Archie is a strange dog. He's very reserved, quiet and deferent. He'll never look us in the eye and spends so much time on his back trying to show respect to us it's not true. He's a loner and is never happier than when he's on top of the wall watching the world go by.

Rosie adores him but to tell the truth he's not that interested in playing with her, preferring to sit on the outside edge of the action and watch.

Right now, as I type, he's prostrate trying to show deference to Colin who has just come down the stairs after a spruce up before our now traditional trip to our 'local' for a few beers and a meal.

Today though, he's been remarkably playful. He's been tossing this raggy around and engaging in play with Rosie. I thought 'ah - now there's a good pic for today, I'll get Arch with his raggy in his mouth and he'll make a photo as cute as cute could be. Not so. Would he take the raggy off me? No he wouldn't. I engaged DMs help - 'play with Arch' I said, 'so I can take his photo'. Did that work? No it did not.

So, here is Arch, looking aloof and with David dangling the raggy on top of his head.

After the shot was taken and the light had faded so another wasn't possible, of course he wanted to play again.

We went down to the Dressing Sheds at the foot of the Caradon mine and chucked about a tennis ball and he even chased that - he normally leaves that sort of nonsense to Rosie but he happily ran off after the ball, collected it and brought it back to us.

We know already that he loves it here because he sulks for days after we go home to Sandhurst but it seems that his demeanour while here is blossoming too. Again it's cheesy to say so but this is another demonstration of the 'rightness' of this move.