Dramatic action picture of Oliver being chased by a dinosaur. You can see the terror in his face.

Meanwhile, I have just returned from the chiropractor, who told me my back would probably be a bit sore tomorrow but should improve over the weekend. As it was extremely painful before I went, this wasn’t as bad news as it might have seemed. It does seem to have eased a bit at the moment. I see him again on Monday, shortly before a 90-minute stint with the dentist. O happy day!

The back probably got worse because I drove to Mansfield on Tuesday, then on to Hull and back home on Wednesday. Why Mansfield? you may ask. Was it because my grandparents used to live there? No, it was because the Premier Inn at Mansfield had a room spare at a fairly convenient spot between Coventry and Hull. Quite comfortable, too.

I’d called at Coventry to take some property from Gareth’s house to Andrew’s new home – mainly clothes and photographs. Andrew seemed very well. I also retrieved a letter to him that explained he’d left some stuff in the hospital safe, which may explain where his building society book is.

After assessing the reporters at Hull I spent a bit of time down on Hessle foreshore, on the banks of the Humber under the bridge – a spot I’d previously visited when I took David to have a look at Hull University, probably 17 years ago. Very beautiful sunset to accompany my cheese and onion sandwich.

Drove home by the shortest route over the bridge and via Lincoln and Sleaford, which was pretty dire as far as queues and slowness were concerned – not to mention the thousands of speed cameras in Lincoln – but it still got me home quicker. Stopped thirty miles short of Lynn for a Little Chef mushroom omelette and chips.

Today Dot has been at a head teachers’ conference at Mangreen, just outside Norwich. Weather is very unpleasant: quite bit of heavy rain and unrelentingly dull and wintry. My computer was offline for most of the day, but I managed to persuade it to come back eventually.

Almost forgot to mention the most significant event of the last couple of days: the Ballater cottage is being sold after 17 years of its being a home away from home for us. I think we’ve stayed in it almost every years since 1990 or 1991. David and Vicky stayed there with us; so have Anne and Philip and Roger and Barbara. What will life be like without it? Certainly a major change.