Good morning video call

Juno and I started the day with a video call to the birthday boy - Dad’s 74 today! He was in bed doing the crossword. Mum and the cat came through to talk, too. I was envious of the sun shining in Inverness, though mum reassured me that gales were en route and her newly blooming crocuses would be flattened. When Rory joined the sunny bedroom party, Dad could open his presents. All very jolly. They’re off to Bunchrew House for afternoon tea later.

Fred returned from his walk to the Southbank and treated me to breakfast at The Grind on Knights Hill, which we’ve discovered is a delicious local gem. Sated, we walked up to Crystal Palace Food Market so I could chat with Fruition. I proofread her recipe booklet in the week, motivated by a payment in marmalade (yum!) It was lovely chatting to her.

Later, we went nextdoor to investigate behind the cupboards with Fred’s fibre-optic camera, trying to find the reason our neighbour is smelling toilet odours from upstairs (ick). That wasn’t discovered, but we did spot a screw from an electrical socket going into a water pipe - not a good thing to see! And mouse droppings - probably ancient as this neighbour has two cats. The neighbour, who is renting, is moving soon - the toilet smells have got too much! We will miss her.