It was quite a weekend packed with all sorts of goodies.

First, the Brighton family visited and brought almost as much wine as they drank. The kids ran collective riot and trashed the house. So....

Second, I went down to the shoot to top up feeders and add water containers, with the usual crew. Another morning spent trundling around the fields clinging to the back of a LandRover in the fresh air. Spotted the same family of Roe deer we'd seen the previous week and noted that our pheasants are moving away from the wood - at least in the daytime - which bodes well for the drives we have planned.

Third, in the afternoon I fitted the wind deflector to the MX-5 which had arrived the day before and went for a blast into Marlborough and back. Really good to have the car in England. I forgot what a sweet drive it is - the money spent on new dampers, bushes and tyres was really worth it as she drives like a new car. Washed and polished she now sits under a new cover in the garage - awaiting a sunny and dry day for another thrash! Me, sad and obsessive? Don't care.

Sunday was spent on a navigation course - see Rally Navigation above - which was an education.

A lazy late dinner followed by indolence in front of the TV, before a short spell of electronic retail therapy on some rally bits and that was it.

Monday I headed off to Dublin on business well before dawn had cracked and learned my shotgun certificate arrived that morning. Very satisfied I went to dinner with colleagues to a spot I can highly recommend. Roly's Bistro is about 5 minutes walk from the Four Seasons and was fabulous. Great food, service and wine and the place was completely packed. On a Monday. Says it all in my book.