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On the first really warm day of the year, the sun proved unable to disperse the cloud that was hanging above our heads. This was no bad thing, for it stopped the sun's damaging rays from turning my neck scarlet as I worked in the garden. Yes, you heard me correctly. I worked in the garden today, doing green fingered things to the best of my admittedly extremely limited ability. I bought a new strimmer for completing all strimming tasks (ie, keeping weeds at bay), I then did my best to fill in the worst of the holes that the developer left behind after having finished building his boundary fence. My lawyer has made it a condition of us completing on the driveway access that he makes good all the damage caused - and he has agreed (probably because my lawyer imposed a very large retention). After strimming, I got the lawnmower out and set about cutting the grass. This is no mean feat when pushing a lawnmower with one hand and leaning on a crutch with the other. Still, I managed - although it took me a very long time. By the time I was finished I was melting, for while the sun remained hidden, the humidity was depriving me of all my water. When I was looking for a new strimmer, I managed to purchase (in addition) a long hose on a reel and a few garden chairs. Later, I returned to look at the range of barbecues, eventually purchasing one and a new garden table. Once all the new things were assembled, we sat out in the garden listening to some relaxing Brazilian music (Chico Buarque, since you ask) and drinking sangria. Oh, and I ate something that Linda lovingly prepared on our new barbecue . Tomorrow is Father's Day here in the UK. I hinted that I would like Van Morrison's new CD as a gift. A subtle hint. When the advert for it came on TV, I turned to Liam and said: "I would like that". I think he got the hint, although only time will tell.

The wall hasn't improved at all in the intevening weeks