Marion's birthday party, and a painful back

This morning we woke up to find two dead mice on the floor; this is becoming a carnage hot spot!
Mas still has a stiff and painful back, but as it was Marion's fiftieth birthday we could not miss it.

We got round to her house at the right time, and found her place full of interesting people. Everyone seemed even more flamboyantly dressed than usual, and Marion's hair was bright red! We found out later that it was a fancy dress party, but were never able to establish what the theme was, and after a glass of wine we did not feel out of place. We met up with some of the usual suspects and chatted, and Marion had roped in a few new people, one she had only met that day, and everyone was having a good time and laughing a great deal.

I had a long conversation with Marion's neighbour who has a Philippina wife. They spend some time here, but a lot of time in the Philippines where they have a large farm with a mansion for their home. It all sounded very colourful. It was a fun way to spend the evening, and Marion changed her fancy dress again, and I wished that I had bought my camera!

Eventually we thought we should go home, and Mas by this time had a worse back problem,
and we crept carefully off to bed.

This morning Mas was in such pain that he went back to bed to lie on his back after I had given him one of my muscle relaxant pills; he spent most of the day asleep. I spent most of the day gardening.

Mas got up in the evening, and we watched a programme about a garden being constructed on the cliffs above Saints Bay in Guernsey. There were several stunning views of Guernsey scenery which was lovely. After which, we watched another excellent Lewis episode, set in picturesque Oxford, so for once it was worth watching TV.

u7777777777777777777777777/+++++++++++++* this was typed by Salty who always has a few things to say!

An unusal experience!

Yesterday we went to St. Albans and had lunch at the Waterend Barn with Tania and Robert, and caught up with their news before getting shopping as usual and going home. It is lovely to see the countryside greening up again.

In the evening we watched another excellent episode of Wallander, while we could hear the rain pounding down outside.

Today when we woke up we found the cat asleep on the bed. As soon as he woke up he began meowing and looking under the bed in such a way that we realised he must have bought a mouse upstairs! We took off all the bedclothes and mattress, and Mas began unscrewing the bed as it can be separated into halves.

The cat was overjoyed and purring as he thought we were joining in the game with him.
Elbowing him aside, Mas lifted up half of the bed, and the mouse ran into a corner. I tried to catch him, but he ran up the inside of my trouser leg! I did a quick tap dance, and it came out. We immediately realised it was no mouse, but a rat! I threw a towel over him and caught it where he struggled in a muscular way.

Mas then asked what I was going to do next and I said put it outside. We thought we would put it into a container while considering various options; Mas thought if it went into the garden we may get it back again. Luckily we tried to do this outside, because he wriggled free and escaped!

To add insult to injury the computers would not work, so Mas spent all day trying to sort them out. In the evening we watched a Lewis, and Lost Kingdoms of Africa which was interesting.

Party animal and racing dog.

In the morning I walked down to the library and poked about looking at the books and music for a while, and later Mas and I went to Stanmore to check our bank balances and look in some of the shops.

Salty went out as usual around seven in the evening. We watched a 'Lewis' detective story; they are putting one on each evening this week. This is a follow on series from 'Morse,' and is also set in Oxford with interesting and rather involved story lines. Luckily there is very little shouting or car crashes and the background music is good.

We prepared to go to bed, and Salty still had not shown himself; he usually returns for a snack before we go to bed, and the temperature suddenly dropped.

When we woke in the morning there was a thick frost everywhere, luckily Salty came indoors as we got up; I expected him to have frost bite on his toes, but he was looking as usual, but he had obviously had an active time, dancing the night away, as he slept all day without waking for food.












I walked down to Edgware went to the post office and made an appointment to get my eyes checked as it is about three years since I have been to an optician's.

Poppy called in for me, and we walked to Stonegrove Park with Lilu the dog. We walked round the park several times, but there were no other dog walkers around. Lilu rushed around like a miniature race horse looking very funny with bouncing ears and tail. She also ran through some muddy puddles, and chased Magpies.

When we walked home Poppy said she would bathe her dog when she got home; she had been for a job interview that morning and was waiting for a phone call with the results. Later she popped over and said she had got the job she wanted, which is excellent.

Mas and I watched a Poirot, with David Suchet and Hugh Fraser. I am always surprised by Hugh Fraser as he bears such a strong resemblance to my father, which is strengthened by the period setting. We also watched another episode of Lewis and eventually staggered off to bed with square eyes.