Doggy treat

It's all very well training the dog with treats. But if she's going to jump up and place muddy paw marks on your knees it sort of defeats the object. Pippa, our seven-month-old Jack Russell needs a good run every day to let off steam so we have about half a dozen regular walks on heaths and commons not far from where we live. Today it was Chobham Common.

Come Saturday when the clocks go back, the days will be shortening with a vengeance. I hate this time of year when the clocks change and would much prefer it if we simply stayed on British Summer Time.