I am drinking beer in the bunker in front of an interesting video on YouTube. The kitchen sink is showing signs of distress, but right now I don’t care: sufficient unto Monday is the household problem that must wait for a plumber’s availability. Tonight, I’m off to the home of Brother No. 1 for dinner, armed with two bottles of pinot noir. Oh, luxury — I will not be driving!

I think this is the first year in decades in which I have not made any kind of preserves at all, not even chutney.