Plans for the next ten days are progressing. A new friend of Wink’s has invited us both for lunch tomorrow – it’s very kind, as I don’t even know the friend of the new friend who provided the introduction. Still, a friendly invitation is welcomed.

I’ve written the emails and sent them and have one letter to America to post tomorrow – that’s to Sheila and it includes a catalogue and the prices from the auction. While I’m in Reading, I’ll make a trip to Leicestershire on Saturday. Some of you will remember John Greenwood, whose splendidly named Publog was part of our blogging social circle. He’s been disabled for many years, since a tree fell on his car during a storm and his dad was his carer and true friend for all that time. Gordon died a couple of weeks ago, in his nineties and the wake is on Saturday. I didn’t meet Gordon, though I sent him a present of magnificent brownies from Ludlow market when I met John eight years ago. But I’ll raise a glass or two to him, all the same.

I have finally got the study back to the state it was a week ago. It was emptying the bookcase that was the problem, everything in it was dumped into boxes. But it’s been sorted out now and I have a new to-do list. Top priority is getting the car windscreen sorted out – it’s just a chip so I think it can be mended rather than replaced.

Wink and I need a holiday. Can’t have one yet, but we’ll dream.