Saturday and I am awake with a hot coffee to hand. I reflect on the discovery of Vests, yes vests. Its been a bit of a revelation brought on by higher energy costs. In an effort to control energy bills I took heed of the “Layers” mantra that was being espoused by various sources, mostly cosy comfortable MPs and ministers along with well heeled media types, (over to our cost of living correspondent). Of course the media go tot me adn I rummaged through my cupboard of “clothes in waiting”. When I find things I like I tend to buy more than one pair and keep a pair “in waiting”. In amidst shirts, socks and pants I found a three pack of vests. I’ll give those I try I think to myself and what a good idea that turned out to be. It seems that a vest tucked in and fitting snuggly against the skin works like a wet suit trapping a layer of medium and allowing it to warm up from the bodies heat. It was a real find and I now have a solid stock of vests which I would not be without. I calculate that it has delayed the onset of heating switch on by at least a few hours a day, so the saving from a pack of cheapo Primark vests is significant. That was my wake up reflection and early morning coffee thoughts. I’m sure other people wake up to similar early morning reflections or perhaps the rest of the world is to busy with the Real World to have time for such cognitive fripperies. Perhaps its one of the jewels of retirement that I have the time adn inclination for such reflections. It was during one of these reflective moments after seeing Stuart Lee that I came across Daniel Kitson’s material on the wonder of pidgeons and Billy Connolly’s story of a dwarf on a Glasgow bus, both on YouTube if you fancy frittering some time away in comedy.

So eventually I get up to a peanut butter bagel and more coffee, feed the dishwasher, put my laundry in and settle down to start todays blog, having waved my partner off to the hairdresser. So I ease into todays blog with the sound of Linton Kwesi Johnson’s Victory album playing. I understand now why my friend who recommended it also said it was a “bit spikey.” All of this is the precursor to the real business of today and that is to watch the six nations rugby internationals that are on TV today. I have no doubt that other things like vegetable shopping and overseeing the garden guy who is supposed to be arriving today and a host of other “stuff” required for modern day living is going to arise but in essence today is a rugby day. This is closely followed by keeping my PAI score above 200, which means I will have to train at some point to gain the PAI points I need to do this. Apparently my fitness age score places me at 47! If only I had a portrait in the attic.

Well the garden guy arrived and sorted out another flower bed in the back garden and drove off happy at about twelve thirty. I wash the cutlery holder in the kitchen draw make lunch before my partner returns from her hair appointment. We dash off to the garden centre to shop for fruit and veg before returning to a giant sausage roll and the rugby on TV. What a game between the Irish and the French, a really good game of rugby. For once the Irish win and win in style. There is barely any time before the next match between Scotland and Wales. Another good game which surprisingly Scotland win. Well its been an exciting afternoon and early evening and neither I or my partner can be arsed to cook so we resort to a takeaway. An evening of Indian food, Midsomer Murders and football highlights ensues. I’ve not trained so will regret it at weigh in tomorrow but right now I’m full of good food and kindness to myself. I am also marginally excited at the prospect of receiving my new slippers and more tantalising, a new Neil Gaiman novel, Neverwhere, his first novel. I’m interested to see how he started out. For now its night meds and bed.