Treehugger 01, Bank Holiday Nil.

We went out to the highest point of the Leeds-Liverpool Canal and wandered cheerfully along the towpath where the canal wends its way along the contours through lush high pastures. There was pointing and laughing at sheep (as you do), and not too many flies. We sang cheerful marching songs and entered into skilful banter with boat folk. They have to travel at a brisk walking pace see, and we were walking somewhat more briskly.

A chorus of "This is the way we beat the boat, beat the boat, beat the boat,..." and they were putty in our hands

There is an ice-cream cabin next to the top-most lock - a very good plan. Bare feet in grass, ice-cream mellowing in belly and a TH flat on her back under an ash tree watching the leaves dance lightly in the breeze.

Good times.

I saw a double decker bridge (apparently easier to build one on top of the other - don't ask), got mild sunburn across the nose, and we didn't get caught in a single bank holiday traffic jam.

Boo YA!

Got the day off today (the place is shut for an extra day) so am supposed to be running around getting ready for this wedding in Italy. I've got my pretty clothes (white linen trousers - AM I MAD?? Our survey says "YES") and there's only really a haircut and a trip to the library for a book about Rome left to do.

*sigh*

Oh Israel. Was that really the only way you could have dealt with the problem?

Really?

Who amongst your vast array of supposedly intelligent advisers persuaded you that such a plan was the best, let alone the only, scheme to resolve a highly public situation in the full glare of the media. Have you sacked them yet?

(And on a side note, Glee - you are officially on notice. I don't mind a Gaga episode - I'm not a fan but I can recognise the woman is a phenomenon - but I would like the plot to hang together and the smooth running of the episode not to be made up of all the leftover pots and pieces you found on the floor of the script writers room).