Turning out to be a month of ups and downs. Had a great birthday with Dot at Dunston Hall, and this weekend with David, Vicky and the grandchildren was wonderful. Took them up to a fair on Chapelfield Gardens yesterday, and today we joined in the annual church “pilgrimage” to Waxham. The weather was perfect – warm but with a cooling breeze – and Oliver and Amy had fun in the sea, followed by a barbecue. Oliver is turning out to be a good little footballer, especially his tackling. His tractor-driving is top-class, too. He gets all the reversing angles right!

The downs? Well, farewell to Dot’s aunt Evelyn, and now one of my closest friends – probably the closest over the years – has to have a quadruple heart bypass operation tomorrow. Spoke to him just now in hospital, and he’s obviously worried, not only for himself but for his wife. He’s very resilient and a fighter, so he has a good chance, but so many things can go wrong.

The picture is of Dot at Blakeney, looking out to sea.  Evocative.