Mrs Down's Diary

Or at least that is John's opinion. Me? I think we will struggle to find a clean change of clothing after a couple of days. What is weighing down the suitcases (and I haven't told John this yet) is the small matter of a rice cooker and a slow cooker lurking among the socks, knickers and T-shirts.

My sister asked if I would take them out to the house but had failed to appreciate how much they weigh. With a limit of 20kg each, those suitcases have been packed and unpacked more times than I care to calculate and the bedroom floor looks like a bomb has hit it.

My son-in-law Chris, who is staying with us during the week while he completes a fellowship post at a teaching hospital, will look after the house.

Geoff, my brother-in-law, is farm sitting. Since the partnership split, he has been involved in a range of jobs. But he will be able to take advantage of his time here to dissemble the incubators and rearing huts that he had left in the paddock for his pheasants and partridges.

For full feature see West Sussex Gazette March 5