Three Beautiful Things

1. This morning, I'm piling into a car with friends to escape into the Weald, where we will visit a garden planted with 45,000 tulips.2. Slender white 'Triumphator' tulips still carrying drops from the shower we have just missed.3. Nick and I split a...

1. A meeting that is over by 9.30am.2. A big full moon is stuck on next door's chimney pots.3. By my bed is a large and comforting book of Irish fairy tales that I can use to read myself into sleep. The last two stories involved heroes whose values o...

1. Smacking a hardboiled egg to break the shell.2. Pale green leaves on the huge oak tree at the corner of The Grove.3. There is nothing quite like hearing about the history of diseases to make you feel grateful for living in the twenty-first century...

1. Smearing a bit of filler into the holes in Alec's bedroom wall where we've taken out screws and fixings. We're summoning the energy to redecorate, so I thought I might as well do the filling.2. I only realise when I have a cup of tea in my ha...

1. I murmur an acknowledging greeting to a passing bin man.He is a well brought-up African and replies with eye contact and a warm 'Good morning. How are you?'I then have to respond with information about my wellness, and a polite inquiry about his.

1. No tadpoles that I can see -- but something flips in the water just beyond my field of focus.2. I take the muddy path so I can check on the orchids -- their spotted leaves are present among fine new grass blades.3. Nick has bought the better kind...

1. Getting back just before the rain.2. Smearing filler into wall holes.3. We have had a collection of empty Prime bottles for a while now because when this influencer-powered energy drink first came out, the children were sure they would be valuable...