A better day

Norman wakes me at six for his breakfast and to be let out. I still feel tired and go back to bed until eight, and then make a light breakfast of rye toast and honey with black coffee that I take into the Garden Room, outside it's a bright sunny day, although there are more clouds than of late. I decide that I am not up to church today, nor to go for coffee with Leslie, but by the time I have showered and dressed I feel a little better and collect Leslie for coffee anyway. We drive to Caffe Nero and order our usual Americano's and pastries and then chat about our usual subjects. Leslie bets me the economy will be no better in a years time and I counter that it will be better in two or three, but he says that as he's ninety he cannot be sure to be alive that long! I offer to channel the result through a medium, but he doesn't take me up. After dropping Leslie back home, I call at Tesco for more supplies and get home for twelve. Main Street in Tickton is solid with parked cars and I notice there is a fete at the village hall and playing fields, so when I get home I put Norman on his lead and we walk back there via Carr Lane. There are numerous raffles and stalls and even a dog show, but no category for oldest, greediest dachshund. I have a go on the crockery shy and my first throw is really impressive and smashes three plates, the second hits a solid, iron ware plate and fails to break it, putting all the power I can muster into the third throw, manage to miss completely. Norman can smell the burger bar but there is a queue a mile long, so we make our way back home. Surprisingly I don't feel too bad, so when I get in, make a roast beef baguette, some oven chips and a tossed salad and eat in the garden with a pot of tea. It is a pleasant afternoon, sunny with an occasional cloud, so we stay in the garden and I drink tea and read the Observer whilst Norman finishes my beef baguette. Resisting the urge to sleep, I do the puzzles in the paper and then give Norman his tea before walking him round the fields. When we get to the bridge I still feel OK and we walk the extra mile or so round the fields before heading home. I resist the impulse to mow the lawns, as this may be pushing my luck too far. Let's hope it stays dry! When we get in I have some Camembert with crusty bread and a glass of wine and then Puzzle until bedtime.