JUMP!

My seven-year-old is either upside down or several inches above the ground. He's the bounciest, twirliest child I know.

Today he's been to a gymnastics class for two hours, then bounced on our trampoline, cartwheeled, skipped and swung on our swing. I have no idea where he gets his energy from.

Also today we trimmed Archie. This provided (free) entertainment for the whole family (and probably the neighbours) for an hour or so. We dunked him in the bath, much to Noah's amusement, dried him...and us (!), and then Bob clipped him with our new clippers.

We usually have a chap come round with a mobile dog-grooming business but he seems to have disappeared and is currently out of contact.

Clipping Archie proved to be an 'all hands on deck' job. That dog can wriggle for England. H and I held him down while he howled and looked pathetic and Noah guffawed. The clipper-wielding Bob did his best though he insists it's harder than it looks on the DVD which was helpfully provided in the clipper pack. It took several retrievals from the shrubbery but we now have a (mostly) smart looking pooch with just a couple of wee bald patches!

Bob says he now understands why our dog groomer has disappeared...he's probably had a nervous breakdown and has gone into hiding!