Made the best chilli I’ve ever made. My secret? I added the spices at the end, one or two at a time with a tasting after each one. I’ve made okay chillies before, with a good flavour but no heat. I’ve made chillies that were no flavour and all heat. Today I triumphed. I also thought about how the brownies I made the other day were the best I’ve made and I realised something: I’m cooking with greater attention. Because a) I haven’t cooked properly in months and b) I’m just slower these days. My hands hurt pretty much all the time so I have to think about what I’m doing much more than I ever have before.

I tidied up the dining room table in three goes.

I finally settled on Hillary and completed my voting papers. They’ll be posted tomorrow.

I watched the rain from the kitchen window. Watched a bird fluffing its feathers.

I wrote four e-mails I’d been meaning to write. I only have two left to do now. Until I clear out my in boxes and find twenty more anyway.

Spent some time mulling the counselling question. I don’t know how much of my current gruntleness is due to being ill and now that I can finally see some light at the end do I really need to go? I’ve already got the appointments and it certainly won’t hurt me to go. I used to be so decisive. This dithering is driving me mad. I want to just make a decision and know that I am capable of dealing with the consequences. When did a simple decision become so big?

Went for a lovely walk with my wife in the late afternoon sunshine. We saw many doggies in all shapes and sizes. One even barked at us because we dared to look at him from 30 feet away. Very cute.

Spent ages browsing poster sites trying to find landscapes that fit the criteria the counsellor laid out and appealed to me. I settled on the jetty at Derwent Water. Then I found it for £8.25. Sweet.

Weasel and I have recently switched to placing grocery orders every two weeks and using other places within walking distance to top-up in the interim. An order arrived today and it is like Christmas. There’s all sorts of wonderful things to look at and admire. Plans to be made for each ingredient. I’m not very good at squatting or bending over at the minute so it was all on Weasel today.

Blanket Girl sent me a birthday box which arrived this week. There was an amazing candle that had the cutest box – it looks like a little house. I kept wanting to light the candle today, but I didn’t because the whole house smelled of chilli.

Finally, Fergus makes a fine hat.