Analysis

A cursory appraisal would suggest more of an intention towards Cajun cooking than has actually happened.

Considerably more than a cursory appraisal has gone into the finer workings of the brain and the sleep cycle by the lovely Carlos. So we have a very gentle but new plan to try out with the boy whilst we are waiting for his referral to come through.

Early morning trip to the get the mutt's passport so she can come to Spain with us over the summer. All in order and so much quicker and easier than human ones. I suppose they think she can cause less trouble. Let's hope that's true. Lots of scary talk about the things she can pick up over there but fortunately accompanied by some sensible sounding advice and preventative medication. And the finding of an ear infection which is obviously not bothering her but has had the happy side effect of bringing forward the date of her ladybits being "done" to this Thursday. Given the way the dogs were behaving in the park this morning that can't come a moment too soon. There is a ridiculously sentimental part of me that is a little sad there won't be mini-Albis running around but fortunately it is a quiet enough voice to easily be ignored which saves Carl the bother of having to leave me.

The main excitement of the day was visiting a luthier's workshop for some adjustments to Anna's double bass. Apparently there are many ways in which the bridge is not right and the strings are both high and too tense. I have no idea but Laurence seemed a very lovely chap and how can you not trust a man who does nothing but make and repair double basses all day. All in a little workshop down a mews, behind a pub in Clapham. Strange the things you find. I was so awestruck by the fabulous instruments in the workshop, not to mention the great range of woods giving basses from practically black to red to yellow that I failed to think to take a photo. A mistake but I'll be back to collect it on Wednesday and will aim to remember then.

Not bad for a Monday and given the circumstances. The structure of a weekday and an enforced sense of normality in at least some areas of our lives is helpful and distracting for the three of us at least. Hard to say if J notices the difference. I must ask him when he has his awake period later. And when normality isn't distracting enough there's always another drawer to sort.

Lesley x