The wind has returned, but accompanied today by quite mild temperatures. I have just been outside clearing up leaves, with other leaves dancing around me. Quite fun. Meanwhile Dot has gone off to make a delivery at a school in Horsford, followed by a visit to the NYFC Christmas sale in Cringleford. Not sure what the latter is, exactly, but Dot feels she has to go, as she’s a trustee. Last night the Archers hosted the Tuesday Group, and we gave Matt a lift. He lent me The Defense, by Vladimir Nabokov, which I would already have started if Joy had not sent me The Chymical Wedding, which I am enjoying. Nice to have a good novel on the go and another waiting. Wrote a poem yesterday, but I’m not too sure about it.

On Monday I scored the second luckiest win of my chess career when I avoided a perpetual check because I thought I saw a win, and was then totally lost. I set one last trap, and for once my opponent fell into it. I am playing again this evening – at Diss, for the B team, and I don’t think my luck can continue much longer. I have won four games in a row.