Obstacles

The man came to fill the oil tank yesterday which was just as well because I couldn't get the lid off the new jar of honey. He appeared at the back door, a jolly presence on a chilly morning, and said "I bet you're wondering what a strange man is doing in your garden!" I wasn't actually because I'd seen the giant oil tanker pull up outside the house and put two and two together, but I told him I didn't mind what his intentions were as long as he had strong hands, and I passed over the honey pot. He'd come from Lincolnshire so he probably wasn't used to Suffolk ways, but he took it in his stride. I saw him wince for a moment and a look of fleeting panic crossed his face, but he succeeded in getting the jar opened and passed it back to me with relief. Honestly, I do wonder how people with properly arthritic hands manage, especially with those lids you have to push down and turn with one dexterous movement. I have my new lilac Christmas present aids but still couldn't make the honey lid budge.

I took Hugo briefly to the college sports field, but when I spotted a very bouncy young labrador across the other side we bid a hasty retreat. I just wasn't feeling up to dodging a leaping, bounding creature, and I knew Hugo would invite it back to play. Why do they do that? They have all the space in the world to race each other but they prefer to charge around your legs and barge into you at speed. I know someone who broke her leg like that so I'm not taking any chances. But I felt the boy's disappointment as we headed prematurely back to the car, and felt mean. I will make it up to him as soon as I can. In the meantime we've had some thrilling teddy bear chases and play fights in the kitchen, and though he loves the game he tires of it quickly and just looks at me when I throw teddy across the floor. Just as well he's so sleepy. It suits us both at the moment.