Yesterday was the annual GRW show down at Pembrey Country Park in Carmarthenshire. We left home at 8.30 and arrived at 10, with a car full of stuff. It was a truly beautiful day, with cloudless blue skies and very little wind. Set up rings, stalls etc and took up my post in the secretaries tent - where we were taking entries for classes, and giving rosettes, trophies and class lists to ring stewards. It is a busy role although I must admit I enjoy doing it. We also had the charity's merchandise caravan set up, a plant sale, Folland Ferret Welfare (with ferrets!) and a couple of stalls selling dog food and animal accessories (pony stuff such as headcollars, grooming requisites etc).

Despite being so busy, Andrew was able to collect Rhian (Callie's new owner - Callies is Murgie's adoptive name), along with her friend and a new dog that Rhian is herself fostering. It was an extremely emotional moment for me to look up from the entries and to see Callie and Rhian trotting along, with Callie looking absolutely magnificent. Her coat is now thick and glossy and she has gained enough weight to maintain her figure but look very well indeed. Her red collar was gleaming in the sun and she was her usual friendly, cheerful self. Rhian is devoted to her and to her new foster dog - in fact, in conversation, Rhian admitted there is a strong possibility that Mickey may not be rehomed but has found his permanent spot! He is a lovely boy, also black - I must admit I am biased but the black hounds look so stunning together. When all the dogs met up again, there was a fiesta of bum sniffing and tail wagging - very pleasant to see.

Callie and Mickey both finished the day garnished with rosettes - there are lots of fun classes including one for Baldie Butts (so many greyhounds have those embarrassing bald patches on their rumps), best six legs and waggiest tail. Callie and Rhian entered the waggiest tail but unfortunately Callie only wagged her tail when she was close to Andrew who was watching the class, so only got a "Well Done" rosette for that class! Rhian and her friend thoroughly enjoyed the day and Andrew was able to pop them home (as they live very close to the park) before coming back for me and all the stuff. Rhian looked very stylish with an enormous, shady straw hat and oversize shades - very suitable for the hot sun and temperature. It was great to catch up with her and swap tales of hound mischief and magic - and I'm hoping to pop down again to visit soon.

After packing up, we returned home - it had been a busy, social day, with lots of fellow greyhound lovers having fun, enjoying the sun and catching up with other friends and enthusiasts. We were both shattered but very happy. The dogs were tired too, and have been quiet today as well. When we got home, we found a heap of feathers, some by the pond and some floating on the water - it looked as though the sparrowhawk had claimed a victim from the sparrows.

We walked the dogs this morning over at Tredegar House - both of us were commenting on the amount of leaves that were falling and starting to turn colour. There is a spectacular display of berries - it seems to have been a very good year for them. Blackberries, rowan berries, elderberries and the bright pink glow of spindleberries. The park also has cherry laurels which have been allowed to grow to a considerable height and these were plastered with fruit.

A couple of pics attached.