This photo really ‘means something’ today. It’s a depiction of the scene I find myself a part in tonight!

I’m staying with my friends, Ginny, Nigel, Kelly and Emma and they have a personal trainer who comes to their house and puts them through a form of self-inflicted torture every week for an hour. It’s Ginny’s personal treat to herself as she, like me, struggles to stay fit with the gruelling schedule we both keep to hold down our stressful and hard-working jobs.

There is all sorts of activity going on out in the garden, involving heavy weights, contortions and shouting of ‘give me ten of those’ from the trainer so this ornament is a good reflection of what’s going on.

What I love about being here is that I feel completely at home with this family – if I can’t be at home with my own, there are not many places that seem nicer than being with friends and I have been lucky enough to experience the hospitality of two groups of friends for the last two evenings.

It is, of course, nice for me to be in a functioning home rather than a building site as we are at home but I can’t gloat about that because I feel so guilty at leaving DM to the builders for the second week in a row.

So, after the brooding sky in last night’s pic turned into huge thunderstorms and torrential rain overnight and into today, there is still a humid, storm-laden atmosphere but at least I am comfortable in the fresh air coming blowing in through the open door. I do feel a bit of a lightweight as I hear their exertions but I have dragged my suitcase around the world today so I’ve not had an exercise-less day myself.

Last year, I was away from home too - but in a crummy hotel.....even so I ended up with a self-portrait that I have ended up quite liking!