@Red, I could do a Friday most weeks but it's the one day of the week when the afternoon/evening trains out of Paddington are guaranteed to be standing room only, and three hours of lurching around is not enjoyable for dowagers, so I'd still prefer mid-week.
Re the downsizing and the loss of the view, it will be a very very sad day indeed when we bid it farewell, but we are out on a limb, well away from family and friends living here. It's been great but it was a decision dictated by work, and when that tie is gone, so shall we. We plan to find something smaller and simple that we can lock up and leave for much of the winter. DH grew up in Asia and misses the warmth and light, for health reasons in part, so we are minded to explore new places a few months at a time while we can. And I shan't miss the blinking huge precipice of garden we own. DS has done sterling work (for his pocket money) since he was big enough but for some reason is reluctant to continue while he's working all hours in a kitchen.
Quietly pleased with today's casual monochrome (navy) look for a haircut. The Cos wide leg jeans (which, now they've been washed, fall rather nicely) navy jumper over a long length T shirt and the navy down blazer with my fancy silver and pony trainers plus a multi-colour digital print scarf that reverses to plain grey. And comfortable with it!