Last Saturday I started the day with smoked salmon and scrambled eggs - well, it was my birthday! The day continued in that vein, with Mike cooking all the meals. We finished the night off with a glass of bubbly. In between, there was present and card opening, and a visit from our son and granddaughter (our grandson wasn't too well, so he stayed at home with mum), and a text from our other son, presently in China. Lolling around indoors, reading the paper and popping in the odd chocolate, I enjoyed being spoiled, but by the late afternoon I was becoming fidgety and joined Mike outside in the cold, to help him put some new trim on our caravan. Then my day suddenly became rather pear-shaped when I lost one of my well-loved earrings, as it pinged off somewhere amongst the ornamental grasses in the front garden. Panic over - I found it eventually, as it hung delicately half way down one stem of a very large clump of grass.

Sunday was ear-marked for an allotment session and despite the lovely weather, I was surprised to find I was on my own, down there at the bottom of the hill. Still, perhaps it had been busy the previous day, which was also a good, fine, sunny day. I came home later feeling that I had actually achieved something, having cleared away the courgette and squash plants, re-set the strawberries over some membrane, planted out garlic, and also some onion sets. I'd noticed that Eric had been busy setting out onions at the front of his plot.

Tuesday was a kitchen day - apron on, radio on, ingredients out and off we go - weighing, bagging and freezing various veg and fruit, baking cakes and preparing meals. I thoroughly enjoyed myself, but I was quite exhausted by the evening. I can garden for hours and walk for miles, but all that standing in the kitchen really takes it out of me. "I won't be going walking tomorrow if I still feel like this." I muttered, as I retired early to bed.

A good night's sleep did the trick, and upon opening the curtains and seeing what a stunning morning it was, I was ready to be off with the Wednesday walkers. Just as I was about to leave I had a call from my neighbouring plotter, John, to tell me that someone had driven over the front of Eric's plot, disturbing his newly-planted onion sets, and leaving deep ruts. There was nothing I could do at the time, as I was off to Lichfield, but I didn't think Eric would be well pleased.

Repton looked particularly picturesque, with the church spire standing out against a deep blue sky as we set off, climbing through the woodland at the back of the houses, passing the small enclosures containing pigs and geese. Anywhere out of the sun was pretty cold, and by the time we'd reached the banks of Foremark Reservoir, where the icy wind was whipping up waves, even the hardiest amongst us had to admit that it felt almost Siberian, although it looked almost Mediterranean. I wouldn't have fancied a dip in that water! Our walk leader, Jo, led us through a delightful orchard of old varieties of apples which, I have to admit, were a little too tempting! I've no idea which variety it was that I tested, but it was delicious. Newly ploughed and harrowed fields looked like samples of rich, brown cloth, under the blue sky, I could have taken dozens of photos, but it was a chatty day, so my camera was forgotten as we walked and talked together. Back in Repton, after a most enjoyable 9.5 miles, a group of us enjoyed cuppas (and cream teas) before returning home.

I just had to nip down to the plot, to see the damage, where I took some 'scene of crime' photos. The culprit has very likely sustained some damage to their vehicle.