I went back to the Cat and Dog Home today to reserve Bertie, just in case someone else claimed him before I do next week. There was a bit of hemming and hawing -- they don't usually reserve dogs for more than a day or so. But their logic was skewed: because greyhounds aren't the most popular dogs, if someone wants one they want to be able to say yes right away. And if it's reserved they can't. But it's reserved because I want it! They relented, seeing Bertie's been there a while, and I've got until next Thursday afternoon to pick him up. I couldn't go and visit him though, because it was closing time. They gave me some leaflets produced by the Retired Greyhound Trust, lots of detailed information about diet and care, and how to train your dog not to chase cats.

Every dog will chase a cat, but greyhounds can actually catch them.

The planks, underlay etc arrived today so it's all go for Dougie and Bob tomorrow. Oh joy.

Chad brought the blackcurrant and raspberry cuttings in, so I'll plant them in the morning. If the boys seem to be getting on all right I'll go out for a mooch around gardening centres. I'm thinking of getting some big tubs and pots for the patio and around the top of the retaining wall.

The wall itself I'm considering covering in mosaic -- I asked at the tile shop about offcuts and broken tiles, and they said they'll give me a load for nothing. I'd love to try a big doodly patchwork extravaganza, and if the tiles are free, that's great. I could add in bits of mirror and broken stuff I've collected as well. Andrew once gave me a beautiful ceramic seahorse, after we'd been to Barcelona and I was thinking of Gaudi-esque tilework for the bathroom in my old flat. "You could break it and use it for that," he suggested. I kept it on the windowsill, meaning to knock a nail in and hang it properly -- and one day caught it with the towel and it smashed in a zillion bits. I've got the bits in a bag. I've also got the bits of a Waipu tile of a cat with a jug of cream. That tile's been broken three times and repaired twice I think. I bought a new one last time I was in NZ, this time in a wooden frame.

And of course now I'm a prospective dog owner I'll be checking out pet shops for all the kit: collar, lead, toys, chews, brushes, worm tablets. I've got a spare duvet he can have to sleep on. He'll be downstairs by the back door, there's a perfect dog-sized area down there. Ooo, I'm so excited!

Madness in the news: you know the Mir is coming down soon? (Of course you do if you're in the Southern Hemisphere -- you're in the crash zone!) Well the Japanese in the area the debris will pass over are going to be told to stay indoors for 40 minutes. But we're also told that the big chunks of space station will be travelling at such a speed they can penetrate 6ft of concrete. So unless your house has a concrete roof 6ft 6in thick, you're doomed if it all goes horribly wrong. At least if you're outside you can duck.