Thanks folks! I am determined to enjoy my day.

It seems my daughter has a secret surprise for this evening. I am being taken somewhere. Several people know, but they have all been admirably tight-lipped. It's an inflexible arrangement: the Calverton Plough Mummers are performing tonight near Mansfield - old friends of mine who I haven't seen for many years - and she won't let me go!

Happy birthday to Firecat too!

Andrea - who is now "49 and holding"!

PS - If anyone's interested, the mummers are in the Red Lion at Farnsfield, near Mansfield, about 9pm tonight. Farnsfield has its own traditional play, so maybe they will be performing that one. The play they usually perform is quite similar.