A ray of sunshine.

The builders arrive and start using a pneumatic drill to chip away the concrete on the terrace. Bob and Sophie contentedly trample sand through the house. It pours with rain. Caroline, the unhappy cleaning lady, arrives. She tries to get the builders to move their vans so she can park in her usual spot by the barn. ' No way darling' they reply and suggest she parks out on the lane. This does not go down well. As the sounds of heated discussion fill the air Angus and the PONs decide to head off for a coffee. Caroline has now parked her car in the middle of the drive . We can't squeeze by and have to go back inside and ask her to move it. This adds fuel to the raging unhappiness. There is much muttering and a slamming of doors.

The cafe under the arcades has started to sell a new line - adult ice lolly's made with alcohol. The lady in the blue dressing gown and red pom-pom slippers is having a Mojito flavoured Solero with her first beer of the morning. It must be good; she makes loud slurping noises and wipes her mouth with her sleeve. Angus thinks it best to ignore her kind offer of a 'nibble'. Sophie by contrast is intrigued and wanders over to see if there's any of it left for her.

Home. Bob and Sophie are oblivious to the torrential rain, the sound of the pneumatic drill and the less than positive spirit that Caroline is exuding. They are ready for fun and head upstairs to play touch rugby in the hallway. 

Usually, twenty minutes of touch rugby and they're exhausted. Today it takes thirty five minutes before they head downstairs for a nap. The drilling gets louder, the house shakes, the rain gets heavier, Caroline's mood fails to lighten. She revs her engine, Waco biker gang style, when leaving. 

Before the builders go they play 'throw the furry fox' . Bob and Sophie go to bed having had a simply wonderful day.

Another week. Another strike. This time it's the teachers. 
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-32782179