Hey girls, firstly I am so impressed with Grace for shimmying over the O2 roof in this new decade of hers where she challenges herself to do things she previously thought were impossible and not within her capabilities. For me just standing on top of the O2 would be out of my comfort zone but I have great respect for Grace. What is next I ask?

How do we all feel this morning that Autumn has appeared and we are getting out  raincoats and wellies for dog walks/school runs etc for the next 8 months or more! Actually I lie because I put white jeans on this morning in defiance of the weathermen who keep telling us that summer is over. How depressing is that, particularly when it hardly stayed for long, it was like the shortest summer on record as well as the wettest.  I am glad to say that we took full advantage of the glorious day that was yesterday and we all went for a picnic on the river with my three young nephews and had probably one of the most idyllic days of the summer. We lay on a riverbank, ate barbecued sausages, went for a dog walk, paddled in the stream, looked for early conkers and some of us (no names mentioned) tried to sleep off their hangovers!

Apart from the weather what I love about life in the summer is that you see your neighbours out and about and can have a cheery word or two or maybe even a pop in for coffee, or a glass of wine sitting in the garden enjoying the evening sun, but come the winter it is heads down, everyone in a hurry to get things done in the shortened daylight hours. However I have to admit to having a neighbour who is more aggressive than a Rottweiler and a real Nosy Parker to boot who I am quite happy to see less of so I welcome winter in that respect. She has been seen recently rummaging through our dustbins which, when found in the act, she said she was only seeing that we were re-cycling correctly! She rows around  in her little dinghy to see if I have been watering the garden when we are on a hosepipe ban; she is the ‘Neighbourhood Watch’ who watches her neighbours to catch them out!  She absolutely terrifies me and if I see her at the post box I make a long detour because she invariably barks at me. Then on Saturday I felt very guilty for having these bad thoughts about her as she sent my daughter a lovely birthday card, did not complain to the police about the noise levels during the 21st party so maybe this is the olive branch we have been waiting for and long may peace and tranquillity reign in my world of neighbours.

Talking too of neighbours, my mother is not going to be one of mine as she has chosen not to move to the cottage that we have prepared for her ! Do you get my tone of frustration?  Official line: We, her children, have done our best and at the end of the day the choice is hers. Unofficial line: She has made the wrong choice and we are completely frustrated and drained!!

Finally girls – I am a great-aunt to a lovely little boy. Not sure how comfortably the Great-Aunt title sits with me, sounds a bit old and austere so I am looking for alternative names and if you can think of some please pass them onto me.