What a weekend. It started with high drama as our allied nations joined us in bombing a bit of Syria. But that went well. A ‘clinical’ and ‘surgical’ strike on a chemical weapons plant which even the Russians can’t complain about. Though they are, obviously. Interrupting their usual endless stream of denials (we didn’t poison the Scripals; we didn’t bomb civilians in Syria, we had nothing to do with chemical attacks…) and blaming Britain for all the evil in the world, they said that if that’s the end of the bombings then they’re ok with it. Putin is worried that any retaliatory action may jeopardise the state visit of the Conways next month, which the entire Russian nation is financially dependent upon. Oh, and the World Cup’s coming too.

Then came the wonderful stuff. Like playing tennis IN THE SUNSHINE!!!! Its so lovely. Don’t get me wrong, I’m happy playing in the endless months of arctic fucking winds and cloudy wet horribleness, as long as its not actually raining. But to play in actual, honest-to-goodness sunshine?? Holy shit, its almost as if tennis was invented as a summer game. Who’d’a known?

Ok, Spurs lost to Manchester City, that wasn’t so wonderful, in fact it was downright awful, but also somewhat inevitable. And when Manchester United lost to West Brom yesterday to donate the league title to their local rivals, you could see it was just all written in the stars. But I didn’t go to the City match at Wembley.

Because Lila came to stay. She came for her first, solo sleep-over. So I thought we could watch the football together, even though we had friends coming for dinner, then get her too excited to sleep, as I do. Then later, wake her up for a midnight feast. Sweets, chocolates, cakes, maybe some booze, I had it all lined up and ready. But she went to sleep at 6.45 (before the football even started!!) and didn’t make a peep until 7.45 the next morning. Bloody killjoy. But when she wakes up…

She is ‘Lila-the-Destroyer!’, a mythical warrior of viking descent (never knew they had Vikings in the shtetls of Poland, did you? Well you don’t know everything then, do you?) who lays waste to all that comes before her. Rooms, toys and her particular favourite, kitchen drawers and cupboards. I know, you wouldn’t think it possible with that ‘butter wouldn’t melt’ look and all that sweeter than sweet squeaking. But trust me: she’s lethal. Soon as she can stand without help I’m going to take her to martial arts classes; focus all that destruction. Maybe turn her into a hit-man-girl or something useful like that. Suppose I should discuss with her parents first, they may have other plans.

Oh well, the weekend’s over. But its STILL sunny. Halleluyah!

Happy Monday

A xxxx