Another typical day of spring showers and a stiff breeze. After a peaceful morning of bacon sarnies and the paper, we trotted over to Garwnant to meet up with Anna, Rebecca and Paco (Andy's best mate). We had a lovely walk in another part of the forestry with stunning views over the lakes and the hills. We returned to the cars and sat at the picnic table with our flasks and the muffins I made yesterday. As you can see from the attached pictures, they were a great success and got the vote of approval from all concerned. Becca brought some dog treats for the starving hounds and it was lovely to sit in the sunshine, drink piping hot coffee and watch the dogs while catching up on all the news.

Went to Brecon on the way home, for a quick spin round Morrisons. They are the only supermarket I've found in a 20 mile radius that does buttermilk which I love for a number of recipes, so I stocked up. While we were chatting, Anna was telling us about her recipe for "Puppy Soup" which she makes regularly for Paco. Inspired by this, we bought some liver for our two, and Andrew has just finished saute-ing it. Then it will cool slightly before being polished off. The woofs have got incredibly excited when he was cooking it -I suspect the aroma was driving them nuts. The young master is prepping some squid for later, and soon a crisp gin will be poured. A very enjoyable day.

After such a beautiful weekend, the weather has turned much fresher and colder this week, with lots of showers. As I write, it is raining and the birds are still appreciating all the food we put out for them. Our landlord has been around in the garden this week, laying the hedge at the front, and doing some general tidying up of some of the shrubs. When I was talking to him yesterday, we had a superb aerial display from a red kite, shortly followed by a pair of buzzards, who flap around the hillside here. It was nice to talk to a fellow bird enthusiast.

Decided to post a couple of domestic pics. First, I made a leek tray pie last night - a receipe I've been meaning to try for some time. Using the bread maker, you make a small quantit of savoury dough, which is then rolled out very roughly to cover a swiss roll tin. Then filled with sauted leeks and mushrooms, and topped with a savoury custard made from a mix of creme fraiche and beaten eggs. I like the half fat organic creme fraiche from Yeo Valley - it tastes gorgeous. The recipe worked really well - the dough was light and fluffy. Endless variations are possible, the recipe suggested adding some Parma ham, and you could vary the vegetables almost infinitely. I quite fancy a thin layer of pesto on the dough before scattering the vegetables and custard mix. Will report back on future experiments.

This morning, made some bread and have just made some muffins. These are oat and yoghurt muffins with fresh blueberries - they weren't quite as perkily topped as some I've made but look and smell delicious. Will be sampling one shortly, to fortify me in time for the ironing!

Just returned from a weekend in Somerset with Andrew's parents. It was the first time we have stayed at another house with the dogs, and they behaved themselves so well. Although they have visited before, this was the first time they had spent the night at the house. We travelled down on Friday evening, and on Saturday awoke to a brilliant blue sky and blazing sunshine. We walked up to Will's Neck, the highest point on the Quantocks. It was stunningly beautiful, with amazing views over Hinckley Point (the nuclear power station), the coast up as far as Wales, the Quantocks and down into the valley where we could hear the puffs and toots of the West Somerset Steam Railway. We passed lots of teenagers laden under packs, doing their expeditions for their Duke of Edinburgh Awards. When we reached the top, we found a trig point and I attach some photos taken and also of the lovely old beeches on the hills as we ascended.

Returned home and had a snooze in the afternoon, followed by a lovely meal in the evening. On Sunday morning, it was again very clear, but with a stronger wind, and we decided to go to the coast, to Burnham on Sea. Like Weston, there seems to be a lot mud than sand. I can't imagine spending a holiday there but it is in fact a popular destination. The dogs loved being on the beach and running with Andrew. Couple of snaps attached.

Came back and had another forty winks in the afternoon, but another relaxing dinner in the evening. We all watched the new episode of "Lewis" in the evening - good fun, if a series of murders can be described that way! Rita very sensibly covered up all her furniture in the living room, so the woofs were able to curl up on the sofa without any problem, and they enjoyed it. Andy in particular was doing his regal paw-waving if he wasn't receiving enough tickles. A couple of shots attached of Booty reclining on the candlewick bedspread. They also had the luxury of several meaty bones, and home-made chicken stock served with meals, along with some very nice Somerset cheddar from the Farmer's Market. I think they could quickly become accustomed to the level of catering!!

Just a quick update from this morning. We took the dogs over to Garth Bank again and it was gorgeous. To start, loud baa-ing of lambs, and as we climbed higher and further, that gradually died away till all we could hear was bird song. Beautiful views through the trees of open country, hills and the uplands where the MOD practice bombing things. As it was so peaceful, we didn't put the dogs' muzzles on, just tying them on to their leads. This meant they could unleash their inner herbivores and one of their stranger habits - grazing on grass. Nibbling daintily, they thoroughly enjoyed themselves. Such a great way to start the day.

For some reason this morning, I have two great first lines from novels floating through my head. In "I capture the castle", it starts "I write this sitting in the kitchen sink". The Towers of Trebizond by Rose Macaulay starts with ""Take my camel, dear", said Aunt Dot on her return from High Mass." Both of these are among my favourite books. I think what triggered this was an article in yesterday's Telegraph Review by Neil McCormick on his hundred best songs. Naturally this started a great deal of debate between us about versions, inclusions and omissions and we went to bed still debating what songs we'd include in our own top 100. This might be a nice idea for a blog posting later. By this morning, somehow my brain had taken this overnight and morphed it into my favourite books, hence my musings on great opening lines.

We had an enjoyable day yesterday. It was dry and sunny after a wet week, and after a relaxing lie-in (joined by Booty) we ventured forth on a lovely walk by the river Wye. Using a starting point downstream from Erwood that we've used before, we walked down the bank rather than up, so a new area revealed. Again, it was stunning, with primroses and celandines studding the ground, lots of lovely trees, the river sparkling, lambs jumping, and birds calling. We watched a treecreeper for a few minutes and Andy enjoyed scoping out the area for squirrels. Came home via the butchers shop and the newsagent then a big pile of bacon sandwiches, a pot of coffee and the paper. Out later to do some grocery shopping and then in the evening we went to a concert over in Llandrindod. Held in a church, it featured a programme of late Renaissance and Baroque music, both sung and played. I loved listening to some trios played on old instruments - viols and bass viols - the forerunners of today's violins and 'cellos - the sound is quite magical. The choir tried some good stuffwith lots of Monteverdi, and some dramatic double choir pieces by Schutz (a pupil of Monteverdi's). One or two were a bit wobbly, probably under-rehearsed, but I was impressed at an amateur choir having a go, as these were tricky and unforgiving pieces to sing. The tenor soloist, Meirion Wynn Jones had an outstanding voice for this type of music - really excellent. One particularly endearing moment was when the choir had finished a piece called "Saul, Saul" - based on the Damascene conversion, with multiple spaced voices crying out "Saul, why do you persecute me?" - very exciting - the conductor turned round with a huge beaming smile on his face, and told the audience how much he'd enjoyed it. He then suggested singing it again, just because it was so exhilarating. So they did, and it was just as exciting the second time. The concert finished with Allegri's Miserere, a very well known piece but also very beautiful.

The concert was introduced by the church vicar who stood at the front, near the chancel rail. We were sitting at the back and could not hear most of his words as they got lost in the space. Several audience members bellowed out "We can't hear you" but it made no difference. I wonder if vicars are taught to project their voice. If not, there is no shame in using a microphone but simply mumbling amiably is not a good advert for church. Obviously the main altar cloths and church hangings were purple for Lent, but I noticed a number of quilted pictures of Welsh saints hanging round the pillars of the church. I was able to have a good look at the techniques used on the hangings which were very beautiful.

As I write this, the young master is still snoozing in bed. When I took the dogs out first thing, I noticed we were low on bird food, so have topped it up. Now, I can look up from the computer and see nuthatches, chaffinches and blue tits in the garden, all enjoying their breakfast.

Monday morning. Cold and windy. On Saturday we went down to Merthyr Tydfil to buy an iron. The old one was regularly tripping the switches, which is never good, and the handle had started to get so hot, it was difficult to hold. There is a large retail park alongside the A470 with all the usual sheds - so off to Currys we went. Found a nice iron, and very happy. However, absolutely astonished by the amount of people in Merthy walking round with bright orange faces. Clearly, the concept of skin cancer hasn't got this far up the valley, or they all have shares in Fake Bake. It was hideous. And an astonishing amount of people smoking - can't remember when I last saw so many people huddled outside shops with fags. Really grim. Definately illustrated all those stats you see that say Merthyr is one of the unhealthiest places in the UK.

On Sunday, the weather was bitterly cold and wet again. In the morning, we walked the dogs in a new Forestry Commission area (new to us, not a new forest) at Garth Bank. Stunning views over the surrounding countryside, with lots of lambs and sheep baa-ing but otherwise quiet. Another horse friendly spot, this time with hitching posts near the picnic tables. Again, blissfully free from litter, graffiti and burnt out cars. In the afternoon, over to Llandrindod Wells for my monthly craft group. This time, we were making and swapping ATCs which was great fun. Next month, class is put back a week due to Easter and we will be doing maze books. Came home, several phone calls and a relaxing meal. Watched the Victorians on BBC4 - enjoyed it, but felt that JP could very well have talked at more length about the way William Morris and the whole anti-industrial ethos (e.g. Pre-Raphaelite brotherhood) has had such a big influence on the green movement's ethos and values - often, sadly, very muddled and hopelessly sentimental. I'm no apologist for 19th Century unfettered capitalism, but a profoundly anti - industrial stance does little to engage with the problems of pollution and exploitation. Interestingly, Morris chose to live in a cosy suburb of London - I wonder how his ideas would have clarified if he had had to live somewhere like the Swansea valley at the time, systemically poisoned by arsenic and heavy metals, with appalling poverty. At least Marx and Engels, to their credit, tried to engage with the problems they saw, even if their conclusions were flawed. To a modern sensibility, the Victorian Gothic movement can seem to be a childish and irresponsible flight from the uncomfortable reality of the time. While Burne-Jones was painting Avalon in a sanitised version of the Middle Ages, Britain's poor experienced horrific oppression, pollution, hunger and exploitation.

Yesterday was a good day. It started with a very long lie-in - we surfaced around 10.30, over four hours later than our normal time. I managed to startle Carwyn the postman when he delivered to us, as I was still sitting there in my nightie when he turned up, rather than as normal either zooming round with the hoover or struggling with the Telegraph crossword, both activites usually undertaken fully clothed. Anyway, after some brunch, we toddled off into the day. We went to the Crychan Forest, north east of Llandovery. Our starting point was Esgair Fwyog car park and we were the only people there. The forest is full of old drovers routes and forest trails and is perfect for riding, biking and walking. I really would have enjoyed riding through it, as you could have gone miles without going anywhere a road. Another horse friendly feature was small enclosed corrals near the picnic areas, so your mount could be safely waiting while you had a barbecue. We had a long walk, and by the end which was uphill steeply on the way back, I was puffing like an old steam train, and quite tired and stiff. But it was a good feeling and I loved the forest and want to go back there. Some photos attached. What was also nice was there was no litter, no graffiti, no vandalism, no burnt out cars, broken glass, used condoms or fly-tipping. Bliss. The informative boards even had leaflet holders that contained dry, user-friendly leaflets with maps. Wow. I can recommend heartily.

After coming home, read the paper, had a gin and Andrew cooked some squid which was gorgeous. Served with a big mound of garlicky home made tsatsiki, which the woofs were delighted to finish. To follow, a coconut rice pudding. Andrew tried to get me to taste it, and I did try, but there is something about rice pudding - the smell, the texture, I just can't do it. Enjoyed some pleasantly mindless TV over the remains of our Sancerre (which was gorgeous) and an early night for all.

Today is St. David's Day, Dydd Dewi Sant, when we commemorate the patron saint of Wales. It brings happy memories of wearing my Welsh costume to school as a little girl, with a daffodil pinned on the front, and later in secondary school, all the boys would come in wearing leeks, with rivalry as whose was the biggest. Then they would start eating them, and soon the classrooms would reek of chewed, raw leeks. Delightful! There are some moves afoot to make St. David's Day a national holiday in Wales - I think this would be a good idea. When I was a child we were given a half day in school. My costume was very warm and comfortable. There was a red flannel skirt, a black and white striped flannel tunic, a white pinny, a very warm woollen shawl and on top a black straw flattened cockle pickers bonnet, as opposed to the more common black flower pot hat. With it would be a pair of woolly tights and my usual Start-rite school shoes. Assembly would be longer than usual, and the classrooms would be decorated with Welsh dragons, daffodils, leeks and maps of Wales.