So here we are, in the hottest part of the UK year, and I'm unable to do things most of the day because of the heat. That doesn't seem to phaze Real Life, of course, which just keeps piling it on.

Short result: Somewhere Else Entirely may be delayed for the next two months or so. See below for details.

What's been happening recently to cause all this upheaval? Silly little things, really, but they all mount up.

The first item is the fence which blew down last winter. The guy next door has been nagging me to fix it ever since (yes, I know) and I finally found some reputable chaps to come and replace the whole of it. I'll spare you the technical problems but it was ten panels, five of which were between our houses. The rotten posts were replaced by concrete ones and the new fence looks really good and should last a good long while.

Of course, that meant I needed to have a new side gate, since the post is now concrete and is actually upright, unlike the previous one, so the old gate doesn't fit and can't be adjusted. I've just spent an hour preparing the wood which I cut yesterday. I have a window of perhaps 2-3 hours each day before the sun comes round to the area I work in.

Because of the medications I'm not supposed to go out in direct sunlight because of increased risk of skin cancer. This makes doing anything in the garden 'very interesting' at the moment, and also impacts things like shopping and going anywhere (like the hospital, or airports).

Next factor. Remember that son in New York who got married in February? The twins arrived at the end of April and all seemed well. Until they somehow succumbed to the plague now visiting NY amongst other cities: bedbugs. End result, unexpected move out and fumigators in the apartment, then clean up all the soft furnishings and clothing everyone possesses. Do you know how many clothes and other fabric items two baby girls have? Frightening.

They're back now but are wilting under the strain. My partner is flying over on Monday to help out for two weeks and in three weeks I will be following her over for another two. That means, of course, I'll be chief cook and bottlewasher while she's away and less time to write. While I'm away I can't really write either, I'm going to be feeding one end and cleaning the other of both babies to give Mom a rest. I have no problem handling babies - although I haven't had the practice for a while, I must admit.

We had planned to go over together in September but events have forced us to split our visits to provide extra cover. We still plan to go again, together, but it might be put off until later in the year because of the earlier visits.

SEE: what can I say. There are interesting developments projected and I'll no doubt continue to create dialog in my head whenever I get a spare moment. I may have time issues but nobody thought fit to inform my muse. There's also a 'side project' which seems to be occupying some of my time but I want to write that one out before any of it gets posted.

My projected flying date is 21st August but I'll write another blog before I go, as my partner will be back by then and circumstances may have changed. By the time I fly out I want to have SEE #110 posted, but only time will tell if I have enough time, energy or peace to write anything down.

Penny