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.