It’s a tricky time of year.

I have a few things that have to be attended to every month or even annually.

There’s the monthly trip to the chemist to collect the sack full of pills, potions and indeed notions. If I leave it late we run out of medications which can cause a few problems. If I’m early they complain that I’m not due them yet. When are they due? Why, the 25th of course.

I managed to sort that out by pointing out to the pharmacist that if I asked for the monthly hoard on Christmas Day that it’s unlikely I would get any service . She saw I had a point and agreed t have them ready on Monday. That leaves her free to tend to all the others who will doubtless thoughtlessly leave things too late.

Then there’s the dog. Penny is on a course of monthly injections. She’s due around the 25th. I think it rather unlikely that the vets’ practice will be open on the 25th this month. Do I go early or late? I’ll work that out in due course.

The car is due its test in the New Year. That’s fine and sorted as there is a small bit of a backlog so I’m booked in mid summer.

I received a notice yesterday that my driving licence is due for renewal. That worried me for a bit until I checked and found my current one doesn’t expire until February. Cheeky bastards. The informed me I could do it online so out of interest I tried the site. I clicked the “Log in” button but it doesn’t do anything. Typical!

The groceries are sorted as I booked a slot for delivery next week.

And the oil tank was filled yesterday.

It’s all a bit of a juggling act.