Miff update: she has caught a mouse! A small headless corpse was found on the sitting room floor. Well done Miff.

However, she is now being bullied by a very ballsy squirrel. I came out into the garden and discovered Miff hiding behind a large pot of cyclamen whilst the squirrel glared menacingly at her. The stand-off lasted two and a half minutes, then Miff bolted. The squirrel sauntered right past me, paused to jiggle its tail before bounding neatly onto the garden table.

It looked to me as if it was smirking.

UPDATE: The little bastard has been helping itself to my tulip bulbs. It will rue the day.

Weather update: Dire. We're all going to drown.

I have noticed a correlation between depressing economic and meterological news and having the urge to make enormous hearty casseroles.

Does anyone else do this or is it just me?