Caught Out

So, I was sitting in the kitchen in my underwear just after lunch, trying to cool off as the heat and humidity rose. Nobody ever just drops by unannounced, I assured myself, so I'll be fine like this. Suddenly there were two men coming through the gate just feet away from the open door, and I tore through the house the long way round and then zipped upstairs to the safety of some clothes. It was Brian and George, Ashton's stepfather and younger brother, come to measure up the concrete where my old stable and tackroom once stood. Brian and Shirley bought it off me hook, line and sinker a year ago to use as a playroom and a workshop. They dismantled it bit by bit and hauled the lot off in a trailer, paying me £500. It took them a few goes to get it all away, but now they were ready to erect it again in their garden. They are a remarkable pair, both rather limited by their various injuries and health problems but strong and game as hell. It didn't look as if George was going to be much help. He had trouble holding his end of the tape measure, and looked as if just standing was a bit of an effort. He's looking for holiday and weekend work, Brian told me with a laugh, so I said if he ever gets his strength up to his brother's level I would always find him jobs to do. George struggled to find his smile muscles but it was just clearly beyond him.

Sammy and I ate quite a lot of cake when she came to tea today, so I walked it off up to the top of the hill and down again. Nearly home, I was accosted in the friendliest way by the most beautiful German shepherd dog I've ever seen. Her eyes were gentle and true, and her tail thumped around in her pleasure at seeing me. Her coat was something else. Lucy, she's called, and her mother is Rachel who is something big in the Green Party in these parts. What with one thing and another it was 9pm before I sat down to eat, a very simple supper of fussili, broccoli, olive oil and Parmesan, well seasoned. Deelicious. But thankfully with my nose in my bowl I didn't miss the sky. It was sensational, and I'm glad to say that my new camera is much better at taking these sorts of shots than my old one. Red sky at night shepherd's delight? It doesn't seem to work these days. Those old boys would be scratching their heads in bewilderment if they were alive today.