Sometimes you can go out for the day and have a lousy time, not finding anything you want and getting depressed. Last Saturday was a classic example of that. We went out, couldn't get anything we wanted and spent a frustrating day trying to make the most of a bad job.

This weekend couldn't have been more different - mind you, why we didn't go to Reading last week rather than Slough is beyond me now - I must have been having a bad judgement day. Today we have found and bought beautiful kitchen lights (John Lewis' lighting department is in a different league to the tawdry places we went to last week), got the rest of our network sorted and stocked up with animal food too - all surrounded by a stroll along the Kennet and Avon Canal in the sunshine, lunch in Ha Ha and a pop into Ascot to water the plants. The canal runs right through the heart of Reading but for years it was regarded as an eyesore, hidden behind an ugly car park. Recently the town centre has been redeveloped and the canal has now been made into a feature, with walkways alongside. It really is strange when we think of what was there before but it's so nice now to be able to sit in the sun or wander along looking at the birds and boats.

It's almost as though the whole of the rest of the South East of England has gone on holiday - no traffic and no crowds in town. Excellent.