it, and I went out earlier with Andrew to make snow angels and take some pictures of the river. Our next door neighbour was valiantly cleaning his path, but it is now snowing heavily again, so I suspect it was a futile effort. Done some baking this morning, made some mini meatloaves and a cherry and almond traybake, both now cooling in the utility room. Andrew walked into Builth and got a paper and some more bird food. I have never seen so many birds in one place. There are four male blackbirds, three robins, a thrush, masses of tits and the nuthatch visited earlier. As well as the normal peanuts and fatballs, we've added mealworms, black sunflower seeds, bread, cheese and raisins. It must be desperate for them.

I attach some pictures of us playing in the snow and the river. My Facebook page will also have a new album.