The automatic dog wash at the car wash.

We live at the end of what the Italians call a 'strada bianca' or more prosaically a farm track. At this time of the year the sun has dried out the dirt and every excursion in the car creates large billowing clouds of fine dust as we speed up and down the hill - rather like the effect that one used to see behind stage coaches in movie westerns of a certain era. Yesterday I was sent down to the car wash in the local town to get a thick layer of accreted mud washed off the rear window. As I was contentedly washing away with a power jet I looked up to find that a self service dog and cat washing system has been installed in one of the bays. The animal goes in at one end and comes out at the other washed,rinsed and blow dried. I can't imagine that Wilf and Digby would take well to the idea of a quick trip down the road to wash the car and shampoo the dogs.Mark you I can't imagine Wilf or Digby being happy at the thought of any actvity that involves water.

The next door neighbour came down in his antique combine harvester to give the lupins their second cut and collect the stems for winter cattle feed. It's proven to be a good crop requiring little care, no fertilizer, returning a good yield and all the time looking pretty.The two boyz were delighted to have the farmers company for the requisite ball games but had to be put into the courtyard once the harvesting proper started.

Their confinement was eased by a new play thing. The 'font' brought the boyz a new toy back from a recent shopping trip to the Harrods dog store. It is a soft fluffy sheep with a squeaker inside. Wilf has taken a great liking to it and even managed to smuggle it upstairs last night - a major no no. Thankfully these toys are designed with squeakers that last for two or three minutes before they are crushed by the relentless chomping of a sheepdogs jaw. Why is it no one has invented a squeaker in a dogs toy that can last for more than a few minutes? You would think the dog toy manufacturers might have figured it out by now.

33 degrees - little progress on Digbys weight loss

We would have slept in until five thirty had it not been for the unexpected arrival of our neighbour the farmer and his team of workers at five o'clock prompt .Sleep proved impossible amid a roar of petrol engines and clanking treads as a convoy of caterpillar tractors and John Deeres arrived in the fields outside the bedroom window. I was greeted with a cheery hello and the statement that this was the best time to cut the lupins before it gets too hot. The temperatures hit thirty three yesterday and are set to rise to thirty five today - so an early morning start in the fields is an absolute must.

The boyz were delighted that we had company and rushed out to greet the early morning arrivals with unbridled joy. Wilf with singular determination drafted the workmen into an impromptu ball throwing exercise. Even though they are now well into middle age their enthusiasm for what each new day might bring remains undimmed. I guess that's a pretty good way to live life and a reminder that dogs can teach their owners a thing or two. They are now settled down in the shade of the courtyard trees in preparation for a serious morning nap.

I'm not sure that Digbys diet is having any effect but it's early days yet.