My lover was attempting to wrestle my hedge into submission with hedgecutter, loppers and secateurs so I thought I'd better go and admire and make encouraging noises, when I got diverted by a tortoise! We gave it a dish of water,but were uncertain what to do next. I decided to ask immediate neighbours if they'd lost a tortoise and let them know in local shop. My next-door neighbour's house I suspected only had the teenage kids in residence as loud music was emanating and they either didn't hear me or were ignoring me. I met my newish neighbour around the corner, who was amused, but not missing a tortoise. A retired couple across the way were outside so I told them and their son made the expected jokes about fast getaways etc. Nobody else seemed to be at home.

As I walked towards the shop another neighbour from further down road was just walking from the bus-stop. She used to be the Avon lady and I'd not seen her for ages. As she has children I thought she might hear about a missing tortoise so asked her about it. She got very excited and asked if I wanted her to look after it! it seems she loves tortoises and had been tempted to buy one day before - Seems they cost £100 nowadays. I had been wondering how to keep hold of tortoise while seeking rightful owner so accepted Avon Lady's offer of tortoise foster-home.

That evening nice young woman knocked my door saying she'd lost three tortoises! I told her there was one fostering with AL but thought that while it only fair, I was a bit sorry for AL and possible empty tortoise-home syndrome!

Following day my lover and I were sawing and sledge-hammering a sofa that was wedged in my side passage doorway (as you do...)when AL was passing. It seems that lady with tortoises breeds and sells them, so AL got to buy one she'd fostered for £60 - result!

We had another lovely day together, but it won't make the tabloids!

He's been gardening and painting my picnic bench and we went to our favourite greasy spoon for lunch. It's had some new decor since our last visit - A couple of very metallic religious images. One is Christ on the cross and the other is the Ascension of Mary, so I'm guessing a European Catholic heritage.

After our fortifying lunch it was off to B&Q for bark and lawn weed and feed. We did take our clothes off for a little siesta - It was a very hot day and he needed to cool off before going home - Honest, Guv!

Seems my lover can resist babies under three months. It's when they become reactive he's a soft touch around children. This is a man who tries to make eye contact with the sparrows in my garden!
Seems the new Mum is very nervous (not surprising - a new baby must be such a responsibility...)so my lover and his S-in-L did macho things like DIY and garden!
He seems to be appreciating being back in Wales and my company!

I took my Mum and elder sister out for lunch. We went to a pub at top of village where my Mum lives. Had a pretty perfect roast dinner for £6.00 a head. The pub has been done out and is very modern looking, but has these old photos of the village and surrounding area.

Also did my Mum's shopping, so feeling quite positive about having done 'family duty' stuff but actually quite enjoyed it.

Mum's cats set off my allergies, so ended up feeling a bit tired and poorly so went back to bed late afternoon with papers and Bach and read and dozed for a while.

My lover has met his grand-daughter and will be helping his son-in-law around the house and garden, but I know he melts at sight for babies and animals, so will return as slave of his new and first grand-child.

When I was in my twenties I used to sometimes have fabulous Bank holiday picnics with my friends, but otherwise never really gone out for them. Can't see point of going somewhere nice the same day as most other people! But am very aware of 'holiday weekends' being time for mistresses to be deserted for family stuff. My ideal Bank Holiday would be a day of pottering at home with my lover.

I am very happy with my own company and relish the freedom and peace of my own home, but there are times that his absence is more noticeable than others...

...I managed to give 'Granddad' a very interesting day!