If, perchance, you are reading this within an hour or so of it being posted then I shall be at or near the airport – picking up Best Mate.

For various reasons, that I won’t go into here, I may or may not be posting whilst she is staying with me.

If not, then I hope you will have as nice a few days as I am surely going to have – in spite of the Final Question problem that means I may have to do certain things whilst she is staying with me.

The weather, predictably, is wet and cold and may continue this way until Wednesday when it may become a bit warmer. Even the Italians are complaining that is it terrible and, apparently, someone on the radio today was saying that it was as if Italy were, in fact, Ireland! I added that it could equally be England, Wales or Scotland.

Last year, when Best Mate arrived with smaller versions of Best Mate, they landed in the middle of a thunderstorm. A magnificent thunderstorm that ended about 2 and a half months of perfectly wonderful , hot weather. The rain was so bad that we had to paddle in water several inches deep just to get to the car. The only difference between then and now is that that was August and close to 30 degrees and now it is April and close to 11!  Even the dogs take one look outside and consider the option of staying in!

But, that doesn’t really matter. It would be nicer if the weather were to be nicer (and it is forecast so after Wednesday) but it’s not essential to how we shall be – together.

We (both) always get concerned that we shall have nothing to say to each other when we meet and, sometimes, for the first half hour, things are slightly strained. After that it seems like we have not spoken since the last time we saw each other which, of course, is not true.

And, of course, I will be showing her round The Perfect Flat. To be honest, I would have preferred if she had been my first visitor but it was not to be.

Anyway, here’s to the next few days. Ah, bliss!