This week on Almost the Weekend, Colin turns out to have four legs, Honey is back at the vet, and the conservatory roof gets the clean of its life. Almost Fit continues with the October step challenge, and Mr Almost is clocking over a thousand more steps a day than she needs. Mrs Almost, on the other hand, has been poorly with a week of woman flu, so the gym has been replaced by sympathy not working out. The bike and the new workout bench will be back at the weekend. Honey is back in the news. Her cough returned, so it was another trip to the vet, and this time she has been prescribed codeine, which is a cough suppressant. Getting half a tiny tablet into a Chihuahua is quite a skill, and melted mozzarella turned out to be the winning trick. Today was a better day, and we are waiting to see how she gets on. Please keep her in your thoughts. A day out in Chichester with Mr Almost’s mum: a Lidl shop, a free coffee and a bacon roll at Caffè Nero, and a lovely change from the usual garden centre. That evening it was dinner with our sons in Brighton at Stone House, with stuffed-crust pizzas, hot honey and a rocky road dessert. Busy, but a lovely long day. Almost Blooming is all about what to plant now: garlic, onions and shallots, winter greens, and spring bulbs such as daffodils, crocus and tulips (squirrels permitting). The leaves are starting to fall, and the conservatory roof got a proper brush and wash in under half an hour, saving fifty pounds and giving us a YouTube video. The Christmas cactus, though, is not playing ball and has no buds, so do send us your tips! It was a family-friendly film week too. Toy Story 5 finally arrived on Disney+, bringing back Tom Hanks and Tim Allen, with Andy’s little sister Bonnie, a story about friendship and how technology is taking over from toys. Mrs Almost is also now aware that Buzz is not George Clooney. At the cinema we saw Verity, the erotic psychological thriller starring Anne Hathaway, Dakota Johnson and Josh Hartnett, based on the Colleen Hoover novel. A strong cast and a very strange ending: a solid three out of five, and worth seeing if you have a Cineworld card. On the telly, we have been watching Colin from Accounts on BBC iPlayer, the Australian love story of two people and one fantastic four-legged friend, created by and starring Harriet Dyer and Patrick Brammall. All three series are out and it ends perfectly. One hundred percent recommended. Almost Edible was an Aegean chicken and rice bake from the BBC Good Food app: chicken breast, red peppers, onion, olives, spices and basmati rice with a litre of stock, all in one tray, thirty minutes covered and thirty uncovered. Spicy, fragrant, enough for six and the best thing we have eaten in ages. Tipple of the Week is Vive Tangz Sour Pineapple from Aldi: a sugar-free, non-alcoholic fizzy drink that is properly sour and properly tangy. Surprisingly good, and there are other flavours to try. Pull up a chair. You’re one of us now. 🎙️ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mrandmrsalmost.substack.com