Well Karmy,

England is definitely green and blossoming, continuous sun last week, 26C yesterday, set for more of that today and all next week if the weather liars are to be believed.

It would seem we have the reliable and Waffenamt Wa.Pruf.6 approved (the stamp is on the other side I'm told) Bosch sun momentarily to replace the intermittent Lucas version normally issued here.

Not a lot else going on though as I continue to massage our position into something permitting flight from the country hopefully early next year now.

Just keeping an eye on Mr Gordon Unelected-Brown lurching from one arrogant crisis to another and further buggering the country; oil rising through $126 doing wonders for some of my pension investments but a sharp intake of breath filling the car at £1.10/litre; and just waiting for the hugely over-hyped Euro balanced almost totally on our efficient German chums to take a huge tumble since the first visible cracks are starting to appear.

Apart from that, I just work, drink tea and have the "occasional" self-made rollie. No change there then.

Today we need to heave some 20 years of collected dross out of the garage so a certain skilled joiner and Morris-Commercial body-builder can have the rotten timber away as part of the extensive tarting-up procedure prior to selling the house.

I was hoping Veare would lend a hand but it seems no time is available in the 22hr sleep requirement either under a very shady bit of garden greenery or under the bedroom stool once we have vacated the chamber and peace reigns.

Must fly, just noticed the tea mug is empty; hmmmmm 22C already and only just after 8am. . . . . . .

R.