The Bean Counter and I opened our eyes this morning at the City Campus after a very enjoyable evening spent in the company of friends we have known for longer than quite a few countries have existed.

The morning passed in the kind of adventure prep not often documented: fridge sorting, final vacuuming, and generally scrimmaging to create the illusion that we are neat, clean organised folk for our city-situated house-minder, the Esteemed Auntie Joss (incidentally mother to holiday Keeper of the Homestead, Cousin Lucas). Of course, she’s known us long enough to wonder who we think we’re kidding, but she’s way too nice to say so.

We also braved the stupidly crazy Black Friday crowds to get those final holiday provisions (bug repellent being top of the list) which, all things considered, goes a long way to explaining why, on returning to the Homestead, I retired for a little snooze.

No, it had nothing to do with last night’s bottle of wine (how dare you!) and some would say it was a waste of an afternoon.

Looking out with well-rested eyes and ache-free bones, having received Farm Girl’s call that dinner was not far off, it doesn’t feel like it was wasted in the slightest