When your brother ignores you - cuddle a sheep.

Cooler weather arrived yesterday with the thermometer holding steady around 35 degrees. The two boyz seemed positively energised by the return of relatively mild conditions. Wilf went racing down the drive,ears trailing in the slipstream, after a rabbit that wandered out of the lavender beds - he showed a turn of speed and agility that surprised me, the rabbit, and possibly himself. I didn't think the old fellow still had it in him.

One of the most interesting things about having two brothers from the same litter is just how completely different their characters can be. This facet of canine psychology certainly holds true with the two boyz. Wilf is fiercely independent, sometimes forgets to run around things preferring instead to run through them, and is always up for an adventure. If Wilf is an athlete Digby by contrast can perhaps better be described as an aesthete. Yes, he likes to play catch and will happily participate in the 'splosh' game but his real love, apart from eating, being the centre of attention and having endless cuddles,is to find a soft toy and retire with it into a quiet corner away from the rumbustious antics of his older sibling. He spent much of yesterday down by the pool in sweet communion with a stuffed sheep from which he would not be parted - despite Wilfs best efforts to steal it from him. Digby has learnt that the only way to cope with his brothers brawn is to outsmart him.

The British Prime Minister has announced this morning that as a result of his policies the worst of the economic crisis is behind us and that growth will return at the end of 2009. That's ok then. I wonder when the campaign for next years elections will begin? Surely, only a cynic would assume it's already started.