Perfect.

The sun is out, the sky is clear, the breeze is on the temperate side of bracing. The stoats have left tasty calling cards in the long grass. Can a day be too perfect ? Later this morning the PONette will be loaded into the back of the car and driven into town in search of Jaffa Cakes.

The kitchen designers have come up with a quote that is eye watering. I'd expected a kitchen to be pricey. I hadn't expected it to be three times what we paid for a much bigger kitchen in France.  It is spec'd to the hilt with appliances that neither of us knew existed - let alone asked for. At some stage dishwashers stopped being free standing and were integrated into hip height drawers. The designers want a 50% deposit but can't start work until late summer. Angus thinks this timetable might change as the economy slows and 'cancellations' occur. Time might make their 'take it or leave it' haughtiness move in inverse proportion to interest rates. 'The Font' will tell them to scale back their proposal. Having an intelligent kitchen is one thing but too much hitech may test the limits of our 'intelligence'.