It’s amazing how fragile our control over the earth is. It just takes once teensy-weensy (massive) volcano to ground half of Europe and strand millions of people away from their homes. Sleeping in an airport lounge for best part of a week is not my idea of fun.

Ok, there were times over the past few years when I would have been made up to be stranded here in California (more time spent with my sweetness) but now we’re here waiting the arrival of friends and it’s a bit fraught. If they don’t come out on Friday, then there are hotels and travel arrangements to be cancelled. We’d be more upset for them (we live here, after all) because they’ve been planning their trip for months. Yes, we’d be a bit disappointed but they would be gutted.

Our poor old friend Dave is also probably feeling very sorry for himself. He was due out here at the beginning of April. Unfortunately in March he was knocked off his bicycle and nearly killed, preventing his trip. While he’s been recuperating, he cooked up a joint of lamb that needed using up. His bulldog Megan got into the fridge, stole the lamb and choked to death on it. So not only was he unable to come out as planned, his dog is dead. The volcano eruption would also have meant he’d been stuck here a bit longer, which he would have loved. So, all in all it’s been a bad year so far for Dave.