My risotto was very good. It followed a day which started with my bad back playing me up summat rotten and Mrs Steve suffering side effects from her second jab. Every year we do the bluebell walk in the woods at Brownsham, between Hartland and Clovelly. It was a lovely day but it started badly, with parking near the start of the walk a massive problem (we've done this walk every year for 34 years and we still haven't learned to avoid bank holidays). I eventually parked hard by a roadside hedge and scratched my leg on a protruding blackthorn twig that I hadn't spotted.

However.

My new Black Diamond Trail hiking poles were a total revelation. I've tried cheap ones before and they put me off the whole idea. But these were a miracle. I did the whole strenuous walk without back pain and the poles were absolutely superb. The sun was out, the bluebells were wonderful, the sea sparkled, God was in his heaven and all truths were universal. Who'd have thought it, on a day that started so fretfully, and we came home and I did a great risotto. The Prosecco and Argentine Malbec were great too...!

Then you watch the news about India...