I should know better

Well, I guess it`s autumn. Blustery rain, wet dogs - I think the long dry summer has spoiled me. I hate winter, and any suggestion that it`s coming on. If you have a spell to bring back summer, let me know.

Meanwhile life goes on. Mr Lentil, whose show debut looms alarmingly, is still only disposed to perform under the temptation of the entire contents of a delicatessen waved under his tiny petulant nose. Prudence, under the influence of warm weather, has cast all to the wind and is now virtually naked and unshowable (and looks a bit embarrassed shivering in the wind). And in a week a new girl arrives, a daughter of Marcus.

And it`s off to the big Scottish championship show tomorrow, an event known as a hurricane and deluge magnet - Florian, the big backpack and me off on the dawn GNER to Edinburgh. Pneumonia or glory!