Rufus visits

What a day yesterday at the Olympics! Five gold medals. Great viewing. It's great to see badminton on TV - my sport of choice when I had working knees. I watched the tennis final - went on till some ridiculous hour, and at one point it might have gone to five sets. Brilliant win, Andy. They both looked dead on their feet at the end. I get tearful when anyone wins anything, not just the Brits. But I did bubble along with Andy at that win.

Gosh what fun the cycling is - crazy races where a wee man sails around the ring on a wee motor bike in front of them for a while, and another race where neither cyclist wants to take the lead. It's all tactics and didn't we do well. Makes great television, with Clair Balding and Chris Hoy so professional and interesting. Unlike those three 'presenters' at the swimming who just kept up a constant yabbering that added nothing.

Rufus came to stay with Archie while his mum and JR went into town for a wander around. Rufus is famous for crying constantly when his mum leaves him. At first I didn't believe this, as we were out in the back garden - far away from the door through which his mum deserted him - and he was fine. Here they are (posing rather closer than either would want) on our new very expensive garden furniture. (Two of 'em found beside the rubbish bin the other day!)

But when I'd had enough of the sun, I came in to watch the Olympics, and then he started. Crying, crying, crying, with the occasional howl... He kept that up for the entire afternoon. I thought he'd get hoarse, but no. Fortunately, his crying and howling weren't loud, and I didn't need to hear the commentary anyway in the dressage. How do they teach those horses to dance? Archie eventually gave up looking concerned and snoozed.

JR and Christine sent photos of a winey outdoor lunch - looking sunny and continental, now that the school hols have finished. JR"s first official day of retirement has been a good one!