Saturday, February 19, 2011

Easy morning, band leader and sponge cake.

1. Once Nick has left for work, I bring Alec into our bed, and we spend the morning feeding and dozing and chatting.

2. "What's his name?" asks Granny again. "Alexander -- Alec." And she sings Alexander's Ragtime Band for him, filling in the lines about Swanee River that I had forgotten. Later she picks up When We Were Very Young and treats us to They're Changing Guards at Buckingham Palace.

3. The mother has brought a cake filled with marmalade. The bitterness works very well with the sweet sponge.

Gift, web and route planning.

1. As I leave the field, there's a rush of wings and a cackling, crackling cry. THUD! A magpie has dropped a dead vole at my feet. 2. We...