“How much?” I enquire.

“A new laptop for you and a new sewing machine for me!” comes the reply.

Steve and Liz go for a walk and leave me to my administrative chores, so I am able to bring my journal and e-mails up to date. When they return, Liz gets on line and searches for laptop bargains, until the time arrives to leave for the game. Today the Cubs are visiting the Oakland Athletics, at Phoenix Municipal Stadium, a few blocks east of the hotel.

This is another beautiful Arizona spring day – temperature in the eighties, cloudless sky, gentle breeze – and we sit with our snacks and drinks just enjoying being there.

The Cubs are pitching their opening day starter, Carlos Zambrano, and he acquits himself well before being withdrawn early in preparation for the real thing. The game is the reverse of yesterday. The Cubs score a run at the start of the third, and then load the bases. Johnson is hit by a pitch, to walk in a second run, and then Soto hits a grand slam. Cubs lead 6-0.

Almost all of the starting players are withdrawn, and the Athletics chip away at the lead, so much so that it ends 8-8. Oakland is leaving for the coast straight after the game, so the teams decide against extra innings. I have just witnessed my second 8-8 tie in three days – what odds could I have got against that on Monday morning?

This is the Athletics final game in Arizona this year, so the announcer sends them on their way with good wishes for a successful season, and signs off with the epic “Happy Trails to you”, by Roy Rogers and Dale Evans.

We head straight for Tempe Mall, and within minutes I have purchased a new laptop which, as you can see, works perfectly. We continue to Scottsdale, and head for Don and Charlie’s, a sports bar packed to the roof with sports memorabilia. We dine well in a splendidly convivial atmosphere, and head off into the Arizona night. We drive to the top of a butte, for a spectacular view of Phoenix by night, and then return to our respective lodgings.

I spend the rest of the evening setting up my new toy, feeling much more comfortable now that I’m in touch with you all again.