I do hope that you are all well and enjoying this summerish weather. I have been confined to barracks over the last couple of weeks following an operation on both knees. All went well and I am slowly getting back to fighting fitness although there are certain things that I still can’t do, ironing being one of them – much to Mr and Master Chalk’s collective dismay as this has always been ‘my job’.

It is very frustrating not being able to drive yet. My surgeon said a good indication of whether you are ready to drive is if you can use the stairs without using the handrails, and I am still very much at the stage of ‘clinging on for dear life’ so evidently not quite ready yet.

Where we live is really quite far from any sign of civilisation so my lifesaver has been the internet. Whilst I realise that the internet has spawned much in the way of evil and nasty, there is also a wonderful side to it which keeps you in touch with the rest of the world.

I’m not a great one for Facebook and the like, but I can at least keep in touch with friends and family via email and also I’m enjoying some good TV programmes, one of these being the brilliant series, Madmen. I didn’t catch it when it originally came out on BBC4, but am addicted to it now, it is such a wonderfully written and stylish drama and interesting for me, as a child born in the 60s, to realise how different things were then. It does make you squirm watching it, particularly the attitude towards women, who are very much kept in their place.

Fortunately, things have changed, and it’s no longer expected that women should do the ironing …..

Warmest wishes,

Wendy x