Saturday 29th October 2016

The final day of British Summer Time, and with an extra hour to have in bed, it meant we could mess around in the evening for an extra hour and sleep the same. However, we were on a bit of a downer, as Mr Fabulous, aka Mulder, is a bit under the weather, feeling lethargic, spends all his time sleeping. He seems perky enough though, purrs when he is stroked. We will keep an eye on the fella.

Anyway, we lay in bed until after seven, and with dawn showing, we clamber out of bed and after coffee, I volunteer to do the shopping thing. Jools still not feeling too sharp, says she will sort out the washing, so with tasks allocated, we can get on. Instead of Tesco, I drive into Deal to whiz round Sainsbury's, as they have a better class of grocery. In actual fact, they do really nice flavoured coatings which I put on chicken breasts or park steaks of shrimps. And then they have nice wine and spirits, I buy some Madeira, and so Sherry for the Christmas cakes. Oh and there was bread, fruit and the rest of the dull stuff.

Back home in time for half eight when we can have hot toasted crumpets for breakfast. And then what? The weather was grey and dull, so we sit in the living room, listening to Huey on the wireless. The morning passes. There is a knock at the door, and it is the postman bringing the calendars for next year I had made last weekend, featuring pictures from our trip to Japan. And it looks great, the photos are huge and reproduction pin sharp. Really good.

After dinner there is football on the radio, Sunderland v Arse, and it is all too predictable in the 1st half, the Gooners 1-0 up at half time, they should have at least 5 by half time. They failed to show up at the start of the second half and allowed Sunderland back in, but after Sunderland pull level with a penalty, then go AWOL and concede three more before the end of the game.

But before the end of the game, the sun had broken through, and agains tall expectations it was a glorious afternoon, and with no wind it felt warm enough appear like summer. It was too nice to stay inside, even with the main batch of matches approaching, so I rescue Jools from the garden and announce to her that we shall go for a walk.

The intention was not to walk for, but we end up going out for an hour, walking to the end of the street, over the fields to Fleet House where the pig's cospe was empty, meaning they remaining porkers had been taken to market. Despite it being the end of October, the ground was fairly dry, meaning we could go either down the dip or up the Windy Ridge. To Jools' surprise I lead her up to Windy Ridge, past the farm and up the long slog to the tree line.

I wanted to get shots of trees turning red and orange, and Windy Ridge being a wood and all that, meant it was the only choice.

Through the wood, looking for fungi, but as always they are think on the ground, or on the wood and trees anyway. But with the sun shining through the canopy above, it was pleasant enough. We break out of the wood, and walk down past the old plant centre. Down in a crease of the land, it was a proper suntrap, and was downright warm. We worked up a sweat climbing back to the road, then down onto our street and back home.

I switch on the radio to find that City were already one down. But it was to get worse, much worse. I mean, 2-0. 3-0. 4-0. and five bloody nil. So much for us not getting a tonking in this league. Bah. Yes, they do happen, but think of the fans having to travel four hours back home with that having just happened.

I switch off the radio before full time, and avoid any more scores. Even when I don't go to games, a bad result can cast a shadow over the weekend.

We had a selection of Chinese tapas, if that's actually a thing, for dinner. I bought boxes of the stuff wondering if i had enough. I had, there was enough for more on Sunday and put some in the freezer too. So it goes.

But with one thing and another, we spend our extra hour in bed, worn our of laid low with our respective lurgies. Urgh.