JR went off to the gym, as per… Denise came earlier than usual to pick up Archie, because I had a routine blood test at the surgery. Actually, it wasn’t routine, it was requested by BUPA, so I was quite surprised when the surgery rang and arranged it. T’was a student nurse who did it, and I feigned fright, but actually he was really good - no ‘little scratch’ at all.

Archie went off for a big (muddy) walk, and had to have a bath when he came home. However, once bathed and spruced up, he happily posed with the two Pandas, who arrived yesterday, though he wondered why he wasn’t allowed to play with them.

He then went out with Elizabeth (she was away at the weekend) so this was his lucky day - Two walks, and TWO BATHS!

We popped round for lunch with Abi. And a super lunch it was too - a delicious Ottolenghi recipe, that’s all you need to know. Several glasses of bubbly later, Elizabeth popped Archie in the door (we were meant to be home by then) and we all staggered walked home. It was (relatively) warm! NO ice.