Just back from York races. While we were there a friend texted me with something that was spotted in an ad feature for a health and beauty spa "Go on, soil yourself !" - brilliant!

York racecourse was packed. We managed to pick a winner each but the best bit for me is peering through the binoculars at the moneyed set across the track. You can tell the real money from the nouveau stuff. I've never seen such fat old mutton dressed as spring lamb. Backless and almost frontless dresses and stiletto heels just weren't the right things to wear in biting gales and feather designer hats look distinctly comical when worn at a tilt after too many glasses of cheap bubbly.

Our tilt and slide patio doors were fitted exactly ten years ago and recently the top runners broke. We persevered for as long as we could and then one morning the whole door fell on me as I opened it - time to get serious about getting it fixed. I rang the company who fitted it and someone came out two weeks later. He told us that he would try his best to get the parts but didn't hold out much hope because "designs had moved on in ten years". I couldn't really understand why they didn't keep parts for doors that they had fitted in the past. After hearing nothing for a further two weeks I rang again. The news was bad - he had tried everyone, everywhere and absolutely no-one had the parts so he would put an estimate in the post for a new door.

I went on the internet and without even having a clue about the make of door or what the technical term was for the runners, within five minutes I'd found the parts, rung the man who stocked them, ordered and paid for them. The helpful supplier even talked me throughthe fitting process. They arrived the following day and are now fitted. All for £10.30. I just love that sort of result!

The Innocent Fete in Regents Park was great - and how the organisers managed to choose London's hottest weekend of the year I just don't know.

Our younger son works for this fantastic little drinks company so the whole family, including cousins and great nephews went along with around 50,000 other like-minded people. In sweltering temperatures and under clear blue skies we saw duck herding, welly wanging, ate some of the best food ever at sensible prices and enjoyed free Innocent smoothies of all colours and descriptions.

And in the middle of Sunday afternoon we boogied to the fantastic soul sounds of Geno Washington and the Ram Jam Band! When I heard that the band would be appearing I emailed all the children because I couldn't believe that this icon of the '60s would be in the park. "Who is he?" they all wanted to know. So just for once I was one up and I was able to give them the low down!

and the Innocent son was in the Drum Club

To round off the weekend we went to a performance of Othello at The Globe Theatre. I felt really sorry for the people who were standing (did I spot Sir Gerry Robinson?). We could see them wilting as the two-hour first half drew to a close.

It was lovely to have all the family together for the weekend and good to see the Innocent son who will soon be off to Hamburg for four months.

On our returne I found this little chap had taken up residence in our garden. He seems to love apples.

I am absolutely sick and tired of people referring to anyone over 50 as "the elderly". On the breakfast news the other day they showed pictures of a sign which is to be put over some supermarket parking bays. The sign showed two decrepit bent-over individuals who I would have guessed were 120. Apparently the sign signals that these bays can be used by the over-50s. Then a new mobile phone was shown, the size of a brick with big numbers and a huge screen - again, for the over 50s. I DO NOT want a special parking bay or a mammoth mobile phone - THANK YOU VERY MUCH!

I listen to Amy Winehouse, I go to music festivals, I don't walk with a stoop or with the help of a stick and nor do any of my friends. Doris, my mother's friend in Scotland, who is 91 would also be extremely insulted. Imagine if they brought out a special phone for Muslims or parking bays for gays - DO YOU SEE WHAT I'M SAYING......?

The Artist son found these in his garden this morning

My perseverance paid off! For weeks I have been destroying shelves of neat Innocent smoothie cartons in a quest to find the ones with the London son on. I have found two (needed 6 - friends, relatives etc).

We went to Dublin to see REM

and they were on top form. We were practically on the stage, it was such a small theatre. The band were rehearsing tracks for their new album, and I'll be interested to see which ones they select from the ones they played that night.

We took a tour bus around that fair city and are determined to return. We loved Southern Ireland - the people, the food and the scenery. The view from our hotel bedroom was just beautiful

I ate far too much though - Irish bread is the best in the world.

Last night I had a call from the organisers of the Knowsley Hall Music Festival - in response to my letters and emails of complaint (I've now had blood tests, lung function tests and x rays following that nightmare day in the mud). No refund will be given but - wait for it - I will be receiving two free tickets to next year's event. Not in a million years!

The Innocent Drinks son did a stint with the company's grassy van at the local village show.

I was amazed to find that my raspberry jam had won first prize, my Victoria sponge won a 2nd and I won a trophy. That evening one of the organisers rang to tell me I'd won first prize in the raffle - £100! Someone was looking after me that day.

I would normally have shared my winnings out but there was something I'd been wanting for a while - an ipod. The artist son persuaded me to go for the 8gb version and it arrived yesterday. I've now downloaded - or is it uploaded three episodes of Ricky Gervais. The trouble is I find I attract some very strange looks when I'm walking round to the bank laughing to myself. From now on I'll have to confine its use to the house and garden.

Our daughter went to London for the start of the Tour de France last weekend. She sent a picture to our mobile phones and we immediately turned the TV on, certain that there would be reports of a girl with a camera getting in the way of 400 cyclists and causing a huge pile up.