I’m in fretful mode at the moment - very stressed about Philly and even more stressed about being away from home and more importantly DM.

I was late home tonight - despite leaving work on the dot of 5.30pm to get home to see the Spurs, it took 2 hours to get back to Sandhurst then I needed to pop into the shop on my way in so I actually missed kick-off. Pah! The snow here has been causing havoc.

When I got in, I needed to do loads of stuff so all of the TVs were on around the house as I hobbled from room to room sorting stuff and cooking before our ‘big trip’. Hobbled? Yep - I’ve gone and broken my toe!!! Last night in a fit of trying to do 20 things at once, I got up from the sofa (a minute’s respite) to run to the kitchen to stir the dinner (risotto), saw Arch in the doorway, tried to take avoiding action and hit my pinkie on the leg of the sofa.

This morning it’s agony (no really - the pain is making me feel sick), my pinkie and surrounding area are black, I can barely get my most horrible, unflattering and grandma-like shoes on. All day I’ve been hobbling and wincing as the pain drives me to distraction.

When I finally limped into the house, I got into the kitchen to make home-made pizzas (that’s dedication for you) and this tin of Original DM was the only tin of tomatoes left in the cupboard (we’re running down supplies as I’m basically away for two months). I opened it for Linda’s spicy pizza sauce and the sight of the tin reminded me of an email from one of my oldest friends, Susie.

I’d solicited Susie’s help in my flower show choice. She, along with some of the other folks whose opinion I trust, I emailed last night to get their views about which pics to show. She came back to me today with a gushing note about the pics but more importantly she made an observation about DM.

She said something along the lines (and I can’t quote exactly because I type this on the mac and the email is on my PC upstairs) of ‘there are times in your life when you meet a lover and that person transforms you. This has happened to you with David. He has pulled something really special from your soul.’ I was taken aback because Susie and I don’t see each other terribly regularly - last time was last summer, but she still gave such a relevant observation about our effect on one another.

So, when I opened the tin, it occurred to me that to be able to bottle essence of DM might be a real life-saver. If I could just bottle him, I know it would help with my mammoth journey. if I could open a can and find him inside I know travelling life would be fine. If I could just have the courage to say ‘no’ instead of capitulating all of the time, I wouldn’t need to worry about it.

DM in a can - perfect!

PS - Spurs won 0-3 away tonight. WOW.

Last year I was looking at one of my favourite men's sandy toes!