Monday 8th April 2024

There can be no doubt it is spring now. It looks like spring, smells like spring and is warm like spring.

Though saying that we are getting unseasonable storms, and two over the weekend swept through, and as we went to bed, a huge thunderstorm drifted up across northern France, making us jump when a crack went out within three miles of the house.

Elsewhere, there was another eclipse in the US, though we never discussed going this time. In the evening I watched NASA's live feed, though with the sound down and the fake excitement of the presenters was a little too high pitched for me.

And it was back to work too.

A week until the great gathering in Denmark, our boss travelled back to DK from India, only for her flight to be delayed and when we joined the department meeting, she was still on a train heading for Copenhagen from the airport.

I decided to tackle my knee, so did three sessions with the ice pack, and walked very little, though the heavy rain showers and gusty winds helped somewhat.

The guy from the carpet shop came round to measure up the little bedroom, and he also measured up the hallway in preparation for yet more updating of the house.

In other news, Mulder is listless, and laid asleep until eight in the evening before waking and then only taking little food.

No splashing for Jools, so I made shepherds pie from the lamb we had over the weekend, topped with mash made with salted herbs from Canada and topped with a quarter pound of grated cheddar.

It was good, and more than enough to have another day for a meal, with the crispiest, cheesiest part to go back into the oven for yet more baking.

No football in the evening, though planning for trips meant we filled the evening well, and so went to bed at half eight, filled with dreams of country lanes, vineyards and stinky cheeses.