Phew, I need a break. I get into work, the phone starts ringing, the demands start flowing, the letters need writing and the reports comiling. It doesnt stop all day. I generally work through lunch and even though I work part time - 3 days a week- it feels like I've been through a wringer. Is it because I am over a Certain Age? Is it because it's stressful and I get stressed? Is it because I don't really want to be here anymore?

The only thing that keeps me going ( apart from the pittance I am paid) is the fact that perhaps I can ensure that development puts back more than its takes out, or that I get some land reclaimed or something. But, these opportunities are getting less and less these days as our poor crowded island gets more and more pressure to build, develop, whatever and all the birdies are going as their habitat is lost, and the butterflies, and whatever else is still left. I havent seen a sparrow in our garden for - well it must be 10 years at least. Why not? No-one can answer my question. I wonder if I'll see the swifts again this year? They lodge in our roof for the summer. That is the roof of the turret- a singularly eccentric Victorian feature, but as its over 3 stories and Health and Safety dictates scaffolding everytime something needs doing over 2 stories - then they are going to continue to be left in peace and quiet- if they come back at all. I so like to hear and see them, swooping and diving and calling. It's lovely. I suppose global warming will wipe them out, as it is the polar bear and our hedgehogs.

How can we kill our hedgehogs? Apparently the winters are so mild now they are not hibernating properly, and are staying up all winter. But there's no food for them , so they are dying of starvation. How can we do this to these poor little animals?

Yes, ditch your 4x4s, take your 2x2s and walk, give up the homes abroad, support your local services and shops and give up flying and going on cruises- planes and boats are terrible polluters. We could all go back to horse drawn transport or bikes, or develop solar powered vehicles. We would learn to live in communities again instead of hiding ourselves away in big cars and ubercool flats trying desperately to be trendy but actually probably being very lonely.

Ah well. In my dreams. Back to starving hedgehogs and pollution- such is a planners lot.....