I was going to have prawn cocktail (seems to be back in fashion again) and grilled sea bass with Caesar salad – but then my Mum wanted those (she has a tendency always to chose what the other person went for) so I chose something different – oriental fish soup followed by salmon teriyaki. We also had some chunky chips (very naughty) and Mum had a Kir Royale. Nice to be “ladies that lunch” for a change – I even wore my pearl necklace.

Then we went and bought some clothes for my Mum to wear to go out to a Michelin starred restaurant in London. In our best family tradition we spent several hours looking round Lewis’ and M&S and finally bought some trousers and a top which she will think about for two days and then return.

So not seeing much of the garden or getting any walks in. Coming home tonight – the garden just smelt so lovely after the fumes of the City. The apple blossom is out, we have wild orchids coming through around the pool and a large tree I never noticed before has burst in to flower (as usual when I don’t know what something is – I just ask my Mum). And the first strawberries are nearly ripe.

Next week we will be back to normal though, and I suppose this teaches us to appreciate things more.

The picture was at 6:30 this morning….