Y H M Q P R

Yesterday was moody Monday, so called because it's when most people go back to work or school after the festive break, but, of course, I don't do that any more. I am imagining that retirement is a bit like farming, it doesn't change just because it's a weekend or a Bank Holiday, everyday there is something to get on with, although unlike farming, in retirement, it can wait until tomorrow.

Anyway it's a new year, so it's a new pair of glasses, and as chance would have it, my latest venture into the world of commerce allows me the opportunity to be paid to have my eyes tested. Yes, I have become a secret shopper but please don't tell anybody!!

Tomorrow is my first assignment when I have to attend at a branch of a well known optician and act like a well intentioned punter, then feed back against a number of criteria towards which the shopping experience is geared. I had a test booked anyway, so why not earn some beer money while I am about it.

The objective is to get free holidays, meals and merchandise but I guess you have to start somewhere. I have already earned 70p filling in a couple of on-line surveys.

I'm playing something called 'flying snooker' on Friday. Apparently all the colours are set up as are  a limited number of reds, and as a group you have one shot each in rotation. If you miss a ball you're out, and it's play to a finish. There is an all day breakfast to follow so that will be my detox January compromised almost before it starts.

I would like to tidy the garden, but the weather has been so inclement that it might be another week or so before I can do that. The garden would probably benefit from a week of thick frosts  to kill off the bugs who have thrived so well in the last couple of mild Winters. There seems to be an up side and a down side to everything these days.

Mentioning down sides, I was saddened to hear that my old mate from rugby days, Derek Forrester, died suddenly of a heart attack just before Christmas. Although only 55, he had packed 155 years of living into that short timespan.

He was a class one tourist, and a bit of a lad in his day, although he had settled down into fatherhood and become a very caring family man. He was a six foot eight second row who you always wanted on your side, could hold his ale and debate politics whenever required. I remember him almost biting his wife's nose off on one tour to Paris, and when the ambulance turned up they would not take them to hospital without a police escort......those were the days.

Sleep well my friend.