I was really happy when I woke up this morning.  Well, at my age it's good just to wake up!  Anyway, this morning the sun was streaming through my window and it was a real blue sky day.  When you live in Ireland you have to make the most of days like these, so I started by jumping out of bed and making my way downstairs to let the dogs out.  Sadly, I forgot to cancel the alarm so it went off as soon as I opened the door.  I rushed back up to the landing to put in the code, tripping over one of the dog's balls as I ran.  Never mind, I thought, might as well have my shower now I'm back upstairs.  That bit was good and I quickly got dressed after.  Then I thought I should just wash down the shower, but somehow or other, the shower head slipped out of my grasp and sprayed the entire bathroom and me.  I got the towel and dried up the floor, the walls and the wash hand basin and changed out of my now wet clothes.  Back downstairs I let the dogs back in and started to make breakfast.  I forgot the setting on the toaster was so high, burnt the toast and discovered there was no more bread.  Never mind, I thought, I'll have a bowl of cereal.  Unfortunately, there was a hole in the bottom of the cereal packet so when I tipped it up the flakes spilt over the floor.  But.......the sky was still blue and I was still happy.  Later I heard the postman and made my way to the door.  So did Daisy, our very large black and white dog.  I didn't make it on time but she did and had managed to tear apart a big brown envelope.  It contained some important papers from the bank for my husband to sign, but I thought I could have the bank send new ones before he got back from a business trip.  Of course not!  The bank told me I would have to come in personally to a town about 12 miles away and pick up some new papers so I could sign for them.  Ah well, I thought, it's a nice town.  Here comes the good bit.

When I came out of the bank I did some food shopping and then I saw some boots in my favourite shoe shop.  They were in the sale and guess what - they were in my size.  I tried them on and they fitted like a glove.  The assistant showed me a new pair which had just come in and were almost identical.  'You got lucky,' she said, 'you just saved yourself £30.'  I was so pleased I thought I would treat myself to a nice cappucino to make up for this morning's disastrous breakfast.  Looking at my watch I quickly swallowed the last of the coffee realising my parking ticket was almost up.  Still had 10 minutes to go, so I paid the bill and walked back towards the carpark.  Just as I reached the entrance, one of my old schoolfriends appeared on her way out.  'Just the person I want to see,' she said.  'Lovely to see you,' I said, 'but my ticket is just about to expire.'  'Never mind that,' she said.  She was always the bossiest girl in school and was no different now even though she had a bus pass. (She's older than me, of course.)  She proceeded to tell me how brilliantly her youngest daughter had done in her exams and how well her son was doing.  I assured her I was delighted to hear it but I really had to go.  Too late!  I looked over her head and there he was hovering over my dear little blue car, his pen in hand.  'Sorry, got to go,' I called and literally ran away.  The traffic warden had the good grace to smile pityingly at me as I explained that I had been kept back at the gate, but he pointed to the ticket firmly stuck on the windscreen.  '£30 if you pay within a fortnight,' he told me.

Those boots will never feel the same.  I shall always think of that ticket each time I wear them.  The dogs were pleased to see me though and I played ball in the garden with them before going into the house.  Carrying my shopping I walked through the hall, into the kitchen, back into the hall and up the stairs to put away the boot.  The smell went with me.  Just as I turned and saw the mess I had made on the pale gold carpet, all the way to the bedroom, I looked down and spotted the offending poo sticking out from my shoe.  I screamed, threw off my shoes and lay down on the bed.

I feel better now and the sky is still blue.  My husband comes home tomorrow and my baby grandson will be here in the morning.  It's bound to be a good day.  Isn't it?