Last week our grandson Oliver turned 12, daughter Jo met a nice chap, daughter Paula’s partner Graham returned from Afghanistan in one piece, our eldest grand daughter Ellis fell off her moped, daughter Katharine got the all-clear on a biopsy and our younger grand-daughters got excellent school reports. That’s the family news cleared up.

Now to the home front; here in Sedbergh it’s been all go. Never mind the Grand National, welcome to the Speedy DIY Stakes. My husband Keith, never one to do things by half, started a DIY marathon and I hadn‘t even nagged him. He tackled our bathroom first, not a task to be taken lightly as the walls in our house have been up since George II’s funeral.

Next he decided we needed new carpets, in the living room and bedroom. Unusually the carpets were chosen without an argument. Unfortunately the carpet men were arriving Tuesday at 10am, leaving us two days in which to clear the rooms and paint the walls.

No problem for ‘Super Keith’, who will put his underpants on over his jeans and I’ll knock up a red cloak and just like greased lightning it will all be done.

Talking of greased lightning, just before the DIY took hold I had an evening out. I went to see the students of Settlebeck in a production of Grease. The young people were slick and well rehearsed. The whole thing was impressive, with singing and dancing throughout, a great fight scene and brilliant solos.

As I watched the youngsters perform their version of this iconic film I was transported back to 1978, when I attended the first showing of the film in the West End, having won tickets in a competition. I remember feeling the overture music wash over me and I still feel the same excitement even now when I hear it. What a film, just wonderful John Travolta at his best – shame the leading lady was so plain. Just kidding, don’t think anyone could be more lovely than Olivia – or stub out a fag with such grace.