It was wonderful to team up with Charlene this morning as we visited Ms C in Fishponds to help out with a few tasks. I was fascinated that they both spoke the same South Chinese dialect too, although I couldn't be sure that they weren't discussing my shoddy workmanship when they weren't speaking in my language!

Before we set to work in the garden, Ms C asked if we could take down a glass plate covering her light in the bathroom so that she could give it a good clean and Charlene kindly held the ladder steady as I climbed up to unscrew and then re-screw said plate once it was clean.

Our main task today was to finish off putting the mulch around Ms C's back garden, which we managed to do in an almost unspoken understanding of each other's roles in this particular exercise at which point Ms C declared it was time for a tea break.

Following a good chat over a cup of tea with croissants, suitably refreshed, we tackled the last part of the mission by cutting Ms C's lawn - me mowing, Charlene strimming - whilst the sun shone down on us, and then we were done.

A lovely way to spend a warm, sunny November morning!