Backbreaking

Tony is no spring chicken but he is out all weathers tending the several acres of his smallholding. He continues to plant in the hope that soon he will be able to sell again.  Today has not been a great day. C. phoned me to tell me three pieces of bad news involving friends and acquaintances who are either gravely ill or have passed away. The weather has been very dull and I only had a quick walk around the circuit.  On my return, I noticed that only the emergency car key was on my fob and the main chipped part had dropped off.  I searched the house and retraced all my steps since yesterday until eventually I found it in the road outside the church but it had been run over many times and been crushed.  I can imagine the key will be very expensive to replace!