Happy Monday!

• At some point last week, I became older than my father ever was. It’s been on my mind as I came up to this birthday and because my dad died 4 days after his birthday it’s been easy to track. My family is not full of people who live a really long time, three of my grandparents died before they were my age. I don’t know that it means anything but there it is.

• I had planned three days off this week, I had two because it was too bloody hot on Thursday (38.1c in Kew) but I have a half day this Friday and next Friday off (giving me a longer bank holiday weekend). I’m embracing August as a time of not working so hard.

• We are promised lower temperatures this week, it’s 23c and overcast from Wednesday and rain the week after. We haven’t had rain since May. I’m at the point where I’m hopeful but also disbelieving because I want it so bad and so far my 50’s have been an exercise in me not getting what I want!

• I spent some of Sunday on the phone to the bank trying to work out if I was being scammed. I got a WhatsApp from my landlord asking me to change where I paid my rent,which to be fair is how we communicate. However, it was 4 days before rent is due and for a really sad reason, which made called and verify g really, really awkward. As ever, First Direct were excellent and because the three accounts involved, (mine, the one the standing order was set up for and the new one) were all with them were able to verify the bank account details, which helped a lot.

• It’s another busy week but I’m feeling a bit more ready for it with something like a plan, although to paraphrase Mike Tyson, “everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face”.

Here’s hoping that none of us get punched in the face (actually or metaphorically) this week!