An eventful week. Friends will know that Wednesday was my 44th birthday. Birthday celebrations started in a modest way the day before when Carwyn the postie brought the post including a birthday parcel. When I mentioned it was a birthday present, I was promptly rewarded by a birthday kiss, which got the day off to a good start. On the day itself, Andrew took the day off work. When I awoke, I opened the pile of cards and birthday ATCs that had been sent to me. Then some presents. Very exciting, especially with greyhound on hand to supervise. After breakfast we headed off to spend some time at Hay-on-Wye - Andrew's first visit to the town, and my first for some years. From here, it is only 25 minutes drive away, through pretty scenery. We found the main car park then had a nice enjoyable wander. Apart from bookshops there are a high number of tea shops and delicattessens in the town, so we found a nice one for lunch where we could sit outside in the sunshine. My purchases included the letters of Sir Roy Strong and a William book by Richmal Crompton. Also, I bought a sweet little blue bunny ornament for Easter and a cheerful little money box shaped like a yellow chicken covered in flowers. This is going to be a "stash fund" for stocking up on craft items.

Returned home for some delicious home made birthday cake from Andrew. The cake was a lemon sponge and is shown in the photos. As it was also Andy's birthday, both dogs got a slice which they enjoyed. Then off to Swansea for a greyhound meeting, to which as it was my birthday I took along some home made chocolate muffins with cream cheese frosting. These went down very well and were popular. Penny gave me the thoughtful gift of a little bay tree in a pot, as well as a lovely card.

On Friday we packed up the car and headed down to Cardiff. We did a pile of gardening, and while doing so, more viewers for the house turned up. Let's hope this is a positive sign. Also did lots of cleaning. Garden responded well - even little things like brushing and spraying down the patio make a huge difference. Andrew also cleaned out the pond pump and tidied up some of the pond plants - there are lots of happy tadpoles in the water. In the evening, some greyhound friends came over and we shared a takeaway in a cheerfully picnic style. Although we had a dining table we had only two chairs and no cutlery or plates. But then Andrew brought some chairs in from the garage, and we remembered the picnic things under the stairs. So we dined off melamine plates with plastic cutlery! It was great fun though.

Then off to bed in the bunks upstairs and on Saturday morning we headed off into Cardiff ot buy my birthday present from Andrew. This wonderful thing is a Flip Mino video recorder - a tiny digital video recorder about the size of a mobile phone with idiot proof controls. We also popped into the Nationwide to sort out some ISA stuff and then went round to Borders as another part of my birthday treat. Visited the inhouse Starbucks for a fortifying and wonderful mocha with gallons of whipped cream, and browsed the books. I ended up with a book on jelly roll quilts (most inspiring) and another on life in austerity Britain, after the war. As well, I stocked up on fun stickers and things in Paperchase. Our final stop in town was in Accessorize - another birthday treat to myself from myself. Bought a handbag and a couple of pairs of earrings. Then home and time for housework. Left the Cardiff house looking spick and span and returned here late in the afternoon, both shattered. A very early night last night.

Today, we slept in till about 9.30 which was bliss. Then after a late breakfast and a shower we met up Tara, another greyhound friend, her partner Andy, her parents, their two dogs and Tara's two greys, all of whom were camping in a lovely site in Builth. This was the first opportunity I had had to visit a modern caravan - I was hugely impressed. Tara's caravan was spacious, light and featured built in music, microwave, fridge, sink, bathroom with shower and loo, flat screen TV and virtually every other mod con you could think of. The sleeping area for two greys and two adults looked comfy and commodious. Amazing. After a chat and a drink, we all headed over to the Red Lion in Llanafan Fawr for a relaxing drink. We were able to sit outside the pub in the sun, which was great for the dogs and enjoy a relaxing chat. Apparently the beer was very good and it was great to watch kites overhead and the first swallows I have seen this year. I drove us home and we are now catching up with things in a relaxed fashion here. Andrew is cooking a roast pork joint with rosemary from the garden in Cardiff. Afterwards we'll be able to unwrap an Easter egg.