A lot to write about. On Friday night, we enjoyed my Christmas present from Andrew - two tickets to see Dolly Parton at the CIA. I had been looking forward to wearing something really summery such as the silver sandals I bought last year and have still only worn twice, but the weather got steadily worse throughout the day, and was raining heavily by the time we got into Cardiff. Accordingly having donned my thermal vest and Fair Isle bloomers, we went to the CIA and took our seats. Promptly at 8, the performance began. Naturally she looked divine, she is just so tiny, so perfect and looks fantastic for her age. The costumes were a riot of rhinestones and underwiring, the wig deserved its own tribute band and the makeup was a testament to the power of pigment married to the technology of the space shuttle. An excellent line up of songs, a cracking band, and all totally RUINED by the appalling sound quality of the venue. Most of the time we could barely hear individual words, just an echoing wall of sound. However, I'm just so pleased to have seen her - she is a truly professional performer, an amazing songwriter and a fantastic role model. The sound was better when she did some lovely accapella numbers later in the set but the moral of the story is definately - AVOID THIS VENUE. I also begrudge paying nearly £3 for a tiny bottle of water - what's that about? Interestingly there were dire warnings pinned up everywhere when we went in that all photos were forbidden and you weren't even supposed to take a camera mobile in with you. Naturally most people ignored this but occasionally stewards were prowling and asking people who were taking quite innocent pics of themselves with friends to desist. This did not add to the gaiety of nations.

Eventually came home on a high note and were met as usual by woofs by the door. I was pottering around downstairs making a cuppa while DH went upstairs to undress. There was an ominous silence then he called me to come and see.

Andy's raiding activities had hit a new low (or high, depending on your perspective). While we were out, he had taken a full bucket from downstairs with a sealed lid containing bags of wild bird peanuts and those plastic mesh sacs full of mixed bird seed. This had been dragged upstairs (no mean feat considering the weight) then he had managed to remove the tightly sealed lid, then the contents had been partly eaten and partly lavishly scattered all over our bed, the bedroom floor and the ensuite. When I saw it, I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. So, late at night, Andrew began the laborious task of hoovering every inch of the bedroom, changing the bed and jiggling the furniture so that we could remove the nuts and seeds that were everywhere. This took a surprisingly long time so we were quite late going to bed. While all this was happening, the culprit was skulking in the front bedroom, occasionally rolling his eyes at us forlornly - he definately knew we were not happy bunnies. Eventually bed was changed and made up, and all retired after quite a memorable evening.

Saturday we took a new walk. Regular readers will recall we walk very often over at Tredegar House and also at Tredegar playing fields which adjoins the park of the house, being separated by the road and the exit from the M4. Quite often in the playing fields, if you look up, you can see an attractive hill with what appears to be walks on it. So on Saturday morning, we drove past the playing fields and into the suburb of Caer, up onto the hill, parked and walked all over the hilltop. On the map it is shown as Tredegar Fort (age unknown at present, but we will endeavour to find out) and there was a wide selection of ditches, lumps and bumps. The view was stunning, right over the Transporter bridge to the Severn crossing. Somerset looked virtually touchable. All over the fort, we wandered, enjoying the views, the wind, the sun and the solitude (only two other dog walkers to be seen). Paths had been mown and it was a pleasure to stroll along turf studded with clover while the dogs sniffed excitedly.

We timed our walk well, as just after returning to the car, the rain began again and the weather worsened through the day. I began watching the Tour (my one annual foray into professional sport broadcasting). Later, I actually began making some Christmas cards for the greyhound shop.

Today, we did another new walk, this time to St Brides on the levels. We parked by the Lighthouse Inn, and then walked out along the edge of the Severn to the lighthouse at the mouths of the Ebbw and Usk at Newport docks, and back along the raised sea wall. It was lovely, very peaceful and lonely with stunning views. All we could hear were skylarks, the wind in the grass and the sound of the sea. The dogs loved it too, with lots of new smells and puddles for Booty to play in. Again, we timed it well, as it started raining this afternoon and has been miserable for the rest of the day. I watched some more Tour and we had a delicious evening meal of a beef casserole with a bottle of Shiraz. Some photos attached of the walk.