P lets me do quite a few jobs by myself these days. I've become really expert with the loo plunger. P says I'm better than he is at it, but I think it's because he doesn't really like these blocked loo jobs. Frankly, if it wasn't for the money I'd run a mile, but it pays really well.

We spent nearly the whole weekend in a new block of apartments behind the Commercial Road, just tightening up all the loose radiator connections and leaky pipes before they put the carpets in. Whoever did the original plumbing contract wanted shooting, according to P. In truth, considering there were about 200 apartments in the block, we didn't find many actual faults, but as P says, there shouldn't have been any. A leak from a 20p junction can ruin a grand's worth of carpet.

Terrific views from the top floors of the block, across the river, toy boats, toy streets full of toy traffic, old churches standing in little patches of green among all the concrete and tarmac. I think it was the first time I'd ever been that high with the opportunity to spend time looking out the window. P showed me where our house is, but there was too much concrete between to see the actual building, though I could see the top of the old factory in the next street.

Less than a month to go to the trip. That's what I'm looking forward to now.