The great British Bank holiday weather did not disappoint! On Sunday it was atrocious! Heavy rain, high winds and suprisingly cold. We postponed visiting Liz until yesterday. Used the time in joining Greytalk, a very interesting and informative greyhound web community and seeking out some sources for Andy's clothing requirements. As greys have such fine fur and so little body fat, they hate going out in the rain, and need a winter coat. I can't bear the thought of him wearing some dreary affair in tartan, and not surprisingly our American friends can supply practically anything you can think of, custom made. Many of the websites ship to the UK, which makes me think there is a market out there for people who want to go beyond tartan. Andrew and I also spent a long time discussing the issue of a second dog. We both want one very much. The next stage is to think carefully about timing over the summer, co-ordinate leave etc.....

Went down to Liz yesterday. She's got loads of dogs, so we were a little apprehensive to see how he would get on. Much to our delight, he coped really, really well and even started playing with Maddy, Liz's setter. We took him out to the paddock for some free running but he wasn't really into that as I think he was simply overloaded by all the new smells, dogs and experiences. He had a really good time though and so did we. Liz's parents, Len and Marion (and their dogs!) were also visiting so it was great to see them. Cobby, Katie's elderly horse was in the garden wearing a new pink headcollar (very fetching) and Dan was running around with some carburettor bits for his bike. Had a chat to Sarah about her exams - she is in the middle of GCSEs. Nowadays, they seem far more spread out than in my school days, which is less intensive, but prolongs the stress a bit. Anyway, she has about another fortnight to go, so fingers, toes and everything else crossed. Dan also booked his summer holiday with us - he insisted that he come up first, before his sisters.

Liz gave us the most brilliant present ever - a hound mitt. As Andy is moulting at the moment, the prolonged grooming I've been doing has been completely ineffectual, and he is leaving trails of fur everywhere he goes. This thing is the business - it is a rubber mitt, with pimples on the palm, which you use to groom. It pulls all the dead hair and scurf off the dog literally in chunks. He is now practically bald, but this way he will grow back a lovely new, shiny coat. It reminds me of scarifying a lawn (exactly the same principle). I was grooming him this morning, out in the garden and he decided that it was far too strenuous to stand up, so lay down, offered me his side, and drifted off into a semi-conscious state of bliss, while I was rhythmically stroking him with the mitt. When I stopped occasionally to de-fur the mitt, I received the most reproachful looks until I started grooming again. As I write, he is laying behind me, looking abit motheaten, but we both know that in a few days, he'll be even more gorgeous. I think on Saturday we'll give him another bath, as on Sunday it's the monthly greyhound walk over at Cosmeston Lakes, and we want him to look good to meet all his new greyhound friends!

Rang Greyhound Rescue Wales this morning, to put the wheels in motion for Grey No. 2. Someone from the area will be back in touch with us in the next few days. I attach a couple of photos, taken yesterday down on the farm.