Well, our week of respite from looking after the Whale is nearly over and what is there to show for it? Not much.

As I feared, the Bear decided to make changes and we spent a good hour in the local DIY shop mainly putting bits of wood on the trolley and then taking them off again. Eventually we came home with just a few screws and a packet of metal things which were intended for doors but which he was going to use for shelves.

He swept all the Whale's books and paperwork from his desk and put up a 'trial' shelf balanced precariously on two bits of wood. Having measured the right height for the computer monitor, he then drilled holes for the aforesaid metal things and perched the shelf on top. So far so good, but once all the books and files from the desk were put in place the shelf began to buckle under the weight.

Then it was a case of moving the computer over to sit under the monitor. After several minutes of grunts and groans he decided that he couldn't remember which plug went where and left me to crawl under the desk to find out. Miraculously it still works!

For the last couple of days he has felt ill and spent most of the time in bed or asleep in the armchair. I'm not sure whether to feel relieved that he hasn't been able to tackle any more 'jobs' or frustrated that we haven't done anything to celebrate our freedom.

Never mind, it has made a pleasant and restful change and we have invited some friends over for lunch tomorrow so the week will end on a pleasant note - we hope . . . . .