A heron flew over


Yes: close down over this house - granny's and beloved's house - on their desert island, around lunchtime yesterday, as it was beginning to rain. It made Granny's day. What strange things can lift you - equally strange can knock you down. (Like mysterious disappearance of ancient but much loved brown shoes from Hobbes. How can they disappear? - only two or three places where they could be. They aren't there!!!)

From distance, land looks arid as ever. Close up little miraculous green shoots and leaves are coming. Miracle of a dry land. Snails know it; they are appearing from nowhere, stuck to walls and fences.

Actionman has done his job. His dog tried to savage granny in her own house. His wife brought a Christmas present - some kind of aromatic oil in a bag with a Father Christmas on it. Christmas??? What's that???