OK, this is for the chess enthusiasts among you. Right, so that’s just me, then. This is a position I reached in a rapid game (15 minutes each) last night at a club tournament. I was pretty proud of my next move, which was Kh1. Black is pretty tied up, so played Rd8, allowing me to carry on with my plan, which was Ng4. If I hadn’t played Kh1, he could now play Nxg4 check, but now this move, without check, would lose to Qxe7. So he is doomed. He played Rxd4, and after Nxf6 he retreated Kh8. Probably the neatest move now is Nh5! but the clock was ticking fast, and I played Qe5. He played Qd6, and I immediately played what I had planned, namely Ng4+, which wins after Qxe5; Rxf8+, but not as prettily as the alternative to Ng4+, which is Nxe8+, Qxe5; Rxf8 mate. Rapid chess, eh? Who needs time to think? Eventually ended up with 2½ out of 5, which is not bad for me. Boringly predictable, in fact.

Have just edited another couple of chapters of the book, which had more examples of eccentric English, mirroring the eccentric behaviour of the lead character. Really strange. About two-thirds of the way through now. Later today I have to do the meal for the Tuesday Group, because Dot has to go to a church school in South Norfolk as a representative of the Diocesan Office. They are choosing a new head teacher, and Dot is there to advise. I am glad one of us has done really well in their career.

Yesterday went to the dentist for a quick clean round, so of course my teeth are uncomfortable today. They really don’t like being disturbed. Like their owner, I expect. After the dentist, I went for a walk and probably did about three miles altogether. Ought to go out now, but it really is pretty cold and unpleasant, though it seems to have stopped raining. The owner of the end house on our road seems to have moved back in again, following the tenants moving three houses down for reasons that need not detain us. The couple opposite seem to have disappeared, probably temporarily.

Had a pleasant meal on Saturday with the Higbees. It turned out to be an egg curry, because some other friends who are vegetarians were supposed to be joining us, but one of them was ill. Not usually mad about veggie, but this was quite nice, I have to say. Well, eggs are almost meat, aren’t they?