Dot has been a bit of a sick bunny over the last couple of nights, coughing and spluttering and generally much less than her normal bouncy self. Yesterday she stayed in bed much of the day, but today she was up and out before 11 and is still not back at 3pm, despite saying she was not feeling at all well as she left. She is at Sue’s, discussing philosophy for children, so she has probably decided to be philosophical about it. Yesterday was dark and dismal, as well as very wet, which made staying in bed much easier. It became a little more dismal when my uncle Paul rang to say my aunt Thelma had died. She was 88 and had been in a bad way with Alzheimer’s for a long time. The funeral is on November 3, despite what the EDP said this morning (23), though there is some doubt at the moment where the service will be held. Very sad how we deteriorate with age, but Paul seems immune: still fit and healthy in his late eighties. I hope it rubs off on his nephew.

Much brighter and more pleasant today. Postal strike, so drove up to Archers’ to deliver a Happy 5th Anniversary card, then to Brian’s to try to catch him in, but no reply again. Collected repeat prescription from chemist’s. Lot of fuss last night about appearance of BNP’s Nick Griffin on Question Time. Not a nice man, but his opponents do him a huge favour by protesting violently and ranting at him instead of calmly taking his arguments apart. How many will vote for him because they don’t like the way he’s treated? Frightening, I call it.