Mast

On the way to Reading to visit our son, we stopped at Membury Services on the M4. The clouds made a dramatic backdrop for the radio mast situated right next to the car park.

We arrived in Reading at about 12.30, parked the car outside his house and then walked up to meet him on the campus. He met us on the way and then gave us a guided tour of the campus. We then went back to his house. This was probably a mistake on his part. He shares with five other lads and I'm sure you can imagine the state of the place.

It began in the porch, where there were free newspapers just lying on the floor - because they didn't belong to anyone, no one picked them up, so there they stayed. The house itself was just as bad. Piles of washing up, plates and cups scattered across the living room and a kitchen which would probabl have been condemned had a health inspector gone in to it.

Mrs Mikey did a good goldfish impression. As I girl, her room at college and when she shared a house afterwards, was looked after and cleaned. When I was at college, many of my friends' houses were even worse than the one we were looking at, so I knew pretty much what to expect. She was itching to get a cloth and do some cleaning.

Fortuately we didn't have time. We went off to book in to the hotel, then went out to The Oracle and went round the shops. After sitting in the car for four hours and then walking quite a long way, our legs were complaining, but like a duitiful husband, I trailed along, without complaint. Eventually it was over, and we went for an early tea, as sonny had to go up to Sheffield for a Badminton Tournament. So we ate, he went and we went back to the hotel and watched the Spurs game and then went out to watch The Monument Men at the cinema.

Despite a very painful knee, it was a good day and Mrs Mikey enjoyed her birthday.