Since my fellow GoodGymer Alan had beaten me to signing up for this week's Friday night shopping mission for Mr G, I sought consolation in the humble weeding task for the same gentleman at the same time.

I met Alan at Mr G's, and all three of us had a brief, casual chat about the afterlife, the karmic cycle and the prospect of reincarnation as a cat.

Then I promptly got on with my gardening job, as the days were getting shorter - I had about 30 minutes before the sun went down. The front garden was small, so I quickly pulled out the weeds, swept up most of the leaves and helped Mr G put his new houseplant in a pot.

I didn't get to catch a glimpse of the sunset, but I did catch a glimpse of Alan returning with the shopping - an equally wonderful sight that made me think life's good - before I ran back home.