To quote Kitty of Coleraine, “misfortunes, they never come singly ‘tis plain,” for very soon after the living room television went kaput, my car radio conked out, joining the CD player which snuffed it months ago and I never got round to replacing it.

I have been patient. I have been compliant.

Remarkable isn’t it, how in this prolonged period of nothingness individual days seem so long, but Tuesdays come round with frightening rapidity.

Some people have used the enforced leisure of the past twelve months gainfully.

It may have escaped your notice Dear Reader, that this is National Day of Reflection.

I’m currently fantasising about how I could justify a legitimate trip to Wales, where the hairdressing salons opened yesterday.