1 Alas, the cold remains. Sleeping is hard to achieve, after about three to four o'clock. It's a relief when the light begins to appear. I was staring at the screen soon after seven o'clock. The Grapple Reunion. I'm getting a grip on things.

2 Blue skies and fluffy clouds. And Luke. He'll be able to tackle the front grass, but the back is still water-logged. We'll see how he gets on. More to the point, I must find out if the grass-cutter will splutter into life.

2.1 Well, in the past few minutes I have found out that a cold-infused body is ill-prepared for the business of starting a grass-cutter after a winter lay-off. There has been not the slightest splutter. And I can't find the petrol-can. So Luke has been postponed.

3 Today will be the day of a visit to Abdul. I realise that I do not visit regularly. And yet I am reluctant to ask Anna to take me off the case. Today, it may be possible to complete a fresh application to NASS. But my head is infused with cold. I'd really like to do nothing more than go to Chartham Park, there to sit in the sauna.

4 On the once-wooded island, I hope that the sun has continued to shine, that the boats have not capsized, that all are active in the sun and in each other's company.

Stayathome