Wednesday, August 08, 2012

Lavender, mutton stew and waking words.

1. To brush against the lavender hedge on a still day.

2. Our mutton stew, frozen and reheated for rather longer than I meant, is meltingly tender, and the tomatoes in the gravy have become sweet and sticky and deep, deep red.

3. When I get into bed, Alec wakes, sits up and says: "Daddy?" When I speak, he says happily: "Mummy," and settles back down again.

Slow worm, peacock butterfly and striations.

1. A slow worm backs into his burrow, his mild resentful gaze holding ours. 2. Peacock butterfly -- Persian rug colours -- rests open in the...