When I haven't posted for a while, it's difficult to know whether to start at today and work back or to recount events in some sort of chronological order. Last weekend, Andrew ran in the Cardiff Kidney Wales 10K, starting in Bute Park and finishing outside the Millennium Stadium. Some pics attached. The well known singer Katherine Jenkins also ran in the race - apparently last year, she was invited to start it, but was so impressed she decided to run it herself this year. Fortunately, a lovely day. I watched Andrew start and then walked back through the park up to the stadium, pausing at a Wetherspoons to have a coffee. Was then able to time my arrival at the finish line perfectly to watch the young master sprinting gleefully towards the finish and his medal. Even though he has done so many races, I am still incredibly proud of him. There was a good turnout, with around 2300 runners.

This week has been busy with a meeting in Pontardawe on Tuesday for the Welsh Festival of the Horse and a greyhound meeting on Wednesday evening.

On Thursday we had the pleasure of hosting Sarah and Johnny, just before he goes back to New Zealand after spending the summer here. Sarah of course has stayed many times before but this was Johnny's first time in Cardiff. I took them for a brief orientation tour of the city by car, then dropped them off in the city centre to allow for some browsing in the shops and a visit to Cardiff Castle, which they thoroughly enjoyed. In the evening we had some home made pizza, a request from Sarah whenever she visits. On Friday, I took them down to the Bay, and we wandered round Mermaid Quay, the Welsh Assembly, the Millennium Centre, the water feature that is of course so important for anyone who watches Torchwood and lunch at the Bosphorus, sitting outside in the sunshine, with a glorious view of the water and the bay. Then back via the Red Dragon Centre for Johnny and Sarah to visit the Doctor Who exhibition and finally home. We had time for a cuppa then back into the car to drop them at the station, via the vets where the woofs were having their annual boosters. Usual glum postures from the dogs - tails between legs and general dejectedness.

Today has been another gloriously sunny day, with time spent pottering out in the garden and doing some greyhound paperwork as well as a load of ironing. The sparrow hawk visited us again - he was lurking in the ground cover near the birch tree. I am not sure if this is normal for them or if he/she is the novice one we have seen previously who sits on the back of the garden bench looking hopefully for a sparrow to alight in front of it.