Herself being out and about on her various retirement matters, left me in sole charge of the tv control for the evening. Usually I avoid the "babble box" between about 5 and 9pm, the early evening game shows followed by a protracted session of people she would cross the road to avoid in real life, yelling at each other...

But today, freedom beckoned! Watched Time Team, a well-worn favourite for its formulaic, knockabout quality. On to Michael Portillo in America, which seems to have stimulated his ever-exuberant dress sense and provided some pleasing early-evening distraction. Drifted away to make some tea, then back to a fortuitous discovery; Remains Of The Day on one of the movie channels lurking in the lower reaches of the TV guide screen.

Best evenings tv I've had in a long while...