Wednesday 1st July 2026

Life is better after more than nine hours sleep. But the truth is, I would probably stay up late that evening and get up at five the next morning after less than six hours sleep, so be back to square one.



So it goes.

Middle of the week again, and my next to last B12 jab at lunchtime, which scuppers most plans which could last all day.

Jools has her fitness class first thing. I say fist thing, she leaves just after half seven. By which time my woolly head was clearing after a coffee, and was thinking about breakfast.

It was a fine morning, breezy again, but fine.

I wait for Jools to return before having breakfast, making sure the kettle was freshly boiled.

And in truth, after breakfast, not much to do until eleven when I have to drive into town for the injection.

Parking is easiest in front of ASDA/Morrisons, then walk through the alleyway at the back.

The surgery is typical on institutions. It has sad-faced people waiting endlessly, and the smell of bleach or some other cleaning fluid. Locked doors, needing the receptionist to press a button to unlock. And despite it being warm and sunny outside, inside it seems that a sadness, or moroseness hangs heavy in the air.

I climb the stairs, once the door is unlocked, and wait two minutes before being called.

Suzzanne greets me, we swap pleasantries, I roll up my sleeve and she prepares the "syrup", and jabs. So the deed is done.

See you on Friday. Have a great rest of the day!

On the way back I pop into ASDA for something for lunch and am back in the car and driving home just before midday.

We have lunch and a brew. And the afternoon stretches out before us like a long stretchy thing. I sat on the patio listening to podcasts with the headphones on, while Scully laid beside me in the shade, purring and snoring.

Cats can multitask too.

Dark clouds gather, but looked far more dramatic than actual storm clouds, and they produce no rain.

England played Congo at five, so dinner and washing up was done by then, so I could sit on the sofa and suffer watching our national team struggle.

And struggle they did, labouring against a well set-up defence, and the Premier League's best players unable to unlock Congo's defence.

Congo always looked dangerous on the counter, and so was no surprise when they found acres of space in the England half and scored after nine minutes.

With fifteen minutes to go, Congo tiring, England brought on Saka and Gordon, and they found space, and set up Kane to score twice to send England through.

After the game ended, players and fans sang "Wonderwall" together, while players hugged and smiled.

Later, Belgium played Senegal. Was a wonderful first half, with Senegal taking the lead on the half hour, but it was half nine, I had to be up at five, so went to bed, and so missed a game which Belgium came from 2-0 down in the last four minutes to level and take it to extra time, before winning it late on.

Football, eh?