1 The day has been a good one. Yesterday evening, I prepared for the collection at ASDA. Numbered collection tins, a reminder e-mail, a collapsible table that was recovered from its place in the rain, a note-book - all in place. And that preparation was followed by an early rise, ironed shirt, polished shoes. By 0900 I was in the cafe at ASDA waiting for my colleague with whom I would take the first shift.

2 We took our stations, at first inside then out. The people passed, and I waited for the first donations. They came. There were the occasional chats. I settled. I became at ease. It wasn't going to rain. A sufficient number of people would contribute. Later, the two chums from East Grinstead (RBL) arrived for their shift. They were followed by two clients, who had responded warmly to the invitation to collect. The man sat outside on his buggy; I placed a cup of coffee on the table; he could have stayed there for another hour. But two more collectors, including George Hillman, had arrived.

2.1 George and I closed the collection; I drove to EG and we began the count. Whilst there were 173 one-penny pieces in the tins, there were 140 £1 coins. And there were two £10 notes. In all, the collection amounted to £273. A record. And not only that: the day had been companionable.

3 Since then I have exchanged e-mails with Helen, amended a draft agenda for the next Board meeting, thought about credit union jobs for tomorrow. (Mike has e-mailed to say that he and June have input the September data. I'll open the message fully tomorrow.) It's time to lie in bed in the knowledge that the collection has been accomplished, that it has been successful, that there is a band of collectors who are ready and willing to come again.

3.1 My colleague is the recently-enrolled caseworker who lives in Horsham. She took her course early in the year, but she was unused by the Horsham colleagues. Now she has just about completed her first case; she has collected; she will accompany me on a first visit to a further client and she can take that case as well.

4 Another day given to SSAFA. But some relationships have been nurtured. It's all been worthwhile.

4.1 And relationships in Evenley? I wonder how you are influencing matters from faraway.

5 And I must attend to my eating. A hurried consumption of a mixture. I have a pain in my stomach. However, it will ease. Tomorrow, I may lie in (or I may stick to the familiar routine of swimming). We'll see.

6 The days go by. It will be good to see you back in East Grinstead. No more roaming, eh. Not until the New Year at least. Concentrate upon being a Woman of Jerusalem.

7 And think about the benign effects of work (voluntary of paid). Sitting around all day is more of a punishment than a reward.

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