Monday

If ( and that's a big 'if') I get everything done by Wednesday - I shall be taking Thursday to Monday off - no work, no email, might go incognito and just spend time in the house and garden. I'm just bracing myself now and planning the next couple of days.

Proper rain last night - everything fresh and green this morning. I'm covered in livid insect bites and have woken up every day for a week with a stiff neck and shoulders - no particular reason for either.

Avoiding the 'riots' in London - although most of seems looting and hooliganism rather than anything more political - and channeling out the rather triumphal reports surrounding the polar bear attack - which are getting a bit silly now.

My household and buildings insurance has gone up by 30% - and with gas and electricity up an average of 18%  next winter is already looking grim. I shall be wearing a lot of jumpers this year. I may even bring the microwave back out of storage - rather than using the electric range.

I've acquired another piece of Peter Quinnell, that's my art patronage for the year - it's great, soon as I find the right place to hang it - I'll post pictures. I cycled down into town yesterday - the Stade was packed with people, town less so - but the open area between Costa and cafe Nero is pretty busy now that the coffee shops have taken hold. The open markets are pretty regular now, and it looks a lot better - I actually really liked the cafe Nero, they have done a good job with that lovely Deco building. One of the blokes I work with told me that when it was a linen and bedding shop - it was in constant 'closing down sale' mode, for at least 3 years - the only time he ever went there to buy something... it had closed down. Still no news on the rumoured Starbucks - that might be a coffee shop too far. It can only be a matter of time before we get a Pizza Express.... and then it really will be the 1990's, at last!