WELL, it’s been quite a week. I thought I would have a bit of a laugh and make myself a hat for my big day at Ascot — not just any hat, you understand — but a copy of the ‘pretzel’ as worn by Princess Beatrice at the Royal wedding.

It was not quite as easy as I had imagined, but I persevered and made a rather large pastiche — a bit of a parody, or so I thought.

But when I wore it on the day and went into the Royal enclosure, I was more than a little stunned to find that people were taking it seriously and even inquiring if it was ‘the hat’.

Mind you, when you see some of the hats that are being sported, perhaps it’s not so surprising.

The occasion seems, on the face of it, a little frivolous, but the business it generates must be immense.

They reckon that 70,000 people were there on Friday — that’s about 35,000 expensive hats — so, all-in-all it’s a good thing for the economy, not to mention the champagne industry.

We all had a great time, in spite of dodging the odd shower or two.

While we were on our way home I got a frantic phone call to say that our house had been broken into and the police were attending.

The birds had flown, however, scared by the loud alarm and the fact that the police response was so immediate.

I was relieved to find that Baby my little shih tzu was OK and had not been hurt.

I just hope that the spineless, lazy, idle, lounging vagabonds are caught. It wasn’t the best end to the week, but there is always tomorrow.

I had lunch at the new cafe/restaurant that the Deaf Society has opened in King Street — what a great idea.

The staff are all deaf and are working while they train and so are being absorbed into everyday life.

Deafness is so very isolating. They say at least the blind get sympathy, but the deaf only ridicule.