Henry Dunn

There's some great children's programmes in that listings

Discovered that the ticket collector on my train is from Glasgow where my daughter is a student. Lovely guy

As they say, politeness costs you nothing, and you might make their tedious day slightly more enjoyable

The cover of Lamentation by CJ Sansom

My current exploration, part of a series I enjoy, full of political and religious intrigue towards the end of Henry VIII's life

I also love old paperbacks, usually trawling through charity shops for a new discovery, or something by a favourite author. They are portals into new worlds, where you can immerse yourself in the author's imagination and make your own interpretation. I feel bereaved at the end and need another fix!

No matter how enjoyable the trip there's nothing quite like getting home and back into your familiar, cosy, bed!

Not tried chicory on its own, there may be a reason why there is so much sugar in that drink!

We had some sun yesterday but a bit grey today so far

Looks gorgeous. I'm heading a bit further south to Bologna in July for the World Congress of Music Therapy, where I'm doing a couple of presentations. I think it might be hotter by then! Hope you're having a wonderful time with great coffee, chocolate, and Italian food

Just checked, only 4% coffee extract and you'd probably need at least half a bottle to get the equivalent of a double espresso! It's 25% chicory and the rest is sugar and water. Chicory often got used as a cheap coffee substitute in olden days

Probably a little bit but not as much as proper coffee. At first I had my coffee milky and sweet, now I like it strong and black, and am quite fussy about it. No instant coffee allowed in my house!

Made in Scotland so definitely different!

Looks good. Wonder if it's the same company that made Camp coffee, a chicory coffee substitute that was delicious with cold milk? I used to love it as a child. Probably not related, maybe called that because you would take it on camp. It had a picture of soldiers on I think

We do have lovely sunshine here though, been a long time coming!

Had to cancel. My father-in-law may not survive much longer due to cancer and my wife doesn't want to leave him. Our daughters are coming down next week to spend time with him

I'll look out for it, not seen it here

A new Winter Olympics sport perhaps?

I bought some nice genuine Canadian maple syrup for pancake day next week. Just tested it on porridge, very tasty 😋

Leading to a dragon guarding a pile of gold?

The spring flowers are beginning to appear. We have snowdrops and crocuses nearby and our camellia has some flowers on it. In fact, it's had at least one flower through the winter. Lots of bird activity in the hedge too. Not long now and spring will be here properly. Still no dry day this year!

Also might be getting a used car to replace the one we got rid of last year. We may keep the teeny Toyota we currently have for children to drive. Youngest one about to learn, Older 2 already drive and are at Uni most of the time

About 2 hours away on the coast, Southampton. Meeting some old friends at same time

Totally agree about Daley, he was such a great figure in my childhood, a must watch when he was competing

A kind friend has just brought a huge lasagne round for us

Haven't had any sunshine so far this year! Lots of flooding. Bit mixed here have a cold and passed it on to my wife, whose father may die of cancer soon. We do have a weekend away to look forward to at least, and I may be getting another clarinet this week, having sold my old one. Was past repair

Absolutely not, and I hate the idea that we might get a similar system over here if a certain right wing party get in at the next election. You shouldn't have to show that you have sufficient insurance or cash to be treated in an emergency

At what point did you insult me? I'm in the UK where healthcare is free at the point of need, though mental health services are under a lot of strain

I have the luxury of providing it for free, but our criteria are pretty tight. I once wrote a paper on the Wounded Healer archetype in the context of my own clinical work

That's why I'm a therapist, though I never literally kiss my clients of course. I just give them the undivided attention and respect they may never have received and unconditional acceptance

Very true and with great tenderness