Yesterday Rachel and Margaret, who 'know I like a challenge', laid of thick fog for my journey to Hull (which makes a change from snow). It was the same school at which I first did the Toys Outreach on my own, and I asked after Hashim (now 9) who as a masterly six year old taught me how to bowl a hoop properly, a skill which I have subsequently taught some of my colleagues. Apparently he prefers the company of girls to boys and never stops gossiping.

The fog began to clear as I crossed the bridge into Yorkshire, and was completely gone by the time I had finished the workshop just after noon to be replaced by bright sunshine. Back on the right side (south side) of the bridge I called in at a couple of shops in Barton to do a bit of shopping for Easter and for Helen's birthday, and then took my pack-up down to the Humber bank where I sat on a bench overlooking the river almost in the shadow of the Humber Bridge. Hull was obscured in a light mist making it seem distant and almost beautiful while the sun sparkled on the water turning it from its customary muddy hue to myriad of greys and blues.

I then went to Scunthorpe to empty my car of the workshop materials and reclaim the back seat for my niece, her dog, her friends or - even, if there is more than one of them in the car - one of her brothers. Helen had a study day which meant she wouldn't be home until about 5 o'clock, so I went round by Caistor to pick up Josh and Jess from school. Some nutter at their school insists that they have to wear the uniform sweatshirt no matter how warm the weather! Both were very hot and uncomfortable, so I took them home to get changed, muck-out the stables and prepare evening feeds for the horses, then Josh went off on the quad to join his dad doing something agricultural (tillaging, I think he said), while Jess and I went to my house for banana splits and iced coffee on the terrace. Yes, I know that sounds pretentious, but it is slightly raised above the rest of the garden and too narrow for a patio, and a deck would be planked - so terrace it must be. Helen rang while we were preparing these to say that she was home, but Jess decided there was no need to rush, so we had a pleasant twenty minutes of relaxation and refreshment.