Reasons to be cheerful:

“Broke up” from work for two weeks leave (although last minute trip to Spain is still in balance..)

Sitting in sunny garden drinking a beer

Surrounded by dogs

Fruit trees and bushes heaving with produce so jam pots at the ready

Hens laying abundantly

Hair appointment on Saturday

Wonderful friend who (because he knows ‘im outdoors’ lack of DIY aptitude/interest well enough) unbunged and repaired drainpipe last week, popped back to refit outside light which had shorted out (contemplating abducting him and locking him in a cupboard for domestic emergencies – he seems to run on chocolate and Chablis anyway so would be easy to sustain)

Discovered a delightful Scottish term for a well known medical skin condition commonly found in elderly patients with chronic pain – (a patchy and dark discolouration caused by extended soothing contact with a hot water bottle – posh name: erythema ab igne) – aka “Granny’s tartan”