Travelling down to Somerset for W's 90th birthday. Much evidence of recent flooding across the countryside. Weather improved during the day. Turned into a lovely evening. Very nice meal with A and N, P and M. All the youngs arrived after I'd gone to bed!!

Off to S Africa today how exciting!! My version of travelling light is 18 kilos of luggage but I think I must have forgotten something- like clothes!!! Excellent flight down to Heathrow and we had access to the VIP lounge which is all very civilised with food, drink ,wifi, tv etc. Currently on our South Africa Airways flight to Johannesburg which left on time Quite ok so far. Just over the Eiffel Tower. On the Shuttle we saw the Thames Barrage. Kew gardens,Mi...

Felt rotten last night. Rough cold/ flu symptoms. Packed up and started long involved trip home. Ponteland first to collect SJs camping stuff. Then Ambleside to collect Victorian stuff for exhibition in Sept. Then Eccleston to deliver SJs stuff. Then home to unpack. Journey took nine hours when all I wanted was to go to bed!!

Simply beautiful day. Spent most of it with group of friends on the beach with the gang of kids in the sea and by turns in the dinghy with A. Sun sand sea and glass of white wine. What could be better.

Returned to N E with metal detector. Didn't sleep much last night. Spent some considerable time at the 'cow restaurant'. No sign of ring. Into the orchard and went though the two remaining piles of grass. No sign of ring. Convinced it has been eaten by cows. 6 days to pass through then metal detector over cow pats? Started to pass over the orchard in Meter strips. Second pass it buzzed!! 9 inched down in the grass and resting on the soil was my ring!!!! How luc...