Cable tie

 Diane was due at the Cardiac Rehab session and we were expecting Ellie. The morning demanded a fast start. Ellie followed Diane around like her shadow until it was time for Rehab, then Ellie settled down with me for some breakfast followed by some colouring. Once the colouring had exhausted her interest she retrieved the "Numicon" set from the Orangery and we spent 45 minutes playing with number blocks.

Diane arrived home. She has been promoted to the blue group and seems to be doing well. She is clearly enjoying it as she asked what was available when the formal 8-week programme was complete.

I had received a package from Amazon. The item didn't fit so I instigated the returns process. One option was to take it to a drop-off point where, they explained, you scan a QR card, a label is printed, and you hand the label and item over to the staff who package it and send it off. Sounded great. I walked around to the drop-off point (Tesco Express) and hunted for the scanner and label printer. In the end, a member of staff showed me the device hiding behind a cage full of produce. I printed the label and handed her the package... commenting on what a good service it was given that they packed the item. Oh no they don't. In the end, she took pity on me and taped up the bag containing the item, added the label, and gave me a receipt. An hour or so later an email arrived. The item had been collected and the refund was in my account.

After lunch, Ellie wanted us to erect her teepee. This is an immensely frustrating exercise requiring a squad of people, each with four arms and eight hands. Poles slip and slide, and tie points are hard to thread. Once threaded they are even more difficult to tighten and secure. Finally, a stabilising mechanism has to be threaded through the nexus of poles at the top. This must be tightened for above and below. You will not be surprised to hear that I finished the edifice off with a cable tie to secure the top.