Street Cred? NIL!

The power has been off all day while the electricians put in a new fuse box. What a big job! The young chap has been here for six hours! Every socket and every circuit had to be checked and re-checked. We only had one wee explosion in the kitchen wall switch.

Luckily my Kindle battery was well charged up, and I was able to make inroads into my new book, which I was struggling with, after really enjoying the previous book. JR was happy to pop to school (on her technical day off) for parents' interviews, warm radiators and wifi.

I popped out early to buy an axe. As you do. The huge load of firewood that I got in June and never checked, is, I have now realised, mainly too big to go into the Baby Aga. The length is fine, they're just in too big chunks. My fault not to have specified smaller bits, though I have bought from these people before, and didn't have any problems.

I'm going to have a go myself, as I doubt I can get a handyman to do it. I just need to source a big chopping block/tree stump now... Whatever happened to Bob-a-Job, when Boy Scouts came round and did jobs for a shilling? Not that wielding an axe would be a suitable job for a Boy Scout. Or indeed, an old biddy...

Archie is not overly keen on his present... When he first put it on he refused to move. Then he tiptoed around like an armadillo. Hilarious. He really hated his harness (which he doesn't wear now, as we just use his collar) but this is ten times worse!!

Today I have stretched it a bit. I think it looks very smart, though the look on Archie's face suggests that he thinks it's not quite the macho image he wishes to project.

Me: 'I thought you'd like it. It'll keep you warm.'

Archie: 'Don't you think it's a bit, well - girly - for a dog with all his bits intact?'

At the moment he's standing outside his doggy door, looking in. I think he's too embarrassed to be seen out the front in such a monstrosity. (I had to carry him out here for the photo shoot).

No worries, Arch, I won't make you wear it for walkies!