Easter

 The clocks moved forward an hour during the night. Despite my worst fears, Jasper had obviously remembered to change his watch and reset his alarm. We were not disturbed by the furry ball of meows until we were already awake.

It was a little overcast when we got up, but the sun broke through during the morning and we had a lovely day. During the morning we went through and stripped out the decorations we had put up for Ellie and then, with Ellie in mind, I spent some time adjusting her desk and chair. She is growing fast and the height needed to be increased by several centimetres.

I wasn't in the mood for a walk today but forced myself to go out for a few laps of lakeside. It was about half my usual walk, but at least I got some exercise before retiring to the Orangery to sit in the sun and enjoy my latest book.

I wish you all a peaceful Easter with your hearts full of love and your mind contented.

An experiment

 You may have heard of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Google has an AI engine called Gemini, which I use quite extensively. I pondered whether AI could create a blog post so challenged it, thus: 

"Write me a blog post that describes my day so far. I got up at 6:30 because the cat was wittering away. I had the weekly Zoom call with my cousins. After some household chores, I went out for a 6km walk around the area for some exercise. Meanwhile, Diane was pottering in the back garden, finally coming inside mid-afternoon. Ellie had been on an afternoon playdate. I collected her at 3 pm, in time for Pete to come and collect her for a week with him in Littlehampton."

So, courtesy of Gemini, here is today's blog entry (I have used "strikethrough to remove embellishments that didn't happen and italic to add context - other than that, this is what Gemini created):

The alarm clock this morning wasn't quite the digital kind – it was a furry bundle of meows! Seems my feline friend decided 6:30 am was the perfect time to serenade the house. Despite the early wake-up call, it was a good start: a chance to enjoy a quiet cup of coffee before my weekly Zoom catch-up with my cousins. Laughter and updates filled the virtual space, leaving me feeling connected and energized.

Back in the real world, it was time to tackle the never-ending list of household chores. Laundry folding, dishes, the usual suspects all got their turn. Feeling a sense of accomplishment (and needing a break from dust bunnies!), I laced up my shoes and headed outside for a brisk 6km walk around the neighbourhood. Fresh air, sunshine filtering through the trees, and the gentle rhythm of my steps – it's the perfect way to clear my head and get some exercise.

While I was pounding the pavement, Diane was busy pottering in the back garden. On my return I could see her through the window, happily lost in the world of flowers and sunshine. By mid-afternoon, she finally made her way back inside, likely sporting a happy glow and a pocket full of freshly snipped blooms.

My afternoon took a turn when it was time to pick up Ellie. Apparently, she had a fantastic playdate filled with all sorts of doggy adventures. Collecting her at 3 pm felt like barely a blip in our day, but it was a necessary one – Pete was on his way to whisk her away for a week-long adventure in Littlehampton!

To be fair, I was impressed.

Jumping the Gun

 Bizarrely, I awoke early. By 05:30 I was getting fidgety and decided to get up rather than disturb Diane. I snuck downstairs and made a coffee, then sat down to deal with some passwords which were at risk because of a recent data breach. This took longer than expected and I realised that it is immensely difficult to remove an account entirely. As the clock ticked around towards 07:00, I heard Ellie stirring and went to collect her and offer her some breakfast and the opportunity to see the big "Happy Birthday" banner I had attached to the front door. This kicked the day off properly and Diane joined us while Ellie devoured strawberries, and orange, a crumpet with marmite, and some chocolate cake! Zoe came along soon after 08:30 to collect her for a day of fun with her friend, Bonnie.

Once we had breakfasted, my priority was to visit the Skoda garage. I had a warning light come on yesterday evening and I wanted it checked. Unfortunately, it's a long weekend and the service department won't re-open until Tuesday. We didn't have any plans to drive over the weekend, so I guess we can safely wait. The light implies that the Emissions Controller has detected a problem.

The first of the boiler quotes arrived. I went through it carefully and suspect that it will be hard to beat. It was quite impressive in the way it was structured and the way it explained the current problem and the possible (costed) solutions. I heard from Jan and Adrian in Somerset last night. They seem to be having similar problems with their boiler. I forwarded the quote to them so that they could see the analysis and decide on their way forward.

Diane, meanwhile, had been bedding some plants in the garden. It was chilly in the shade, and when she came in she made the most of the glorious sunshine beating down on the Orangery. While she spent a couple of hours on the phone with Jane, I managed to get towards the end of another book. I expect that will bite the dust at bedtime.

Celebration and Friends

With Ellie deposited at school (clutching sweets for her school friends) I returned home for breakfast. It was a day plagued by heavy rain and gale-force winds. It was not a day to go walking. 

Another boiler installer came to survey us for a quote. What a complete contrast with yesterday's chap. This chap was very matter-of-fact, took one look at the old boiler, checked its power rating and left with a promise he'd get back to us with a quote. I was not impressed.

After lunch, we spent time decorating the house for Ellie's Birthday (tomorrow). She would be staying with us overnight. We had cake and a pile of presents for her. 

In a well-timed break in the weather, we collected her from school and brought her home. Kim was waiting and we had a little tea party as Ellie opened her presents. The rest of the afternoon was spent examining the various gifts and playing Scrabble with Kim.

I prepared dinner for them all but left them to it. I had an appointment!

I headed across to "Mela" and Indian Restaurant in Clanfield. I met up with Dave and May Potter, their grandson, Theo, and Pete Russell who is visiting from Las Vegas. It is several years since we have had a chance to meet with Pete, and it was a shame that his wife Lynda, and Di couldn't join us.

We had a lovely evening of non-stop chat covering IBM, travel, our intersecting history and shared acquaintances, programming, family, trains and even the US Elections.

It was all over too soon. We said our goodbyes and went our separate ways. I was home just before 22:00 and managed to put up one further Birthday banner to greet Ellie when she comes downstairs tomorrow morning.

Old Boiler

After the usual start to the day, we headed for Sainsbury's. Shopping on Wednesday could be viewed as a tear in the time-space continuum, but we were willing to take the chance. Sainsbury's seemed busy but in reality, it was full of people faffing around, blocking aisles and moving as slowly as they could. One such shopper nearly had a seizure as a snail raced past her. (Not to self: tell Zoe about the snail).

The heavens opened as we finished unloading the car and shut the front door. We had timed it to perfection.

After some lunch, I headed out for a walk. The rain had stopped and the sun was shining. There was a cool breeze but it was pleasant walking conditions. Bosch continued to play in my ears - the book is nearly finished. It has been a cracking story, helped by the fact it is narrated by Titus Welliver who plays Bosch in the TV Series. Once home, I managed an hour or so in the Orangery with the Kindle (a totally different book). We collected Ellie from the dance class and took her straight home to Darren.

At lunchtime, I contacted 3 companies (through BAXI) regarding advice and quotes for a replacement boiler. Two have already responded and the first came to see me late in the afternoon. I explained that our current boiler was 10 years old and felt sure there must be more efficient models on the market. He did a survey of what we have and took some pictures. He also took the existing boiler apart and was appalled to see that, despite British Gas servicing it every year (or when they felt like it) it was suffering from quite evident leaks and corrosion. I look forward to his quote for a replacement. The second company to respond is due to visit tomorrow.

Shrinking

 The rain that had been forecast for first thing hadn't materialised. This was good as it meant a dry walk to school with Ellie. Once home, breakfasted and caffeinated, I got on with the day.

Over the last year, I have put on some weight. This was partly due to the absence from football while we were preparing for and recovering from Diane's operation. Then when I did restart I had some trouble with my knee that kept me out again. Slowly my waistline grew to the point that I had to go to the next size in trousers. I wasn't happy about this but recent minor tweaks to my diet and more exercise have seen a gradual reversal. Today I was pleased to be able to retrieve all my "old" trousers from their vacuum-packed bag. They fit me comfortably again. The larger trousers were folded and stored in the bag. The air was sucked out and they were stored under the bed, hopefully not to be used again. I'm feeling smug.

The rain arrived late morning. Diane took the car to Chichester for her scheduled dental check. I stayed put and spent the time clearing some of the garden furniture out of the garage. We are expecting a new bed to be delivered for Ellie, but we will store it in the garage until after Easter. I also looked into options for a replacement gas boiler. Ours is now 10 years old and there are much more efficient models on the market now. As they are talking about banning the sale of new boilers in the next couple of years, this seems like the ideal time to consider it.

After lunch, I had a quiet hour with the Kindle before venturing out into the deluge to collect Ellie from school. She was with us for longer than planned. Zoe and Darren are looking after Steffie's dog, Lucy, for the next couple of weeks. When Darren got home he found the dog had located a chocolate min-roll and consumed it along with a couple of Ellie's hairbands. Panic ensued along with a trip to the emergency Vet. All is now well and Ellie is now back home and ready to take charge!

Buzzing

 I feel as if I have been buzzing around today. By most people's standards, I have done very little, but as an idle retiree, it seemed busy.

I started with the traditional walk to Zoe's so that I could escort Ellie to school and then headed home for breakfast and a second coffee. As the caffeine coursed through my veins I moved the furniture into the Orangery and vacuumed all of the hard floors downstairs before steam cleaning them. Then there was a quick update to the accounting spreadsheet before I headed out for a walk. The walk was bisected by a stop at the barber's shop for a hunt and cull mission on my head. Finally, it was the walk home, a spot of lunch and then some quiet time with the Kindle.

I picked Ellie up from school but no sooner were we back than Darren messaged me to say he was home and could collect her. As they are currently looking after a little dog, Ellie was eager to get back. Once she had left we returned to our Kindles until dinner.

Recuperating

We had another disturbed night. Diane was feeling rough and decided to pop downstairs for a glass of milk. That didn't do the trick, but it did open the floodgates. She is looking very pale and washed out today and has spent much of it sitting in the Orangery, making the most of the warm sun and absence of any commitments.

I stayed close by in case anything was needed. Another book disappeared while she was recuperating. She insisted that she was well enough for me to take a walk, so I headed out on a slightly shorter route so that I wouldn't be gone for too long.

The planned roast pork dinner was cancelled and I put some butterflied chicken breasts on the griddle and served them with some new potatoes. This was simple and plain, but easily digested. She's feeling better than she was, but hopefully, a good night's sleep will settle things. 

Spa

 Ellie woke during the night. She had had a bad dream and toddled into our room. A quick cuddle with Grandpa and being tucked back into her own bed put everything right. That should have been it until the morning. Jasper, however, decided he wouldn't be upstaged so just as we were settling back to sleep, he started his choir practice and, when finally silent again, started to charge around the house to get fit for the Paris Olympics.

Zoe came around to collect Ellie just before 09:00. There was a lot to prepare. Today was the day of her "Spa Party" to celebrate her upcoming Birthday with some school friends. The lady who set this up was due to arrive mid-morning and Ellie wanted to be there to supervise.

We stayed at home. I had the call with the cousins and Di pottered around. Rain came and went throughout the morning and, while doing some ironing, I watched the cloud radar to try and find a dry slot for a walk. There was nothing during the morning. 

After lunch, Di went to help supervise the Spa Party. Boys were not permitted so I did some reading until I detected a window in the weather. Jacket on, I headed out for a walk with Bosch playing through the AirPods. As I looped clockwise around my route I hadn't realised that, creeping up from behind, was a filthy black cloud. It was only as I started the return leg that I saw the clouds of Modor ahead and realised I was likely to get soaked. Despite the threat, I stuck with my planned route and felt the first huge drops of rain just as I was approaching the front door. I had timed it to perfection. As I walked in the door, the heavens opened and we had a torrential burst of rain and hail.

Di arrived back from the party just before 18:00. Photos trickled through and it was clear that it had been a great success.

Another Quiet Day

 It was another quiet day. Ellie had stayed with us overnight but was still fast asleep when I got up. We went through the usual procedure and Zoe arrived at the door to join us on the walk to school.

When I get back Diane was just about to leave to Cardioc Rehab. I finished my breakfast and then followed her out the door. She drove to the Community Centre and I started my walk. Bosch was playing in my ears as I zigged and zagged around the local area for an hour or so. By sticking to a single cup of tea before the walk, I was not under any (bladder) pressure to cut things short.

We both got home at the same time and the rest of the day was quite relaxed. After lunch we had the Kindle hour (or two) then I went to collect Ellie from school. She has been working on another project (a diorama of the Arctic) with Nana this afternoon. It is beginning to come together well.

Ellie is staying with us overnight again. This is to allow Zoe time to shop for the food she will need for tomorrow's "Spa Party" for Ellie's forthecoming birthday.

Water park

Diane and Kim had a wonderful evening with Graziano from "Strictly". In fact, they managed to have their photos taken with him and his wife after the VIP Q&A. I was in bed, reading, by the time she arrived home.

It was 07:30 before I awoke this morning. After a coffee, I wandered around to Zoe's for the long march to school (ok, it was a couple of hundred yards). Back home for breakfast, I finished the shopping list for today and when Diane was ready, we headed for Sainsbury's.

Once home, unloaded, and squared away we settled down to catch up on the news and then had some lunch. We had the usual post-prandial Kindle session (I finished another book), making the most of the Orangery's warmth in the weak Spring sunshine.

I went to collect Ellie and took her to the park on the way back from school.  The lads from her class had decided it would be sensible to turn the park into a water park. Water was poured, liberally, over the swings and roundabouts. The boys were soaked. Ellie and her friends stood by and ignored the mayhem.

Ellie is staying with us overnight as Zoe is working late.

Twinkle Toes

 Zoe had the day off so I walked around to her house to join the daily march to school. It was a little different today as we were invited into the class to see Ellie's coursework. This was interesting as it showed she was applying herself in class as well as at home.

After breakfast and some initial admin and chores, I headed off for a walk - with Titus Welliver narrating Harry Bosch in my ears. Had I not needed a wee, I would probably have done another loop. Meanwhile, Di had some planting she wanted to complete in the front garden and also took delivery of an artificial laurel bush that would stand by the front door. It's frost-proof, so appears to be a Laurel that's Hardy!

The afternoon saw a switch from audiobook to Kindle while enjoying the afternoon sun in the Orangery.

We have had a very early dinner as Di is picking Kim up, and they are off to Southsea to see one of the stars from "Strictly" this evening. They have been informed that their tickets have been upgraded to VIP status allowing them to stay for a private Q&A and drinks after the show. 

I'm not sure what I will do this evening, but Jasper is in charge and I'm sure I will get my instructions.

Patron Saint

 I was up early again today so that Ellie could be dropped off. She was very bouncy and bubbly and brightened up the rather grey and wet morning. After the normal morning workflow, we dropped her off at school and returned home for breakfast.

Today is the feast of St Joseph the Worker. This got me thinking. Who is the patron saint of retired people? I asked Google's AI Engine (Gemini) who informed me "There isn't a universally recognized saint specifically for retirees". Well, that's a blow. There is no specific Saint in the firmament that gives a flying fig for us retirees. I guess we'll have to make do with Saint Dymphna who is associated with mental clarity and peace, or St Jude who looks after lost causes.

It has been raining gently all day. This was not conducive to a walk by the time I waited for some deliveries from DPD and Royal Mail and some pick-ups by Royal Mail. I did, however, manage to remove one of the shrubs from the front garden (under supervision) so that it can catch the green waste collection tomorrow.

The rest of the day followed the usual schedule - Kindle, fetch Ellie, homework with Ellie, say goodbye as she is collected, then dinner.

Just Stuff

 The alarm was set, and I had to be up in time for Ellie to be dropped off soon after 07:00. She seemed a bit grumpy when she first arrived, but a cuddle with Grandpa and then with Nana snapped her out of it. After eating, washing and dressing, she came downstairs to sit with me and practice her handwriting. She will need to improve how she holds the pencil and places the paper. At the moment she is blocking her view of the words as she writes. This will need some attention but I have no doubt she will get it.

After we dropped Ellie at school, we returned home for breakfast before getting on with our various domestic chores. I also had to order some more coffee and arrange for the collection and recycling of the used pods. This latter task took an inordinate amount of time as Nespresso had outsourced the pod collection to Royal Mail and each bag of pods needed to be separately entered into the system. It was a salutary lesson in how not to design a user interface.

I stuck my Airpods in my ears and headed off for a walk, listening to Bosch as I looped around through the village. The book already has me hooked and I was tempted to walk another complete circuit so that I could listen to more. I resisted. It is an incentive for my next walk.

After lunch, we had our Kindle hour before collecting Ellie from school. She did some more handwriting practice and some work on the times tables before running out of steam. We'll pick it up again when she is dropped off tomorrow morning.

Multi-tasking

 I was very slow to get going this morning. It was wet and miserable and did not endow me with a spring in my step. By mid-morning the rain had died away. By lunchtime, the sun was peeping through the clouds.

I did venture out, briefly. The car would need petrol this week, so I sorted that out rather than wait until it was too low. I should have gone for a walk but kept finding excuses to do something else instead. After a light lunch, I settled down with my Kindle in the Orangery. Another book bit the dust and yet another was started.

When it came time to start on dinner, I switched off the Kindle, inserted my Airpods and fired up a |Harry Bosch" book on Audible. True multi-tasking. One book and one audiobook on the go while preparing dinner.

Crew

 There was a gentle start to the day. Caffeine was absorbed and porridge was consumed. I settled in the study for my call with the cousins. The call seemed less boisterous than many, but it was fun to chat and to stay in touch.

I spent some time looking at specifications for various new cars. I'm not seriously considering a purchase but I'm aware that the road tax changes for April 2025 will impose Tax on EVs. Now, currently, there is a luxury vehicle tax on any car over 40K and this is payable for years 2-5 after purchase. Most EV's that we would consider cost well over 40K - but as long as we get one before April 2025 we can avoid these taxes. As I said, I'm not seriously considering a purchase, but I thought I'd do the research. (If you are interested, the two cars that I configured were the Skoda Enyaq 85 and the Hyundai Ioniq 5).

What we didn't know, at this point, was the total meltdown that was underway at Sainsbury's. IT systems had failed, taking out the online deliveries, the tills, the Smartshop, the headsets, and everything else that makes the stores tick. Zoe was at the heart of this in her store, trying to keep the place running. She phoned us in the early evening and was still on an adrenalin high as she related the story.

Oblivious to the drama at Sainsbury's (not that we could have done anything to help) we went into Chichester with Chris and Maureen. We met up with Ian and Trudy at The Giggling Squid for a long-awaited Sonning Crew lunch. It was ostensibly to celebrate Maureen's birthday (last week) but really was just a long-missed get-together. We had a lovely meal, though Ian was suffering a bit from colitis which rather stymied his choices. We sat and chatted for several hours before paying the bill and heading home.

Stab Vest

Being the Ides of March, I have been wearing my stab vest all day. I may not be Emperor of Rome, but I am not going to take any chances.

There had been rain overnight, but it was drying out by the time I walked to Zoe's for the school run.  Being "Red Nose Day" Ellie could wear her own clothes but despite having a themed t-shirt, she decided to wear her own gear, rather than submit to the peer pressure for Red Nose regalia. That's my girl!

It brightened up during the morning and I took the opportunity to have a swift walk around the area. I ventured down North Bersted Street and saw that the flooding had not yet subsided. I trust the homeowners of these last two houses have big 4x4s or their own kayaks.

Back home, I got on with some admin and then settled with the Kindle for a while. Zoe had forgotten to pack Ellie's laptop with her stuff for the weekend with Pete, so I wandered around the corner (between showers) to grab the technology and thus allow her to stay on top of any homework that may be assigned.

Pete has just collected Ellie and we have finished dinner. A quiet evening is planned.

Update

 It was mild and dry when I got up this morning. The usual coffee jump-started the day and at the appropriate time, I went to provide the school escort service. Back home, a second coffee was required, along with a bowl of porridge before we started the day.

We had the usual Sainsbury's trip. For some reason, we spent far more than usual, and I'll bet there were things we forgot (despite maintaining a shopping list throughout the week). Once everything was packed away, I had to make a second run to the shops to get the cat litter that wouldn't fit in the boot after the Sainsbury's raid. When I got back, I did manage to complete the online forms that allowed me to update my Will.

The afternoon saw us enjoying the Spring warmth of the Orangery while reading our Kindles. Di headed off to join Zoe and collect Ellie. They were caught in the one and only shower we saw all day... and it was torrential (but fortunately short).

Di's been on the phone with Denise while I prepared dinner. I have also tentatively booked a hotel in Stowmarket for Di's cousin's (once removed) wedding. We are not sure we will be able to make it, but can cancel the room if necessary.

Pixie

The weather had dried up overnight. Ellie slept through, and though awake at 06:30, only disturbed us when gone 7 a.m.  We followed the normal procedure and once fed, washed, dressed and prepared, we took her to school.

It was a fairly quiet morning. I had some admin to get through and Diane had a call with one of her girlfriends. (She had an appointment at the hairdresser later, preventing her from going to Pilates). Once my admin was complete, I headed out for a walk. It was grey but bright and there was a strong breeze from the South-West.

I got home just as Diane was preparing to go to the hairdresser. I grabbed a bite of lunch and then settled down with my Kindle until she returned. Collecting Ellie from school, we stopped off at the park so that she could let off some steam before coming home. Zoe came to collect her soon after 4 p.m. and plans to take her along to the Parents' Evening at the school this evening.

Wet Again

Heavy rain set in during the early hours and continued well into the morning. It was wet enough that I wore my waterproof trousers when walking to Zoe's to provide the school escort service.

Back home I settled down with the news, some coffee, and some porridge. When I finally stirred myself I decided to follow up on a recent campaign by Martin Lewis (the Money Saving chap). It appears that some finance companies paid discretionary bonuses to car salesmen. These bonuses were financed from the contracts they were selling. This was not disclosed to the customers and is now being examined. We had three agreements in the window of time from 2007. I dug out the agreements, checked the reference numbers, and used the MSE online tool to construct a letter to VWFS to register my interest. I am not convinced it will come to anything - but if you don't ask, you won't find out.

At lunchtime, despite the rain, I headed for school. Ellie needed to have her ear spray administered. After that was done I continued for a brief walk around the estate and the lake. It wasn't too far, but it was exercise. There were plenty of dog walkers sloshing through the puddles, but nobody else had ventured out.

The afternoon followed the familiar pattern of an hour or so with the Kindle before heading off to collect Ellie from school.

Ellie is staying with us overnight.

Booked

 I didn't sleep well last night - but Diane did so we balanced each other out. I was up soon after 7:00 and started the caffeine infusion while reading the news. Zoe had a 9:00 start, so I walked to her place and provided my usual escort service to the school.

Our friends, Jan and John had asked if they could come away with us on one of our short breaks. There is no real opportunity to do so this year, but we agreed to do a short break next May (2025). I waited on tenterhooks for confirmation that the Cattery could accommodate Jasper in his usual suite. With that booked, I contacted the Carlyon Bay Hotel and booked a room. We heard this afternoon that John has also made contact to book their room. So, it's all booked and in the diary.

I went for a short walk before lunch and then settled down with my book until it was time to collect Ellie. She seemed a little distracted this evening and made heavy weather of her homework. She didn't seem focused. 

I prepared sufficient "Manzo Picante" for Zoe to take some home with her. She's just been to collect Ellie and her Red Cross parcel. That way, we can be sure she'll eat.

Mother's Day

We had a quiet start to Mother's Day. No imperative forced us to get up, but my body clock insisted that I was out of bed by 07:30. Coffee and breakfast were taken at our leisure, and then I started to prepare for lunch. At this stage, it was unclear who would be here - Kim, Zoe, and Ellie were definite, but Darren and his daughter Millie were possible, too. In the end, Darren and Millie didn't come.

Kim turned up first. She had been at home watching her Mother-in-Law's funeral as it was streamed live from Spain. (Jon was attending in person). We had a quiet 45 minutes with her before Zoe and Ellie arrived. The leg of lamb that I had roasted was excellent and everyone seemed to enjoy it along with all of the trimmings.

When lunch was over, we chatted through the afternoon until Kim had to leave. Soon after, Ellie was seriously flagging, so Zoe took her home and left us to a quiet evening in front of the TV. It had been a nice celebration of Mother's Day.

Stitch up

We had a gentle start to the day. There was no need for an alarm, but I woke up at 07:00 anyway. I snuck downstairs to make coffee and read the news, leaving Diane to sleep for as long as Jasper would allow. At 09:00 I had the usual call with the cousins. This was fun as there had been a suggested theme of "meat-related" sayings. The theme petered out quite quickly but it did stir discussion of Kate's forthcoming trip to the UK, whether you can use the reactor on a nuclear submarine to cook (when the microwave breaks down), and whether you can protect against meat pilfering with a burger alarm.

Though rain had been forecast for late in the day, it was a bright morning, scoured by a chilly wind. Diane wanted to do a Spring Clean in the front garden. The leaf blower was retrieved and the leaf vacuum was fired up. Working in tandem (and ably assisted by the east wind) we soon dislodged the fallen leaves from last Autumn and those not removed by the wind were soon vacuumed up. Our lesson from this was to always deal with the leaves on a windy day when nature provides the optimum assistance. With that done, Di continued to tidy and prune the flowers and shrubs and I washed down the paintwork. It was a very successful exercise.

After lunch, as I was finishing my latest book, I received a message from Trevor. They had been due to travel to Seville for a few days. He has tested positive for Covid, however, so the trip is on hold. Let's hope he recovers quickly.

Audible is a service, now owned by Amazon, which provides audiobooks. I have probably discussed it in the past as I have used it extensively, particularly when I was still working and needed some entertainment while commuting by car or train. I no longer subscribe, but I still have a significant number of titles in my library that I haven't yet listened to. As the weather is now improving and I am hoping to get some more walking in my weekly routine, I thought it the ideal time to select the next unread book in my library. It was not that easy. The "app" through which I used to listen is now suggesting that I need to accept a "Free Trial" which then morphs into a payment of £7.99 a month. I don't think so! What a stitch-up!  I spent a couple of hours tracking down a way to access my library and downloading the books. Then I managed to load the books into the "Books" app on my MacBook. Now I need to find a way of synchronizing the books across all my Apple devices. This last bit is proving problematic at present, but I will continue to investigate.

MOT

There was a bitter wind scouring the South Coast today. It was bright and sunny, but very chilly in the wind. I provided my usual escort service to get. Ellie to school and then returned home for breakfast. Diane sloped off to the Community Centre for her Cardiac Rehab while I did some chores and completed some admin.

A few weeks back, I mentioned that I had been called for an MOT at the doctor's surgery. The results of my blood tests are now back and I have received a report card saying, basically, "must try harder". It would appear that my cholesterol is higher than it should be and if it doesn't improve, I will be up before the headmistress and force-fed statins. I spent much of the morning navigating various online questionnaires which probed my diet and lifestyle to make some suggestions as to how I can reduce the cholesterol. The main conclusion was that, from a diet perspective, we don't need to change much. I should have some fish one more day each week than I currently manage and should eat nuts (that's not going to happen, as I'm allergic to them). I think the most sensible approach will be to reduce my portion sizes.

Diane went out with Zoe. A local garden centre was calling! I warned her that dinner would be ready by 17:00. That gave her 5 hours to browse and talk to everybody in the garden centre. I settled down with my Kindle.

The doorbell rang. I put down the Kindle and wandered to the door. I was greeted by what I can only describe as a gnome (female). She was dressed in dungarees, boots, a bobble hat (without a bobble), and a yellow scarf. She grasped a bike and a satchel containing leaflets for the Lib Dems. "Hello, Andrew" she began. That threw me. How did she know my name? Anyway, she then started to talk to me about voting and whether she could interest me in her candidate. My mind wandered. Where was the nearest care home for people having a mental health crisis... I snapped back into the moment. I was very polite but explained that I would vote, but it was unlikely my vote would go her way. At least she wasn't one of the psychopaths trying to peddle the Labour Party.

The Eyes Have It

 Ellie slept through and, though awake, didn't disturb us until I was moving about. For World Book Day, she had to take her favourite bedtime story to school and wear her pyjamas. It was fun to see that all the kids turned up in their PJs - and find that the teachers had joined in.

We had our traditional Thursday trip to Sainsbury's and managed to accost Zoe while there.

We had a couple of quiet hours with our books before Di set off to collect Ellie. I stayed put as Chris was due at the eye clinic at Whitely, and I had volunteered to take him. Despite warnings of traffic, we whizzed through and arrived with 30 minutes to spare. He went in to see if they could see him early and I stayed in the car with my Kindle. He was in the clinic for just over an hour and the laser did its job. He came out and declared he felt great and could have driven home (though it wasn't permitted). The journey home was not as straightforward. We hit traffic as soon as we joined the M27 and sat in a nose-to-tail jam until we cleared Portsmouth. It took well over an hour to get home.

Because of the time, when I got in we ordered some fish and chips for dinner and I popped around the corner to collect them (I'm not keen on deliveries as it eats into the profits of the provider and can be a bit soggy by the time the food arrives). 

Promenade

No imperative forced me to get up early, today. Well, no imperative other than the stress of a full bladder. So it was that I was up at 6:40 and, once relieved, enjoying a coffee as I read the news before 7:00. At the allotted time, I strolled to Zoe's to provide the daily school escort service. The sun was out, it was cool but the forecast was good.

Back home, Diane was preparing to head out for Pilates and I settled down for breakfast. She headed off just before 9:30 and I followed soon after. I picked up the bus at the end of the road and headed to Bognor High Street. The plan was to enjoy a walk by the sea. 

To start with, I headed east. Unlike recent walks, I was not deterred by the huge emergency outflow pipes. I clambered over the pebbles and leapt the pipes. They were still discharging huge volumes of water into the sea.

I made my way past the pipes and back onto the path to the Lobster Pot.  It was very quiet and I was tempted to stop for a coffee, but decided that I was there for exercise, not caffeine.

I strode onwards along the promenade towards Middleton-on-Sea. At an arbitrary point, I turned and headed back the way I had come.

I headed back, passing Butlins, and the pier, and then turned back when I got as far as the sailing club. As I arrived at the High Street, my bus was waiting and I was home in just a few minutes.

Diane had a good session at Pilates but commented on how bad the traffic had been. After we had some lunch, she went to do some pruning in the garden (making the most of the afternoon sunshine). When she finished, she joined me in the Oranger for a quiet couple of hours with the Kindles.

As Zoe had a day off, she collected Ellie from school but has just dropped her off to us. She is staying with us tonight as Zoe has an early start (and Darren is away overnight).

Do Not Disturb

Zoe's plans had changed so I was up, showered, and ready for Ellie to be deposited at the door just after 07:00. Her trainers were missing and were needed for today's PE lesson. So it was that once Ellie had eaten breakfast, I strolled around the corner and started a forensic search of Zoe's house, searching for the trainers. It only took me a couple of minutes to find them. They were in the shoe cupboard (who would have thought?) under one of Zoe's coats. We dropped Ellie at school (with the correct items of uniform for the day) and headed home for breakfast.

There wasn't a fixed plan for the day. I updated the accounts and then returned to the 1990's journal. This is going to take a lot longer than anticipated. It is not just the fact that it is sparse, it is more the case that key family events were not highlighted in the journals of the time and my only record is my photo and video library. It is already looking as if the final book will be well over 200 pages. I do need to be in the right mind frame, however, to make more progress.

The early afternoon was spent with our Kindles, ploughing through our latest books. Soon after 3 p.m. I went to the school to collect Ellie. She was her usual chirpy self and once she had demolished a snack she settled down for some maths homework. When that was complete, she finished off a present that she had been making (with Nana) for the upcoming Mother's Day.

Ellie had dinner with us this evening and has just been collected by Darren.

It's been a nice quiet day.

Alarm

My alarm went off. I shot out of bed with all the grace and athleticism of an arthritic walrus. We were expecting Ellie soon after 7:00 and I had to be ready. My eyes, still a bit fuzzy, it took a moment or two to insert a toothbrush into the correct orifice. (My nose has had the scent of spearmint most of the day, however). I was ready for the day,

Ellie arrived, looking as if she had only just emerged from bed. It only took a few minutes before she had jump-started her brain and moved into top gear, as usual. Breakfast, ablutions, some play, and then we headed to school.

Back home, we had a very quiet breakfast. As I was preparing to start on some chores, I was asked to look at the Gmail templates. Bizarrely, they only work from a browser - not the Gmail app. This rather threw me, and it took a while to get it sorted for Diane's responses to future INR tests. Once that was done, I got on with the domestic chores I had on my mental checklist.

After lunch, I finished my book and started a new one while enjoying the warmth of the Orangery. We collected Ellie at the allotted time, and she was with us until Darren collected her. Zoe's shifts have changed for tomorrow, so we will again expect to see Ellie just after 07:00.

Seafront

There was an air frost overnight. When I came down for my coffee infusion the Orangery roof was decorated with intricate fractals of ice patterns. Jasper sniffed at the open door and walked away. It was too cold for him.

After a while, Diane wandered down to join me and we had a leisurely breakfast. Again, I had decided to skip football (though to be fair, Sunday's games aren't really a problem as the "children" don't play on Sunday). ~Diane had considered joining me for a walk but decided to stay put and write to Jan (Mrs Tiggywinkle). I grabbed my jacket and shoes and headed down to West Park.

The sun was up, there was little or no wind, and it was the perfect morning for a walk. It was clear that I was not the only person to think that way. 

The promenade was heaving with walkers, cyclists, dog walkers and "obeseycles". Despite this, it was a really pleasant walk up towards the Lobster Pot and back.

I was only walking for about an hour, but I felt deeply refreshed and at peace with the World.

Back home, I caught up on some writing while Diane continued her missive to Jan, I decided to check and update the accounts and was delighted to find that I won no fewer than 6 Premium Bond prizes this month. They were not worth a fortune, but it is always pleasing to win.

After lunch, we sat in the Orangery and made the most of the glorious sunshine. I had to fling the door open as it was so hot in there. Long may this continue.

Draughts or Chequers

Being Saturday, the day started with the usual call with my cousins. There was a lot of banter and laughter particularly when Red Tim started to talk about the preparations "The Party" is making for the next election. Tim revealed that he had volunteered to get involved but hadn't quite realised how much time that would consume.

Call over, we jumped in the car and headed up north. We had arranged to visit Jan and John in the wilds of Hampshire. The overnight rain hadn't quite died away, so we had a fairly wet trip and there was a bitter wind with the temperature failing to rise above 5C. We were sorry to see that John is suffering a bit with his back and neck as he prepares for an operation on his thumb. As he said, getting old is no fun. We had an hour or so to drink coffee before heading out for lunch. 

Lunch had been arranged at The Chequers, a Gastro-pub in the tiny hamlet of Well. The pub may be in the middle of nowhere, miles from the coast, but it specialises in fresh fish. We had a wonderful lunch. Diane had skate wing, Jan and John had sole (lemon and Dover), and I had turbot. We lingered over the meal and it was gone 3 p.m. before we left. It had been expensive but was worth every penny.

We returned to Jan and John's and spent the rest of the afternoon chatting about everything under the sun and drinking tea. At 6:30 p.m. we finally said our goodbyes and headed home. The car warned us that the temperature was below 4C and as we headed across the country we could see that the roads had been gritted. Despite this, we were home in just over an hour and settled down for a quiet evening. It had been a very pleasant day.

Random Numbers

After the mandatory coffee and a brief run through the news, I went to Zoe's to do the school run. It was still slightly wet after some heavy overnight rain and there was a bitterly cold wind. I was glad I~ was wearing my heavy jacket.

Back home, I had breakfast while Di headed to the Community Centre for her Cardiac rehab session.  I checked the bus timetables and at a suitable moment left to get the bus to Chichester. Rain was still sporadic, but when it fell it was heavy (in Littlehampton it fell as hail). In Chichester, I made myself comfortable in the chair at the dental hygienist. She was late starting, but once properly prepared with safety goggles, a canary in a cage, a helmet lamp, and protective gloves she started mining in my mouth. After 30 minutes of prodding, washing, sucking, probing, scraping and sandblasting, I was given a clean bill of health. I paid the bill and left.

As I approached the bus stop, a bus drove away. Not to worry, the next bus was due in 14 minutes. I waited. After 10 minutes, the live display told me the next bus was now only 4 minutes away. 10 minutes later the bus was still 4 minutes away. So it continued. I got a text from Di and explained that I only had 4 minutes to wait... but those 4 minutes seemed to be part of a wormhole that stretched to infinity. As I responded, 4 minutes changed to 3 minutes, and then 2 minutes. At last, the bus was near. No, it wasn't. It only had about half a mile to travel from the depot, traffic was light, but still it took a further 5 or 6 minutes to arrive.

Once aboard I was home in no time. I have no problem (honestly) with buses being late. What I deeply resent is information boards that blatantly lie or use a random number generator to keep you on your cold wet toes.

Quiet afternoon with the Kindle until it was time to collect Ellie. She wasn't with us for long as we had arranged for Pete to collect her early. We had to get Jasper back to the vet. We had the usual trouble digging him out from under the bed and depositing him in his carrier. Once there, we had no further trouble (except his incessant whining). Needless to say, there is some carpet to clean up. At least the vet was happy with him and said how well he was doing considering his age (a statement we can all relate to).