Budget: Been quite a week then. Budget was announced today - although in truth it had been trailed for so long there weren't any real surprises. We do kind of get that the finances inherited by the current government were pretty dire but I do hope that today's budget might at least move the narrative

Winter is looming large - the clocks are due to go back at the weekend so we'll be losing an hour of evening light. Always signals the start of a few dark, damp bleak weeks. And always seems a bit uneccessary in this day and age. Been watching the news with my usual (un)healthy dose of

The two week trial period with the new rescue puppy has ended - Sonny has now officially become a permanent member of the household. Transition from a farm in rural Ireland to a slightly more bustling existence in Brighton has gone largely to plan - first trips to the woods and the pub appropriately executed.

Well we've done it - seven days in now and the new pup is firmly ensconsed in our family life. Interesting transition from an old, super intelligent, compliant and deaf dog to a brand new rescue puppy for whom everything is new and exciting. It's incredible how much human pleasure can be derived from watching