A Quiet Life II: a moment in time

It was snowing outside again today, and the wind had an ice-cream headache cold edge to it. Not a day for lingering outside and I want to write so I ended up flicking through a notebook for ideas and came across a few words written in the summer while sitting on the beach in the …

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A Quiet Life II: shades of change

Winter in England tends to be a grey affair, thick cloud flattening the sky and the light, the short drab days making you want to hibernate. Lights are on most of the day and there’s often a creeping damp cold in the air. Today’s a case in point, wet, windy and very grey, a typical …

A Quiet Life II: walking

Getting outside, fresh air, going for a walk — long or short — is an important part of my life. I need it every day. During the UK’s COVID-related lockdowns it’s taken on a real importance, and gives at least a little freedom, although inevitably for a lot of that time it’s meant walking close …

A Quiet Life II: the joy in small things

Here in the UK we’ve just entered our third period of COVID-related lockdown in 10 months. We’re all fed up at this point, and even if vaccinations are being rolled out across the country it’s going to be some time before restrictions are lifted. And it’s happening during the hardest time of year when skies …

Wordless Wednesday #70: sun through the trees

Wordless Wednesday #69: chive flowers

Wordless Wednesday #68: cirrus sky

Wordless Wednesday #67: dandelions

A Quiet Life #4: the lemon tree

In a pot in the garden is a small lemon tree. It's about 70cm tall, covered in fierce thorns and, at this time of year, is looking a little dishevelled after a winter spent outside in a climate it's not suited to. About five years old, it is the sole survivor of school holiday project …

Wordless Wednesday #66: wild garden