Damnit

There was a flock of Coal Tits descended on the back garden this morning while I was making a pot of tea. They were checking everywhere for insects - by the time I got the camera they had moved on and all I got was the light on the Lilac.
After the frost had cleared it was a case of a cat on a hot felt roof.

While I was looking for and ordering a new CD drive SWMBO got a phone call from Bags - a friend of hers and Bags through guiding had been in touch saying that her husband (a lovely, gentle man) had passed away this morning from a relapse to a long illness.

Later I got a call from my sister - could I suggest anywhere we could meet for coffee, cake and a chat as she and her husband were heading out our way to see his parents.
We arranged to meet at a local garden centre which has a nice cafe with cakes which do not appear to be mass produced.
So we had a nice catch-up sitting out in the sun (again).
On the way out SWMBO bought a condolences card and I photographed the Bird Of Paradise Plant. The card was dropped off on the way home.

The roast went into the oven for what should have been over two hours.
After less than an hour one of the smoke alarms went off............
I think the thermostat has given up the ghost.
I am glad to say though that after boiling some baby potatoes, removing the carbon crust and slicing the meat, 2 minutes in the microwave gave us an acceptable meal (apart from the lack of crackling).