Just before bedtime and now the weekend is over

We have visitors, which is lovely. They have brought the large floppy monster with them which is ....interesting...That's Marmite. Endless entertainment, a certain amount of door scratching and and cat chasing but lots and lots of floppy charm. As well as the big, golden, dark-rimmed eyes he has the ears which flip over at the top, making him look a bit like he's wearing bunches. He and Nutmeg quite frequently treat me to a joint pleading look, the one mournful, soft and golden and the other hopeful, pointed and brown.
I took them for a walk yesterday. We found that single file worked best as none of us wanted to walk on the thistles to either side of the narrow path. Nutmeg (as the local guide and host) went first on the longest lead, Marmite followed on a shorter lead, nose to tail and I trundled along behind as back up in case anyone needed a human (though I'm sure nether of them felt the least need for one of those). They are now both watching Eldest and his partner with the hopeful looks as you never know, she might be intending to feed them twice this morning!

In between Marmite and stuff, we went to London for the 50th birthday and watched the 'Great River Race'* go by on the Thames. There were certainly all kinds of boats and rowing and wigs and disguises. and we shouted encouragement and clapped and cheered as best we could for all kinds of random colours and names. Lots of fun. What a brilliant idea for a birthday.
Fran and I were momentarily convinced that this was the moon. But it made itself clearly the sun as soon as we had made idiots of ourselves by wondering about it out loud.

Earlier, we wandered around the Grand Union Canal and Brentford docks where my niece lives. I love the way big cities are patched together with secret little oases of greenery. We also went to Kew Gardens to take a last picture of Barney's reridge of Queen Charlotte's Cottage now that the scaffolding has come down. Looks a treat :)

Marmite is being clicker trained. To help him become a calmer, better dog:) Nutmeg is privileged to be an observer of this training and whether or not Marmite has grasped the basic principle (ie, click = treat) Nutmeg most certainly has. I may have to buy him a clicker to go with his treats!

*Goes from Ham (near Richmond) to Greenwich and is for rowers of all kinds.