This morning Rachel dropped me off in town and I had a bit of time before catching the bus to Orton so I went for a look in Beals store. I got a great little set of calorie counting scales, very compact, and idea for weighing small amounts. They were reduced to £3.30 so didn't break the bank either, and I also got 6 teaspoons for £1! They let me on a but just before 9.30 am with the bus pass so I was out in Orton in good time. Walking under this underpass I don't remember it actually having a name plate before. Sadly the painting is now covered with graffiti.

Near Margherita's house there are the bushes that attract the spiders that make fine webs across the leaves. You never see any of the spiders, just evidence of their work.

Had a good game of Scrabble with Margherita and natter as well, I won by about 8 points, but we are usually pretty close in the scoring. Walking back to the bus I saw that these flats now have railings. Not sure if that is to stop people throwing stuff at them or residents chucking stuff out. When I worked at the hostel for the homeless we did house people there and it was a pretty rough area then. Seems to have had a lot of development now.

I caught the bus into town and met up with Mike. We had lunch at the Noodle place which I know he has been meaning to try for a long time. We had a cup of tea sitting in the square at the city centre and then walked up to the park. It was the turn of my ankle today to be very painful indeed, making me limp on occasions, if it isn't one thing it is the other and I have to admit to being a bit fed up with the constant pain and restriction on my movement. A couple of trees had been given crocheted scarves in the park, that was different.

We sat in the park for a bit and I took a picture of the great willow tree in the centre. Mike said that there had been plans to cut it down and replace it with a band stand but they had so many objections that the decided to leave it be.

We called in at Mike's flat for a bit and then we walked up to Ibrahimi's where we had the usual very nice meal, although they had got an ice cream cabinet in but didn't have trifle on the menu. Very disappointing as they have the best trifle ever! The place had a new extension and is much larger, the staff and atmosphere great as usual. On the way there we passed this sign outside a pub, the other side said 'No horses in the car park'. I can only presume it is trotting season!

Rachel kindly came and picked me up after we had eaten. I had a shower then watched tv with the family and Rachel made an ice pack for my ankle which was, and is quite swollen, but it made it feel a lot better.