The young master has been off all this week and it's been lovely to enjoy him being around, with relaxing days although the weather hasn't been particularly good. Booty's ear continues to recover, although it still looks gungy. I received a parcel yesterday - I ordered a really pretty summer dress via the internet - black and white and sleeveless, showing remarkable optimism about sunshine to come. Of course, since then it's mainly poured down but we've got a night at WNO coming up for La Boheme so I'll be able to wear it for that.

Today we had a day out, going over to Strata Florida Abbey, in Ceredigion between Aberystwyth and Tregaron. We were delighted to find they allow dogs, so were able to take the pack, which was nice as we didn't then have to clock watch. Showery all the way there although the rain held off while we were visiting. The abbey was the first Cistercian foundation in Wales, founded around 1200, and was an important focal point in Welsh politics as the monks often acted as brokers between warring factions. Many Welsh princes are buried there, leading it to be known as the Westminster Abbey of Wales, although I must admit I think this is stretching it a bit. It is a truly beautiful spot, with a peaceful atmosphere and a fascinating history, and I recommend it wholeheartedly as a place to visit. I last visited it on a summer holiday day out aged about ten I think - I remember wearing my red Pacamac. Coming back we took the mountain road south of Tregaron, back to Beulah - an astoundingly gorgeous route, full of wild mountains, waterfalls, hillsides covered with bluebells, red kites, fresh green trees and hardly anyone else around. Amazing. On the way home, we stopped off at the New Inn at Newbridge on Wye - the pub has a butchers shop attached where they sell meat from their own animals. We popped in earlier in the week, but there was a scrawled note up saying "Closed - gone fishing" which made me smile. This time they were open, and we bought some home cured bacon, home made sausages and one of their home made pies.

I attach some pictures taken at the Abbey and will put some also up on Facebook.

After a peaceful day yesterday, today we went to an event organised by Radnorshire Wildlife Trust, who were having an open day at Gilfach Nature Reserve, not far from Rhayader. We decided not to take the dogs - Andy has sprained his rear paw, Booty's ear is still poorly and dogs are not always welcome at nature reserves anyway, due to the risk of disturbing ground nesting birds and so on. So we left three sad little faces when we went, but had a wonderful time.

The reserve is an unimproved hill farm, now run organically with sheep and a few beef cattle in the base of the valley. The reserve has a centre with an old Welsh longhouse, now lived in by the wardens plus an old oak cruck framed barn turned into a visitor and education centre. A variety of habitats exist, with upland pasture, woodland and rivers, all supporting an excellent range of wildlife, including some impressive badger setts, otters in the river and a wide variety of bird life. We thoroughly enjoyed wandering round, exploring the trails, spotting nest boxes and admiring the stunning views. Red kites circled overhead and we could hear cuckoos calling in the woods. After our walk, we enjoyed a pot of tea and some home made cake from the wardens, which we ate at a picnic table looking out over the valley.

Came home and watched a little bit of craft on QVC while cross-stitching, although Andrew swears he heard a few snores from my sofa - shocking! Just had one of Andrew's cheese scones, made yesterday and delicious and will be doing some pasta for us later. Pics attached of the nature reserve.

Well, I think we ought to have season tickets for the vets. No sooner had we got Murgatroyd all sorted, then Booty is in the wars. She and Andy had a most uncharacteristic food fight on Thursday and the net result is a damaged ear, with visible cartilage (not nice!). The vet has prescribed antibiotics and four daily salt baths - unfortunately, these are sore, and as soon as she sees Andrew with the basin of salt water, she runs away. We are also dealing with quite a bit of spatter from when she shakes her head - blood stains are appearing in remarkable places. We are hoping she will soon recover - I hate seeing her in any sort of pain.

Fortunately, it has not stopped her from enjoying her walks and she is being remarkably perky. We had a nice walk today along the river Wye, parallel with the showground and I took some pics which are shown above. I'll also upload these and more into my Facebook page. It's been a beautiful afternoon which I've enjoyed cross-stitching and Andrew is now preparing Jamie's Chicken Caesar salad. However, as with all Andrew's cooking, the recipe is always a starting point - Andrew always enjoys going off-piste. Last night, we had the first strawberries of the summer - wonderful. Later, we are going to watch the film "Twilight"; I'm aware the books have been very successful with the teen market but have not read any myself. Working on the basis that we always enjoyed watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer when it was on, we thought it would be harmless fun for a Saturday night.

While I was cross-stitching this afternoon, I was listening to Radio 4. They are starting a year long series of dramatisations of the Smiley books by John le Carre, with Simon Russell Beale in the title role. I absolutely adore Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy and Smiley's People and was also a huge fan of Alec Guiness's magisterial performance in the TV versions some years back. SRB is a very good actor and on the basis of this afternoon, this will be a real treat all year.

As I write this, I have just received news about my cousin Robyn - I know other family members read this blog and uncle Dave has emailed round most people. If you haven't received the email from Dave, please email me and I will forward what I know. Let's hope Dave can be with her soon and she makes a full recovery.

Updates mainly on Murgatroyd tonight. Since I last wrote, the patient has had her staples removed and has gone up on the GRW website. Yesterday, it was confirmed that a permanent home offer is in progress for her, in a rural location in Monmouthshire where she will have ten acres and lots of cows to play with. It's likely we'll be handing her over the weekend after next. It is going to be the most incredible wrench since she is a beautiful and loving girl who has already claimed a place in our hearts. But I know it is the right thing to do, as it will allow us to foster other hounds who may need our help. I'm currently making up a small scrapbook for her new owners full of pictures of her and pieces of text to tell them all about her little ways. I attach some pictures. We had a photoshoot of her over the weekend in the garden and we also shot some video footage. I was going to edit it and put it up on the website but the home offers came in so quickly there is now no need.

I don't usually make many political comments on this blog. But the news has been so extraordinary over the past couple of weeks, it would seem odd not to. As the revelations keep coming out of Parliament, I keep thinking that I've heard the lot, then the next day something else turns up that takes your breath away. We are Telegraph readers anyway, but I must admit that each morning when I read it, I am now almost braced for some new low. What I find particularly interesting is that there are a small number of MPs who have emerged from this debacle with some shreds of honour and dignity intact, on both sides of the House. I wasn't especially surprised to find Frank Field and Ann Widdecombe in this group, as they both strike me as people who are in their different ways, conviction politicians - but I would love to know more about the others in this group. How did they resist what was clearly the overwhelming culture? What helped them to see it was wrong? How did they find the courage and the integrity to remain true to a bigger moral code? Especially in an area like this - they were faced with an environment where virtually all their colleagues were part of a conspiracy of silence to dive in and fill their boots. Answers and suggestions most welcome.

The other question of course is how long can this wretched Government thrash about in its death throes? It seems utterly extraordinary to think we may have to wait until next year for an election - I simply cannot see the current administration passing any new legislation with public confidence and heaven only knows what would happen if we needed to authorise the use of force. Can the Prime Minister really be so isolated from public opinion as to honestly believe he has the authority to do his job? The sad thing is that this has done terrible damage to the idea of parliamentary democracy - I take no pleasure in that, when so many people around the world have and continue to fight for the freedom to vote and politically organise. I am still sufficiently idealistic to regard that as an important hallmark of a just and fair society.

A good morning to all. First, to update on the patient. I took her back to the vet on Friday morning for her post-op checkup. While there, she also had her final vaccination (oh my, the howling!). Had a chat to both vets as one had done the spaying and the other had stepped in to do the dental as there had been a farm emergency to call the first vet away. Both vets are lovely and very happy to discuss/explain their work, which is such a good thing. Her staples will need to stay in for approximately another week. Since then, she has been doing very well. Eating and drinking has been normal (i.e. voracious) and she has been able to hop on to the sofa and even the bed, although she squeaks a bit when she gets down sometimes. Fortunately, she is showing very little interest in her wound, with minimal licking/nibbling, although I'm guessing it will start to itch as the healing process goes on. I just hope she doesn't try to take the staples out herself!

We had an early start on Saturday morning as I had a long awaited day down in Barry for an ATC meet. We piled the dogs into the car along with lots of stuff, and made sufficiently good time to get back to the Cardiff house via Marks and Spencer, where I wanted to buy a raffle prize and a packed lunch. Being in the country, we don't get sushi, so I was delighted to treat myself to a packet of sushi for lunch and a few other things for the weekend and the freezer. Getting to the house, I then made a quick sort out of what was to go with me and what to stay and then shot upstairs before we left. Had a wonderful time at the ATC meet - more on this over at Silver Nutmeg with pics too. Spoke to Andrew during the lunch break and he said "You haven't got your sushi, have you?" I just thought I had left it at the house in the rush. He had found the empty box upstairs in one of the bedrooms, being cuddled by a guilty greyhound. My only consolation is that itis very healthy and might be good for his brain.

The day finished around 5.30 and Andrew collected me. Back to the house, Andrew had a relaxing bath and our friends Anna, Rebecca and greyhound Paco came round for a pizza-fest. With FOUR greyhounds in the house and garden, it was delightfully chaotic. As the weather was so nice we were able to sit outside for pre-dinner drinks and nibbles. The garden is looking particularly lovely at the moment. Anna and Bec loved Murgatroyd - well, who wouldn't? Also hugely impressed as Anna is now a week into giving up smoking - massive kudos to her. Finished the evening with coffee and brownies and then upstairs to our bunk beds. All three greys decided to come in and lie on the floor near us, with M making a little nest for herself with some cushions and Andrew's running kit. Went out like a light as I was absolutely shattered.

Sunday morning, Andrew got up very early and left around 7.15 for Bristol, where he was running in the 10K. This is the only race he's done where I haven't gone with him - it was very odd for both of us. We waved him off and Ihad a coffee and a leisurely potter. The race began at 9.30 and his time was probably a PB but we are waiting for the final chip time to be posted on the race website. To my surprise, he was back very quickly as the post race distribution of medals, goody bag, bag retrieval and so on were apparently working like clockwork and he was able to get back to the car very quickly. It was a big race with over 5000 people running. Meanwhile I was sitting out in the garden,catching up on the paper, surrounded by basking hounds. Later in the day, I found I had actually caught the sun. After he returned, he had a shower and we loaded up the car and tidied the house. Set off back up here and passed a quiet afternoon. Enjoyed a pork loin from the farm shop and distributed crackling to the eager hounds - much appreciated. After catching up with some TV from Sky+, went to bed and was out like a light. Woke up this morning to find Booty on the bed snuggled up against my legs. As I write this there is a squirrel enjoying the sunflower seeds on the bird table and the heron has been busy fishing in the river this morning. Now for a busy day of domestic duties.

I attach some pics. One of me at the ATC day, a couple of Anna and Bec at the house - Bec is the one waving the plate! M sunbathing - you can clearly see the shaved area of her belly for the operation and Andy and Booty also relaxing - Andy is wearing his master's race medal proudly. Finally the title picture is of the clematis and roses in the Cardiff garden.

Mainly greyhound related news this post. On Monday was the annual Greyhound Fun Day held in conjunction with Arena Pontardawe. We decided it would be best if Andrew stayed at home, since Murgatroyd hasn't yet had her final injection. So off I toddled in sunshine, but as I headed south and west the weather became steadily worse. Around Craig-y-nos castle it started raining, and continued drizzling as I arrived on site. People were clamouring to enter pretty much from the moment I arrived. My job was to take the entries and payments for each class, liaise with the judge and ensure the correct rosettes were provided for each class. Unfortunately, the gazebo we used last year died at the end of the summer and hadn't yet been replaced so taking entries became a nightmare as ink ran and the paper slowly disintegrated. Fortunately it didn't prevent a good turn out and remarkably cheerful atmosphere, enjoyed by all. Got home cold, wet, muddy and tired but pleased it had been a good day. Also had some very good news about the greyhound I transported a few weeks back who was in a terrible state. She has gained 4 kg and is settled wonderfully into her new home - such a happy ending makes everything worthwhile. Pic attached of the show, and also of Murgatroyd's birthday pavlova.

Andrew went back to work on Tuesday and I had as quiet a day as humanly possible. Wednesday was Murgatroyd's big day - her operation (spaying) and while she was under general anaesthetic, a dental for her teeth which are in pretty poor shape. I think I was more nervous than she was - when we walked round to the vet, she wagged her tail at everyone and looked quite happy which just made me feel worse. Off she went with the nurse and then it was home for the long wait. The spaying went well and the dental did too, although that took a long time. We picked up the patient at around 5.45 and she was walking, but completely glazed over and very wobbly. Fortunately she slept most of the evening and passed a quiet night. Today she has steadily improved through the day. She is clearly still stiff and sore but has been eating and drinking normally and going out the garden regularly. She seems to have the twinkle back in her eye and I am pleased with the progress she has made. Tomorrow I am taking her back for a post-op check-up - she has ten staples in her wound - so far, they look OK. I will try to take some pics of her tomorrow.

A beautiful day today and apparently forecast to stay this way over the weekend. We slept in and then popped over to Llandrindod for me to buy a beading needle and some Vilene Bondaweb. The beading needles are for some cross-stitched birthday cards I am making which are having seed beads added to them. The Bondaweb is for more of the project I am working on at the moment - more will be on this on my craft blog over at Silver Nutmeg.

Then took the dogs for a nice walk. Parked on the outskirts of Builth and walked along the side of the river Wye, past Llanelwedd, the RWAS showground and down to the bridge before walking back. The path, which is also part of the national cycle path network was peaceful and full of flowers, especially wild strawberries and stitchwort so it looked gorgeous. The dogs enjoyed it and showed great interest in the sheep, but were kept firmly on their leads. There were a couple of anglers fly-fishing in the Wye, and as we walked parallel with the showground, we could hear a stallion show going on with the disembodied voice of the announcer occasionally floating over, asking for the 3 year old Section C colts to be in the ring and so on.

Home to a late brunch and a peaceful afternoon of cross-stitching, reading the paper and relaxing. Andrew cooked a nice meal tonight; to celebrate Murgatroyd's birthday which was yesterday, he made a pavlova with raspberries and we all had a piece. Yum. Watched some TV and now it is time for bed.