Lavender, mutton stew and waking words.

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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.

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