I've been hearing about the heatwave in Sydney from my daughter, who is spending her time in front of the fan in her flat spraying water on herself and her rainbow lorikeet, Larrietta, to keep cool. That's the kind of heat I'm not sorry to be missing at all!

On the 25th of this month, we are going to San Francisco to spend time with Rob's son, wife and grandsons. I believe the weather will be somewhat nicer than it is here at the moment, so it will be a bit of an escape - even if only for 10 days.