feeling a bit better today - have been ill and thoroughly over worked this week. however, today has seen a turn for the better seeing the preparation of chicken stock and some rather delicious green tea all the way from china. at fern verrow this morning i was luck enough to get hold of a modest helping of medlars - quite what shall become of them is not yet clear but no doubt new frontiers of gastronomy await. perhaps i shall manage a haircut this afternoon, possibly following a small nap.