September; kids go back to school, nights draw in and mornings start later, chestnut trees full of conkers, hedgerows heavy with berries and just a week now till we go to Egypt.  My knee is still giving me hell which is not surprising considering the amount of pressure I've put on it recently.  I'll have to give up my Diary delivery;  I don't really want to and I haven't told Mike for sure but I'm really going to have to be grown up about the situation.  This knee problem has been with me for years on and off but in the past it has faded.  This time it's been constant and whilst it hasn't interfered with my diving, walking has been hell.  Yesterday morning I chanced it down to Miskin.  The weather was really nice and warm with little wind.  A heavy dew meant the grass was wet but the fields had been cut and my feet stayed dry.  The walk to the cricket field was ok; we took our time, Suki sniffed where she wanted to and I took in the autumnal feel, leaves changing colour etc.  It was lovely.  As we made our way back up and across the field, the pain started.  By the time we reached the gates I was in agony.  It was going to be a slow walk home.  Suki didn't help.  She found the trails from rabbits and was pretending to be a puppy again.  No amount of shouting had any affect, she was nose down, going backwards and forwards; I was afraid I would lose her and there was little I could do about it.  Eventually she gave up and we made our way slowly down to the gate by the church.  If I'd have had a mobile phone with me I'd have contacted Sandra for assistance.  We were still some 2 miles from home.  Somehow we managed to make it down to the cemetery.  I took a breather; the pain eased, but started agin as soon as I began walking.  I rolled the elasticated bandages down and that helped.  We,  made it back but what should have been a pleasure turned into a nightmare.  After breakfast I decided to go fishing, well, you've got to do something; I was missing diving but looking at the trees bending in the wind, and the darkening skies, I'd made a good decision.  So, armed with a tin of luncheon meat and some sweetcorn I went down to the lake.  The wind was affecting the surface.  I chose peg 18.  It's been ages since I've fished here but it was pretty sheltered and looked comfy.  The fishing was great, once I'd managed to find the fish.  They were straight out in front of me and feeding on the bottom - 20 - 28 feet.  I had several commons, a nice leather, and a mirror carp, as well as lots of bream and two big roach; all took the meat.  I listened to radio four and later to the football on radio five.  It rained, but not enough to make me pack up and leave. 

I left around 5-00 or just after the football finished. (Blackburn Rovers won again!!)  By the time I got home it was raining steadily; we took Suki around the field but it was a short walk and went home for tea - chicken etc.  Later we watched telly, the usual, Corrie, more rubbish and then a thought provoking play about a family - mum, dad and two teenage sons.  So what you may ask but with one of the boys being downs syndrome, there was plenty to make you think (and realise how lucky you are).  The programme finished at 10-30.  We watched the news and then went to sleep.  My knee's still aching.