Friday was an interesting day. We did LEAMS training with Leanne from Keep Wales Tidy. I enjoyed it. Went out to do some practical sessions which is always interesting. We ended up near the vets where we take Andy. This led to some musing on street scene generally, as although the level of street cleanliness was quite good where we looked, except for a utility box that was acting as a litter trap, there were some other issues. Things like a functional site (library) covered in graffiti and not swept, long grass (unkempt) on a private church area, graffiti (again!) on the side of the chemist, overhanging hedges on streets, and what drove me nuts, ancient dog fouling prohibition signs that were so old they dated back to the early 1980s. Faded and battered, there was no way that they would discourage anyone from letting their dog foul, in fact I doubt most people would even notice them, and even if they did, they would probably just assume they were out of date. This is not to condone dog fouling, I hasten to add, but is there really any dog owner in the country who doesn't understand at some very basic level that you should clean up if your dog craps on the street? I think the answer is to systematically remove them, ward by ward.

Friday afternoons are often interesting as for some weird reason, they generate odd phone calls, and this one was no exception. Sitting in the Enforcement unit, one of my colleagues took a long and very irate call from a lady who wanted us to act to remove pigeons she believed were a nuisance. My colleague (perfectly correctly, and very politely) was trying to explain that the removal of livestock was outside our remit - we do litter and waste. This is a bit like going to your optician to sort your toothache, I guess. Unfortunately, the lady was not having any of it, and was determined to speak to me. I then got a message to call her, but she was not answering her mobile so left a message. Then another colleague came in with another Friday afternoon special, which made us all laugh. Someone wanted us to sort out their overhanging vegetation and a wobbly chimney pot. By this time, we felt like putting up a sign saying "enforcement unit- all problems solved....." Eventually decided to leave early to enjoy the weekend. Took Andy with me in the car to pick up Andrew from the airport. He landed and was surrounded by hundreds of kilt wearing Scots stag parties - very entertaining. My first time doing a journey in the car with Andy - he loads into it beautifully and is rewarded by a couple of chew treats. The boot is so capacious even his long legs have masses of room.

As predicted, the weather has got steadily worse this weekend. Well, it is a Bank Holiday I suppose. Took Andy over to to Tredegar House yesterday, lovely. Saw a nice lady with a lurcher that we see regularly over there - Andy is always fine with greys and lurchers. He is also slowly improving with other dogs. There was a giant Scout jamboree (the Glamboree!) going on - the park was full of small boys on bicycles, in canoes, on a climbing wall, and doing various other activities. It looked great fun. After dinner last night we went on a slug hunt, as the little bastards are munching our plants. I held the pot while Andrew shone a torch and picked them out. Andy of course initially wanted to come out and supervise, but after a while decided that it was a bit cold and damp and really his sheepskin was more attractive. Duly let him back in the house, but then of course he decided that maybe, just maybe we might have fun without him, and that would never do. So there was a pathetic little face at the door, saying "Let me out". Let him out, big wags, lots of sniffs, five minutes later, he's standing by the door to go back in..... Lather, rinse, repeat...............Anyway, he was very pleased when the torch finally gave up around 11.15 and we came in to bed. When we do this, he bounces up the stairs, and lies on the bed while we are moving around, cleaning our teeth, putting things away etc... Eventually the time comes for us to get into bed and for him to either move over (if it's just me) or off completely when it's both of us. We get the full 100 Watt "I'm so cute, and my legs have turned to jelly, I can't move, and you can't really be trying to turf me off this lovely warm bed and out into the cold snow" look. Andrew is made of sterner stuff than me and just chucks him off. Usually then he settles down by my side of the bed and goes to sleep. Last night however he decided to wake us up for a play at around 4 (I think?) - not impressed. As i write, both he and the young master are fast asleep - even me having a shower didn't wake either of them. Later today, going down to see Liz, should be fun.