LUNCHTIME WANDERINGS

I walked around the lake at lunchtime today; I haven't done that for a while.

It was really pleasant. There were dragonflies buzzing through the shade, ducks shaking themselves dry as they hopped out of the water and bumblebees sniffing at flowers in the sunshine.

The Intrepids are at the beach today. It's my Dad's birthday and they've decided to hit the sand and the sea, sitting by the English Channel, talking about the weather, the state of the family, whether or not you can see France, who puts the dustbins out or the Northern Lights, or whatever else it is they talk about when they're on their own.

I got him a pot of chutney for his birthday. I tell you what, he loved it as well! He said it would go really well with the cheese my sister got him. My Mum rolled her eyes, knowing that practically every dinner-time for the next few weeks, he'll pick up his cutlery and then stop to say, "Ooh, you know what'd go well with this?" and we'd be into that whole Things-You-Shouldn't-Eat-With-Chutney conversation again.

There were also a lot of people around the lake today - the usual crowd of number-crunchers and suited sunglasses. It has always amazed me how frantically busy some people have allowed themselves to become. Sometimes it's great just to forget about work and watch the way the insects chase each other across the lillies or the red kite circles above the trees.

Then again, I've managed to double-book my evening again, so maybe it is good to also pay attention and stop day dreaming sometimes.