Friday 22 April

So today Ray took himself off to London for work for the day. The city was teeming with security as Obama was in town but the only disturbance was outside the Canadian Embassy where a group of protesters were braving the rain demanding an end to seal clubbing - which seems sensible, especially if you are a seal. 

Alison meanwhile went off to catch up with family and friends and was therefore in sole charge of Mavis for the day. 

Armed with instant mobile communications we completely failed to rendezvous at St Neots station on Ray's return. This wasn't a great hardship as it gave him 40 minutes to explore the town. It turned out this was more than ample as whatever the charms of St Neots are, and they must exist, none were evident on a damp Friday evening in April. I passed a sprawling school, now of course an academy, in which two surly youths were sneaking a cigarette. This should have depressed me more but the fact that they found a spot away from all the CCTV that ringed the place rather cheered the soul, like Winston finding a spot out of the glare of the prying telescreen in Orwell's 1984. 

As I turned the corner Alison and a spruced up Mavis were a welcome sight and thus we trundled back to Comberton.