What a surprisingly lively lockdown day! A normal start, as an inveterate Radio 4 listener, I listened to Sunday, a magazine programme presented by the warm voiced Ed Reardon. It featured a lively interview with Cardinal Vincent Nichols, who fairly fiercely promoted the opening of places of worship. ” I can go into Waterstones and buy a book. but I can’t go into the church on the opposite side of the road.” Hmm.

As is normal for these times, I joined fifty friends from my church for a Zoom service. It was good to see people’s faces and have a peek in their homes. As usual there were the hectic arrivals – upside down, invisible, sideways, freezing, silent – but nevertheless a joy to get together, to remember those in our wider community, and take time out to peacefully mark Pentecost , the ‘birthday’ of the church.

Daughter Ros and her husband David came in the afternoon, haven’t seen them for three months. Decided to bake some scones, quite enjoyed that. But disaster – didn’t put any baking powder in the mix, so ended up with twelve pastry circles. David restarted the portal, the gadget the girls got, so their dad could communicate with them easily, but which hasn’t been working (he must have found a wrong button to press). Then David investigated what was a water pump in the old pond. I miss the sound of water in these hot days. He’s going to fit a new one. £24 on eBay. It’ll be delivered by the weekend. Action man!

Got stung by a bee hiding in the dish cloth when washing up. Enough excitement for one day. Oh – just watched Northern Ballet’s Dracula. Still stunning. Nightmares, it’s nearly midnight!