Everything must blow (away)

Including the gazebo, which had sandbag weights on its legs but threatened to take off once in a while. The rain was worse, though. We had two deluges and lots of intermittent spattering. In and out with the stock, I went, backwards and forwards with the tables because customers didn't really want to come into the tent, apart from those who had to lecture me on the best type of birthday card for a one year old (edible, perhaps?)

Some customers wanted to touch everything, even though it was behind perspex, or pinned down to a board. If I run another stall in this CoVid time, I'll be explaining that it's really not self service, and begging them to use the sanitiser, which really does smell just like gin and tonic. I think online sales are going to be easier, though. Www.helenascards.co.uk

After we finally packed up and got home, it was about 2.30 pm. Unloaded again, had some lunch, went to bed for a nap, as we'd had to get up at the crack of dawn. After that, we changed and went off to our first joint social occasion in months.

Our friends K and M live in Rodborough, a leafy suburb on a hill. They have a large tranquil garden, and have had a loggia built at the front of the house, which is perfect for sitting under, even in a stiff breeze. We brought them lettuce, chard and flaming wild roses from our garden, and sat drinking prosecco, nibbling crisps and catching up. Their dog kept appearing on the lawn with interesting looking snacks straight from their food waste bin! Even in paradise...

When we got home, S watched Young Montalbano, and I knocked up a three course meal before sitting down to wipe dry every single greetings card in my collection, and to throw away some soggy cardboard display boxes. By the time I'd finished, it was midnight