The video is too small to really see the rain, and the sound too poor quality to be clear, but hopefully this video will convey that it was too wet to go out and enjoy a walk in the sun - because at that time there was no sun. Sod's law would dictate that as soon as I had shot the video, and transferred it to my PC, the sun would come out again, but it still looked soggy outside, and that sunshine did not last long. There were a few short sunny spells after that, but none of the longer periods I had originally expected.

  I don't think it was even mid morning when my resolve to eat carefully crumbled away. I may have been inspired to do the wrong thing when there might have been a shower when one was not expected. I felt an urge to eat the other half of the packet of "Grilled Bacon" flavoured crisps I had bought on Sunday morning. I can remember if I reported back on the taste of them when I tried them on Sunday. They were pleasant-ish, and more like smoky bacon flavour lite. Being a less intense flavour meant that I was not forever burping smoky bacon flavour. Anyhow, I ate the rest of the packet yesterday morning, using them to scoop up big globs of plain cottage cheese that I had bought in Aldi earlier.

  My lunch, probably around 1pm, was a lot simpler, and almost along the lines of the sort of food that has little impact on my blood glucose. It was spicy breadcrumbed chicken strips. The only thing I had with them was a squirt of chilli purée to liven them up a bit more. I think that when I bought them I had intended to have them as the first thing I ate all day, and after I got back from a 3 mile (and maybe more) walk I thought I would be doing because I thought it was going to be sunny.

  During the afternoon I pottered around doing a few small odd jobs like some washing up, taking stuff out to the recyling bin, and cutting up the boxes that my last booze delivery came in, and putting the now compact pile of cardboard into the recycling bin. I also did a few quick edits to some more of my VHS tape to digital transfers. Once again it was the computer that did most of the work.

  It was about 5.15pm that I had a very nice thing happen. It started with a text message from Angela to thank me for the cheap Xmas card (from a pack of 20 bought in Aldi) I had sent her. We then exchanged a series of text messages, and it felt really good to do so after so many months of no contact. It also felt sort of intimate in a way that is hard to describe except to say that it felt like the strong bond we once had is still there after all this time. I also felt that Angela was feeling very sad, but probably because of lockdown and stuff rather than with lover boy this time - and yet I also got the impression that I was doing more to lift her spirits than he was.

  It also seemed like a good time to tell her that her Xmas present was on it's way. Amazon's advice on delivery times is always a bit vague, and all I could tell Angela yesterday was that they were estimating today or tomorrow. This morning I got a notification to say it was out for delivery. It seemed to leave the depot quite early, but still said it would arrive "before 9pm". I suspect it will be a lot earlier than that. I notified Angela that it was expected today, and that I hoped it arrived late enough for her to be home after work, but not too late to disrupt her evening. She replied that it would be fine, and the positive way she said it made me wonder if she was off work, and so would be home if it arrived early afternoon. She promises to let me know when it arrives. My present was not imaginative, but I feel sure it will be very appreciated. I am looking forward to a very big thank you, although the point of it all is for her to be happy, and not me - although I do get a lot of joy when I know she is happy.

  I also threw caution to the wind when I cooked my dinner. On Sunday I had bought a pack of "premium ham". I don't think "premium" would be a word I would choose to describe it. I would use "thick" because it was indeed two thick slices, but it seemed to have a very insipid flavour. For some reason the idea came into my head that it might make a good topping for a baked potato when covered in melted cheese. That was what I had for dinner last night - two small baked potatoes topped with ham and cheese. It was pleasant enough, but not as exciting as I hoped.

  I had another session of insomnia when I went to bed last night. I said that earlier on I didn't think the 12° C made the day feel anywhere near warm. By late evening the temperature had dropped to only 10° C, and maybe it was only being stuffed with baked potato that made me feel my bedroom was warmer than recent nights. It seemed to be a very awkward temperature - slightly cool without the heater on, and slightly warm with the heater on it's lowest setting.

  It was one of those nights where I was fighting with the duvet to try and find the best temperature. As midnight approached, and I still hadn't fallen asleep, I got up and spent an hour reading stuff on the internet before going back to bed. It was possibly just a few minutes after 1am before I finally fell asleep. From then on I basically slept OK. I woke at about 6am, and decided I would try for a few more minutes sleep. I slept for 90 minutes !

  That was both good and bad. I did have a stupid plan to go to Aldi again this morning, and buy a tray, or two of their "Special Offer" Guinness (£20 for a tray of 24 cans). By the time I got out of bed it was obvious that there was not enough time to get ready, and get out before the store started to get busy. I guess I could have done it, but as well as a shower I wanted to wash my hair this morning. I wanted to do that yesterday but there was not enough time.

  Well the good news is that my blood glucose level has dropped. That seems amazing after what I ate yesterday, but then again it only dropped to 8.7mmol/l. That is still much too high, but at least it is in the right direction. Maybe today I can do better. Once I have finished writing this I will wash my hair, and maybe blow dry it to save time, and then, assuming the sun is still shining (there has been a short dull period, but the sun is blazing down right now) I will go for a quick turn around the park. If I feel good, which seems unlikely, but still possible, I may try to do a little more than just the 3 miles of what is the "standard" circuit.