l a t e l y

Lately has been a mixture of happy and sad, and of busy and calm. An old friend came up to stay last weekend as a break from caring for her very, distressingly, ill father. It was a lovely and special time. White wine in the sunshine, a mushroom and chicken pie (for which the pastry was really, good though I say so myself -- somehow I managed to get it so that it was crisp and firm, but flaky), a day in a gorgeous spa outside Edinburgh, prosecco several times and ending with coffee and shopping. The sun shone so warmly and we talked about anything and everything.

The week then was very busy, a bit tense and stressy with emotions running high (exam boards all day long) and feeling drained. But the sun has kept shining, and now things are clearing again and I've had time to cook and to plan for the weekend. Lamb tagine for tea tonight, after fresh brown bread for lunch. And this incredibly decadent nectarine and blueberry juice for breakfast, which tasted astonishing really. I haven't stopped thinking about it all day -- it was like summer nectar.

My friend's father died yesterday afternoon, in the sunshine, holding hands with his wife. The family were all around and the dog on the end of the bed. A peaceful, beautiful end after such a terrible struggle.