England lose 2-1 in extra time to Croatia. You’ll be able to tell I’m not a football supporter now from the next question. My vague recollection is that there are a number of good teams in South and Central America (and Mexico which is probably North). And yet we end up with four European teams in the semi-finals. Is that normal or not? The one thing I won’t miss is the chanting of a few years ago – “two world wars and one world cup” – because, if you hadn’t noticed, the most recent was 1966… Over fifty years ago. Actually I’d definitely have been rooting for England in the finals, otherwise you’d have to pretend to like the French.

Enough.

I’ve a short working week, deadline issues and a deluge of meetings to contend with. Although I THINK I’ve cracked it now. But at what cost to my poor old back and neck? I spent around eight hours on Monday hunched over a computer all told and about five hours on Tuesday pretty much straight through without a proper break. Wall-to-wall meetings yesterday of more that eight hours all told and the whole of this morning replicating Tuesday – six hours this time. And you know what? My back hurts. How strange is that? Not a lot… Okay, biker chick is home. So much for peace and quiet. And are any clients pleased with my efforts? No. I had one email (okay she sounded a little stressy but that’s not my problem, surely?) that made it sound like I’d been a naughty schoolboy. Not for a very long time I’ve not. Well, I got a neck massage from the wife, followed by the revelation of bailing daughter out of her liabilities YET AGAIN. Which negates the neck massage. Sigh.

The weather is a little less hot today

– actually, what with cloud and the odd spots of rain, it feels significantly cooler. So that makes me feel grumpier so what with clients, family and the weather everything feels a little bit glum today. Glum. Interesting word, short, succinct, to the point and only four letters. Just like f**k but not quite so rude. Now we’re hanging on a phone line waiting for someone to continue speaking to us. Muzak. Does anyone actually like it? Okay. That’s that sorted. A bit more of the family fortune passed on to the offspring before we die… Blimey, I am in a depressive mood. All ready for my day off tomorrow.

 All over for another four years