Wednesday morning in Northport, and MJ and me are sad. The diamond from her engagement ring has fallen out, which we noticed after returning from a trip to the supermarket yesterday. Hours of searching to no avail. No trauma at all to the ring setting, the stone simply dropped out. MJ phoned the Magpie Jewellers in the Lanes Brighton who say it is a matter for our insurance. I on the other hand think they have some responsibility to design rings where the stone doesn't simply fall out after a couple of months. A depressing feeling of yet more wrangles in the offing.

Other than this MJ and I have had an excellent time together. She has been reading my poems and making some insightful comments. We have taken a trip eastwards to The North Fork of the Island, where there are vineyards, and had some lovely meals and endless talk.

Yesterday I met Mr Porter. He had just returned from a heart operation and was looking remarkably chipper, plus others of the family who all seemed friendly and nice.

Also watching CNN about the horrible storms and floods going on down in New Orleans.

The children came back from their father yesterday. We ate icecream outside Chilly Willies but their return somewhat overshadowed for the diamond business which we discovered shortly after.

Was pleased to hear, in a science fictional sort of way, that my short story "A little quiet time" will be appearing on the Quantum Muse site when it is updated for September.