the good news is...

The hydrangias are still struggling on and making a pretty dash of colour down the street from me.

The washing machine has definitely died completely now, it makes the clothes wet, but doesn't do anything else. So I will be clicking on a BUY NOW button very soon, after a little more research.

Nick has just opened the boring looking brown envelope which I had not bothered to open yesterday, and it was a cheque for £918.... thank you Mr Taxman. Actually, it was my money all along, of course, and I knew they had taken too much... but even so, it does seem rather cheering.

I wonder what we will be spending it on? Hmmmm... any guesses?