June 16th (Mon)

N is on sprightly form and I can't for the life of me work out how he managed to rack up 19 minors and three serious on his last test. His driving seems pretty damn good to me. At the other end of the scale, a further two hours of S brings progress, but at a pace that would embarrass a snail with a zimmer frame. Oh Lord it is hard,but she is the loveliest girl. Truly beautiful, her sister is a catwalk model. She has stunning classical African looks, which are at odds with a perfect, utterly classy English accent. She talks little while struggling, but always opens up on the drive home. She seems very sanguine about her lack of progress, and I tell her I will cancel her test without any histrionics resulting.
Then to R. It's her 17th birthday. I search for her house on Faifrord Leas, the modern day village development, which I actually think is rather well done. It transpires that they live in the original farmhouse, which once stood in open fields but is now surrounded by the development the locals refer to as Toytown. It's a massive house, and R has been given a very upmarket C1 for her seventeenth birthday, today.
I wonder where their cash comes from and dig a bit with no cogent answer appearing. She is a bright and lively girl, but nothing suggests a background to explain all the property. Her Dad works in prison with sex offenders,her Mum in prison admin. Her sister was actually a screw, a thought I find tantalising, especially if she is as pretty as R. More digging to be done. Well, she has booked 10 hours!
Was meant to be going to London in the evening to meet R and see Vince Cable speaking.Sadly R texts and says he can 't. I am tempted by dinner in La Genova, but reckon this'd be mean on H's birthday, so ask her out for a ruby instead.
We go to the Coco Tamarind in Askett. Very well run, nicely appointed, nice crocks and cut. H loves it but the food tries to do without the oils and greases that are the staple of "Indian" cuisine. Been here before.Think Tiger Garden in Marlow and Chutney in the erstwhile home of the Shaheen. This sets us back £50. Not sure how quickly I'd rush back.