My Friends and global Followers, you join me just before the point of apoplexy, following a most interesting evening in which 'we' endeavoured to prepare for the forthcoming Cornish experience. I'll spare you the details, so suffice it to say that one hour after we started the process, we had almost completed it, and pants, socks, pyjamas, swimmers, towels and kitchen sinks in the form of sleeping bags had been placed with the amount of care that you would imagine Year 6 boys to lavish upon their belongings into their bags. Tomorrow there will be more of the same, and the culmination of the Great Preparation will happen on Sunday morning, when Mrs C and I will bid our charges the fondest of farewells and see them walk in a crocodile (yeah, right) to Oxford Station, Messrs Edwards and Bradwell assuming standard and vanguard positions. (Do any of you remember the Standard Vanguard? I used to think they were rather good cars, in fact, but the name was a bit strange, in fact.)

I have to tell you that we' ve been rather fortunate with the weather today, as downpours were forecast, and they don't seem to have happened. I expect they'll arrive tonight.

In view of our packing procedure tonight, it hasn't been much of an evening in happy, cosy, familial lodge terms, but everyone seems happy, and all is well.

For now, though,

Goodnight.