I read it in the readers letters page of The Sunday Post, a national Scottish newspaper,

"Pen Pal wanted, would like to correspond with someone from Scotland, 29 year old, lives in Ghana".

Why not, I thought, let's give it a go.

"Hello Diana, I read your letter in the Post and I expect that you will get a lot of replies.
I live in a small town just outside of Glasgow called Barrhead, but I was born in Sussex, England.
I must say that I do not know much about Ghana but I notice when I look at the map that it is about the same size as England.
You will probably receive e-mail from others of your age group that you would rather e-mail as they would have more in common with you and I am 69 years old, but if you would like to reply I would enjoy mailing you.
Regards, Trevor".

I have just received a reply,

"Dear Trevor, How are you? Thanks a lot for your nice message and I really enjoy reading your message, I hope we will be good friends and something more in future.
I am single and lived alone, 5 feet, 8 inches tall and fair in complexion. I also like travelling but never travel overseas before, what time will you invite me to visit you in Scotland? I am ready to meet you even tomorrow morning and have a lovely time together. Feel free to ask me question you will like to know about me.
In your next message tell me more about yourself especially your work.
Do you have a telephone number?
Try to give me your Postal Address so that I will be able to send you my photos.
This my Postal Address is ; DIANA DANKWA
P.O.Box *
CAPE COAST
GHANA
WEST AFRICA
Trevor, Thank you and I wish you all the best.
Kindest regards.
Yours,
Diana."

No comment.

Tuesday, install new work top oven. This was a bargain buy via an advert in Sommerfield's, "New, unopened, £20". Well it saves me using the big oven and wasting power, ( that's the "green" part of me, or, maybe the "mean" part of me ).

Follow instructions and "test" for 15 mins, done that.

Place lunch in oven, 20 mins at 230, done that.

Smoke alarm sounds 10 mins later, lunch alight, take from oven and put aside to feed the fox tonight, make sandwich of cheese and sweet picalilly.

Open up internet, google hotels in Buckie area, ( it's where my lady friend was born ) discover that for the same price of three nights b&b we could have two weeks Mallorca.

Still raining, but some plants look lovely when they are wet.

Leaves of the Acer.