Early risers, tulip and violet.

1. It's 9am, and Mrs Law is hanging out the washing, while Alec looks on from his bouncy chair. What a change these lighter mornings have wrought -- two weeks ago this hour would have found them still in bed.

2. When I go to hang out the washing, I see that one of my tulips -- they were stashed away at the back of the house -- has nearly flowered. I bring the planter round so we can see it from the kitchen window.

3. So far I have stepped over -- and enjoyed -- the violet that has come up between the paving stones in our back yard.