A good job done.

I woke to the strange sensation of my very hot head being shaken. Archie was draped across the top of my head, and was having one of his dreams where he chases the cheeky cat who keeps coming in to his garden. He was twitching vigorously. So was my head. Nice start to the day.

I got up relatively early and wandered out with him. I changed my route and went down my old street for a change. A former neighbour was just putting rubbish in the bin, and came rushing over to me with sad news. His wife had died suddenly of a heart attack a few days ago. She was the same age as me, and I'd always seen her as an energetic person, taking the dog out, going into town for art lessons or lunchtime lectures. The family is devastated.

With that sobering start to the day, after Elizabeth collected Archie, we decided to make use of our dogless day and get the hedge tidied trimmed, though there is nothing we can do about the BT technicians' unhelpful offering. JR is MUCH better at cutting the top of the hedge on the big ladder than I ever was. I'm so happy that I've discovered this...

It took us all day, on and off. You always meet lots of neighbours passing by and have to stop for a chat. And I spied the chap whose dog attacked Archie on the bus the other day. I intended to speak to him, but he veered off across the road before he came near us. Perhaps he noticed I was holding a pair of shears...

We were OFF for quite a while when I - wait for it - cut through the cord... I taped it up again, but it didn't work, but a quick check on t'internet advised me to 'check the fuse'. Where 'the fuse'? Jus' kiddin'- I know where it is (once I'd examined and eliminated all the plugs).

The hedge looks just lovely from the sofa. A good job done. We really deserved that G&T when Elizabeth returned, 17,000 steps later.. (Photo by Elizabeth)