Being woken at 0100h and 0445h meant that our cunning plan - or rather hopes - of normality were dashed somewhat. Still it is nice and light that time of the day, and the sun rose happily as I peered from the bedroom window. Time for an early wander again.

Today was designated a Rest Day, in that we did not really need to go out and Rachel wanted to stay in and do some jobs around the house. I popped out early to pick up some compost as she wanted to get the plants into the containers and baskets, before it got too late in the year.

Once done all looks good in the garden and I only have some herbs to do, plus my garlic and then fill in a few remaining gaps in the flower beds with bedding plants.

I took Heidi out with me for the afternoon and let Rachel either rest, or do her bit, without her having to worry about Heidi. Anyway, once Heidi is on the move in the car she is fast asleep so no worries there.

I do a few circuits of the town on foot and visit the bakers, green grocer and butcher as we are running low on stuff again. Heidi wakes temporarily whilst I am in the bank, paying in my coin bottle content which is a tidy sum. I always pay in the £2/£1, 50p, 20p and 10p coins but do not have the energy to count the 5p, 2p and 1p coins so I head over to Sainsbury’s to use their Coin Counter Machine. It takes 7.9% for the privilege, but is worth it on low value coins and saves an age. Usually with so many coins in one bag there is a discrepancy, so it avoids having to delve into your pockets to make up the shortfall.

She was due a feed on my travels so I visit a feeding station en route home, and that is at Claire’s. Heidi is assured a warm welcome here and gets cuddled and fed, and changed all in one visit, whilst I have a cup of tea and read the paper with my feet up. We head out into the garden to see what is happening with the ants that have had boiling water poured on them by Claire, whilst I try and ring Rachel at home. No reply means she is fast asleep I guess. I later learn that the phone ringing wakes her up, so she then gets up. Doh.

Once back my friend Mark arrives, not only to check out Heidi, but to look at my new ‘phone. Once gone Heidi starts to get grumpy and needs more feeding. She does start to pull some faces whilst in her Moses basket and looks like she is smiling. A low rumbling comes from her pants and nappy, and a “cabbagey” smell gradually pervades the air. Here we go again.