My daughter arrived with a bag and said she was staying tonight. I complained about the shoes landing in the hall before she had removed the second one. Standard welcome. Truth is I was pleased. She made tea and told me about a dispute with her flatmate while I pretended not to be rearranging the evening around her being there. When she said she might go out later, I felt a wee drop of disappointment and was annoyed at myself for it. She had not booked an evening entertaining her mother. We ate together anyway. Her shoes are still in the hall. No further complaint has been issued.

Stuck on a crossword answer that fitted every crossing letter but made no sense of the clue. Rang Mum, who asked whether I was sure about the answer above it. Naturally I was sure. Naturally it was wrong. I like the bit after a correction when several unrelated clues suddenly work, though I could do without providing her the opportunity quite so often. Kept thinking about why I defended the first answer. It looked neat on the page and I remembered being pleased when I found it. Not evidence, then. We argued about a second clue for another ten minutes. That one I checked afterwards, and I was right. Have not yet decided whether to ring back.

Dry for once. Took the dog round Queens Park without checking the pace or adding a diversion to make it count as exercise. He investigated one tree for long enough that I noticed how firmly I was gripping the lead. Loosened my hand. My back was stiff from the afternoon's desk session but eased once we reached the slope. On the way down I shortened my stride and the knees were less argumentative. Home with warm legs and cold ears. Sat on the floor to untie a boot and the lurcher immediately occupied my usual seat. Getting up again required the coffee table. A reasonably sound body, provided suitable furniture is available.