Friday 1st November 2024

Friday.

And so to the last day of the week, bin day too, and a day for trying to complete work tasks, as I off travelling next week.

I was up at six, Jools was just leaving for yoga, but for me a coffee was waiting.

I checked the world. Its still going to hell in a hell cart, so no change.

And I start work, with tasks being ticked off one by one, including the monster that is the travel expense app.

Sigh.

I talked to colleagues, swapped news and advice, did more tasks, had breakfast, worked more, had leftover fritters for lunch. And a glass of wine.

Because it felt the right thing to do.

I close the laptop down at one, packing my work bag, then going to sit outside to watch the garden.

Not sunny. Not warm

All was good until a sparrowhawk swooped in making all other birds dive for cover.

It missed all the small birds, and sat for five seconds on the grass, and as I raised my camera to take a snap, it took off.

Excitement over.

Earlier, the sky was filled with dozens of seagulls riding a thermal higher and higher, squawking as they wheeled and rode the rising air.

Then were gone. At quarter to two, Jools arrives, so we go straight back out to Jen's for cards, as John wants to be home before its dark, the clocks going back knocking an hour off our card-time already.

We play, and all were in a good mood, even John. Jools had bought him a book on nonsense verse, as he was quoting some last week, and a small craft project she finished that his wife never started.

I win at Meld by five points, netting the 80pence jackpot. Then John won Queenie, winning the best part of a fiver with a run of four cards.

We asked Jen if she fancied fish and chips. She didn't really, but liked the idea of not having to cook, so accepted. Jools went to the chippy along the road, and soon came back with wonderful crispy freshly fried food, and a bucket of chips.

Back home for a brew and feed the cats, then settle down for another quiet evening watching football and sipping whiskey.