Keeeping the black dog at bay...

With all the smelly stuff flying at the moment sometimes it is really hard to keep any sort of perspective on things. Life can seem to be a series of mishaps leading to inevitable disaster at times, and yet at other times it seems something else entirely.

It’s all to do with that glass I expect. You know the one, the glass that’s either half-full or half-empty dependent on all the influences around you, how you are feeling, how the people that you care about are doing, who you are, what the weather is like…

With all these variables is it any wonder that sometimes that glass of mine can seem less than full? Isn’t it to be expected that I catch a glimpse of the black dog out of the corner of my eye, sometimes even see him sat by the side of me, all teeth and slaverings, just waiting to pounce?

I’m working on my relaxation techniques as you know, but no matter how well I train myself to relax it won’t make things that much better, take away all the hardships and challenges that are in my life at the moment – and yes, I know - only I can make that happen.

‘Down you devil, down.’

So what a nice surprise to have such a lovely sunny day last Sunday. For once we were at home for the weekend and the sunshine and warmth tempted us out of the house and into our postage stamp front yard to catch the afternoon sunshine. Such a treat to sit on our bench drinking an ice cold beer and watching the world go by.

Not that much of the world goes by generally in our road. Oh, we have had a couple of TV shoots, an episode of Cold Feet, a three part murder, and once Sally Webster passed our gate and smiled a shy ‘hello’. But generally it’s quiet, nothing much happening, just the neighbours sitting in their front yards drinking wine and reading the papers, the odd dog or two out for an afternoon stroll, some children riding bikes, intermittent couples wandering along the road hand in hand nodding a passing greeting as we sit and nod our friendship back to them.

What a nice afternoon. Hardly a murderer in sight.

And later (in celebration of the sunshine and because the mood took us), our first outside barbecue at the front of the house in our Japanese style front yard for almost two years. Lamb chops, king prawns, peri-peri chicken and a delicious selection of salads.

The envy of all our neighbours.

And not a black dog in sight.