We're getting a dog! We've been thinking about it for a while, but it seemed that plans were put on the back burner. Perhaps it was visiting Ian and Emma and seeing how well their labrador had integrated into their family, and how nice it was to take her out in the woods next to their house. For whatever reason, Roj ordered Choosing the Right Dog For You from Amazon, and when I got back from my couple of days in Shropshire last weekend, he had already turned down the corners of the pages with breeds he was interested in.

Trying to ignore what he'd singled out, I looked through the entire book myself, ruling out breeds which weren't friendly with young children, or who weren't active (we want one that will run with me). My eye was caught by the Tervueren which is one of the most beautiful dogs I've ever seen; quite wolf-like in appearance and possibly in instinct too. And by the whippet and the lurcher, simply because my family had one of the former as I grew up, and I enjoyed its docile temperament so much.

But Roj was drawn to the gun-dogs, his favourite being the flat-coated retriever; the leanest and smallest of the retriever breeds. So we did a bit more research, reading up online about its character traits and its strengths and weaknesses. In the end it was pretty clear that the breed was perfect for us; good at running, full of energy outside but calmer in the house; biddable, happy, kind, optimistic, friendly. Plus we both agree that it's a gorgeous dog; more regal-looking than its golden cousin, and more intelligent.

And then our minds were suddenly made up, and we were looking through the Kennel Club website at available litters and realising that they were few and far between to say the least. 3 available at the current moment, and only one of those with our preferred black bitch puppy. So after some deliberation (mostly considering whether we had the patience to wait another 6 months) we spent the entire day on Saturday trawling up to Chesterfield to look at a litter and after an hour of puppy-handling (they were only 3 weeks old, eyes only just opened, mewling for their mum and unsteadily pottering about the sitting room floor), we paid our deposit and left.

So in early January we're going back to pick it up. We're thinking of names (Pepper is the current favourite although Jody's somewhat put out we're not going to use her own choice - Tinkerbell!), trying to hold back from buying lots of gear for it, and trying to work out where to put its bed and other such logistics. I can't wait!

We're off up to Shropshire again this weekend for my grandmother's funeral. She's going to be cremated and a tree planted in her memory alongside one for her husband who died nearly 30 years ago. A fitting tribute I think and certainly better than a cold plot in a graveyard somewhere.

Meanwhile I'm starting to try and prepare for Christmas, but realising that I need to get most of it done before the kids break up next Wednesday. Not quite sure how I'm going to manage it as there's a lot to do and it'll be the first Christmas I've ever hosted, but I might adhere to Jamie Oliver's theory of trying to get a glass of wine in the hand of each guest within 30 seconds of them crossing the threshold! Not sure if that would work when they arrive just after breakfast! Actually I'm really looking forward to the hosting part of it ... it's just present-shopping that gets me stressed, particularly when certain presents for certain children are out of stock everywhere and Father Christmas has not been provided with suitable alternatives. Agh!