I arrived home on Saturday evening, but it’s only now that I’ve managed to get to the computer, for one reason and another, most of which are too tedious to mention. I like variety in my life, but I wish it was not such inconvenient variety.

All went well, the children are really lovely and very easy, for small children. Rufus has discovered the joys of cryptic crosswords (the easier Times ones) and sudoku. They both were intrigued by my habit of adding nuts and seeds to plain yoghurt and adopted the practice. We got onto the beach every day, though not necessarily for sandcastles and paddling – luckily, there’s lots to do on that beach and they both enjoyed scrambling on the rocks and looking in pools. Perdita was very proud to climb Tim’s Rock for the first time, though I wasn’t there to watch and admire. I’d fallen asleep while they were getting ready to go out and, as I could walk down but not up, I didn’t want to risk missing them, as they were walking through the tunnels too. We went to local gardens – Colby Woodland Garden at Amroth, a short drive away – where the children found plenty to amuse them while I drank coffee. Then Perdita came to join me in the craft exhibition/shop, where we found much to admire but I didn’t buy anything, though I feel bad about that. Simply, I don’t need more stuff, though there were a lot of things I liked. We also went to Manorbier Castle, which they enjoyed too. I managed most of the ancient stairs, but finally gave up in the tower and the others went on while I sat in the second storey room. As before, they cheerily ate everything we cooked for them, including lots of vegetables and things they hadn’t tried before.

Sadly, a rat got in and ate the bantam eggs. There’s a torn bit of wire, which I carefully cover and had reminded Wink to, but she hadn’t realised how vital that was and forgot on the last night before I got home. Poor Hop abandoned the one remaining egg. She’s all right and has been dust bathing. I may try again when she’s next broody.

Today, Dilly and the boys came over and we spent a couple of hours painting the fence alongside the drive. We’ve done about a quarter of it. I’m very grateful for the help – they’ll come again when they have a free day and it’ll get done. There’s a lot that needs to be done, in fact. They’ll also come and try out the tennis court soon – the lines need to be painted first, but i’ve got the paint and a new net. And new balls, but old racquets.

10 days – well, 10 and a bit – before the rearranged blog party. Before then, I’ll work on the auction catalogue and get my accounts ready for the accountant. She comes to visit me – I think she enjoys half a day out and they don’t charge more for it – that is, they charge quite a lot anyway, so a drive out from Norwich isn’t unreasonable.