Yesterday I had a day out with a very long-standing friend, including a wander along a canal where we passed these ducks who, until I got out my phone to snap their photo, were very much in a row.

Apparently the origin of the phrase about getting one's ducks in a row is something of a mystery.  My sense is that, in life, approximate alignment is about as good as it ever gets... just when I might think my ducks are in a row, one of them moves or something disturbs them.

This summer has been characterised by much that's unexpected, so if my metaphorical mallards are as well aligned as the ducks in the photo, I reckon I'm doing okay!