him having gone his own way.

 In the morning there is clear sight that the day is going nowhere. Stroke the cat and she rolls over onto her back. Pat her on the stomach, the immediate reaction is her attempt to eviscerate the hand on her tummy. Cats are like that, it is probably some inbuilt reflex over which they have no control.

Resolve that something must be done, something, anything constructive or even not. But what?

Sort the clothing make the bed, take down the used crockery to the dishwasher. Put on the coat and make sure that there is a cloth bag in the camera bag. A cloth bag for the shopping. Go out to the car which was left parked in the general parking spots before the Christmas and settle into it. Pleasantly enough, the engine starts smoothly, the whole machine runs well. The recent journey to Cologne and back did the car good, so it would seem. All the repairs seem well run in, even if that is a ridiculous statement.

Do the shopping, buy bread and eggs, salt and vinegar. Allow a cheap bar of chocolate and two tins of joghurt, not forgetting a package of pre-sliced cheese. Also, the various materials needed for the dishwasher, the water softening salt and the detergent. Take all that to the bakery, and sit down to have a cup of coffee and a sandwich.

This is luxury.

The coffee and the sandwich is the luxury, not the shopping.

Take it all home, the wife is up, and is happily sulking in the sitting room, a silent criticism of her husband for him having gone his own way.