From my Substack diary for Tuesday, 16th. June 2026

The plate from last night’s dinner is on the draining board. It’s dry but I wipe it over with a tea towel anyway, and put it on top of the plate pile in the cupboard. The draining board is now clear of washed dishes, not that there were many, and can now become a home for whatever dishes I use during the day, ready to be washed this evening. I’ve had my early morning tea so now it’s the turn of the espresso machine, which has a new fault to add to the list of pre-existing faults. I persevere anyway, momentarily thinking as I make a cappuccino how nice it would be to buy a replacement. That’s towards the front of my mind. In the back of my mind I am thinking, all too briefly in response to a reality check, wouldn’t it be nice if I could get this 6-year old machine fixed?

The sitting room window is to my right. It always is. I have one settee against the window and one at right-angles to it; I don’t like to have my back to the outside world. It’s the same in cafés and pubs: I like to sit where I can see the door and the window. I don’t know why; I don’t really think about it until I am sat in the wrong place. I know it’s the wrong place because I feel slightly agitated; wanting to turn around in case… of what?

It is grey and dull outside and remarkably still and quiet, with a negligible breeze. A porch light is on two bungalows down. I think it’s on 24 hours a day but it’s only really noticeable late in the evening; on a brighter day I would probably not have noticed it at all, but this morning my peripheral vision is drawn to it. But not any more. My attention turns to the mahonia in the front garden, where movement has replaced stillness; fronds are trembling restfully in the lightest of light breezes. Other plants join in; it would appear we now have consensus: a gentle breeze is about.

My cappuccino cup is empty. My morning is well underway and I must consider what to do next. I am developing a pain, no – an ache in my lower back; a consequence of sitting too long in a slightly awkward position. I do not need my watch to tell me to stand; finish this and amble over to the kitchen. The espresso machine may be on the blink but the coffee machine works just fine; is it too early to load up with a filter paper? I think not. First tea, then cappuccino then coffee. Am I becoming predictable?