Awake very early, so had time for a decent breakfast before running for the train. Beautiful day, bright sunshine and strong wind between showers. Noticed blossom and ranks of daffodils from the train.

The Gnome back at work today after a short holiday, and we slunk off to work offsite on concepts and quaff hot chocolate in the Ship pub by the river. Noticing, as we did, how the Thames was busy with preparations for this weekend's annual Oxford and Cambridge boat race.
Later I got a surprise call from Paula who was laughing like a seagull and was clearly on a boat of some description. Turns out she was bouncing along on the river in a lifeboat. (The lifeboat people are one of her clients.) As me and the Gnome left The Ship for a brisk walk before returning to the agency there was Paula strapped into a large lifeboat bouncing on the choppy Thames.

A little later we even bumped into her and another old colleague Nick as they disembarked. Paula bounced up and gave me a big rivery hug.

Swimming after work not much fun today, as the pool was quite crowded with people huffily bumping into each other. After this I briefly met Kate and Bryony who were off to see a play before heading home. Janet called me this evening to invite me around for a large Saturday night feed. Also spoke to Toby began plotting a visit to Ontario.

Also had a note from Joan with a picture of beech trees and dogtooth violets below. Good to learn that there is a positive use for their fangs other than biting defenceless children in Guernsey. And talking of talking dogs visit here for proof...