15December1995

London: 15th December 1995

My dear folks,

It's been a funny old day. It started out at 4 for the second morning in a row, this time with a huge sneeze that had me grasping around in the dark for the box of tissues. It got Mavis off the bed where he'd been snoring merrily. I thought that maybe my hovering cold was about to descend with a vengeance. As it happened, it was my only sneeze of the morning although my nose has dripped like a tap with an old washer. It's as though the flu virus that's been rampaging through the country notched up a mere ricochet instead of getting in a good hit. I'm grateful for small mercies.

I came down and made the pair of us cups of tea & then settled down to the computer where - surprise! - I spent several happy hours. One of these days I'm sure I'm going to get bored stiff at the keyboard but it hasn't happened yet. I got through the last of my correspondence, spent half an hour sniffing around the Internet & then settled down with a computer mag to study the 200 hints for better computing - half a dozen of them actually quite useful. There was an early morning fax from Cathy & I had a word with Brendan before responding to her queries. Was very pleased to hear that he had just installed a fax at home. It works too I can tell you. Nice to have you on the circuit, boet!

Jones wasn't feeling her brightest either. After descending for a bite of breakfast, she went back to bed. It was bed weather, damp, cold & miz. A bitter wind rattled the window. Mavis settled himself down beside the radiator for the duration. Jones & I took a late morning bath. There's lots to be said for it on a day like today. Masses of goo in the water and a good soak. You can talk over things in the bath & it's the one place you don't have Mavis headbutting you for food or attention. I was dead scared that my stationery delivery would arrive the moment we climbed in. But it didn't - for once.

Instead, it came early afternoon and I spent an hour working out how to print my labels....very satisfying when I eventually cracked it. Jones has been working away at her sewing & her Portuguese. The pair of us went out mid-afternoon, I to one of "my" flats to install a fire extinguisher & she to doing her daily shopping. I offered to do a big shop in the car instead but she needs her walk, even when the weather's up the creek. Pause there to feed Mavis who was nutting my ankle. Likes his supper nice and prompt. It's a joy to watch him run down the stairs, tummy swinging from side to side. Then he stops and looks back and tells you to f........g hurry up because he’s f.......g starving and in no mood to wait. He spent at least an hour sitting in an empty cardboard box looking self important. Crazy guy! But worth the amusement he unwittingly gives us.

There's some reasonable TV on this evening. And I've opened a cracking bottle of wine to go with supper. Jones is overfeeding me & my pants are taking the strain. I've told her that I'll take her to Waterperry tomorrow - if the weather improves. I don't rate her chances to be honest. God bless for now.