OurSpace

This wide-angle photograph was taken looking South-Eastwards from our house yesterday evening. You can just see, on the extreme left, a branch or two of an old russet tree - always quite productive . Then comes a rather straggly Buddleia davidii: I didn't cut it back hard enough last year. To its right is our very vigorous rosemary bush, with a heavily-laden Victoria plum tree behind it - more about that anon. Behind that is one of our outbuildings, and the neighbours' coach house. You can see a line of climbing and rambling roses, Winter honeysuckle and Philadelphus: I planted these along our boundary when we arrived here in 1995. On the far right is the corner of the next door house.

Dominating the centre of the photograph is a Wellingtonia in next door's garden: home to much birdlife, but standing at quite a disconcerting angle I always think. And above it all, a marvellous double rainbow.

Getting the pitch of the hall

Normally, at 9 o'clock on a May evening, I would be in the garden - here it is on 11th May last year - and indeed that is where I was this time yesterday. But the weather has changed. Back into Winter gear, I almost feel tempted to turn the heating on again. Amazing there was any play at Lord's in the First Test. Not that I could follow it much today, as I've been busy at work. Only seven more days at the office till I retire: only four more days wearing a suit. (We "dress down" on Fridays. Oh, I forgot: I have to dress "up" tomorrow: a legal colleague, Hugh Jessop has died: I must go to the Cheltenham College Chapel to pay my last respects at his memorial service.)