Gardens & Summer Musings

Days spent playing in our garden are some of my favourites. Having an all-cement garden is a little harsh on the eye but is big on practicality especially with dogs and children. It means there's minimal hassle in cleaning it (plus, pressure hosing is so much fun) and it doubles as a great expanse of art canvas. A few sticks of chalk and we have an afternoon game of spelling, hop scotch, pictionary and portraiture on the floors and walls that can just be hosed down to begin again. The lack of natural light due to the tall building next to us is unfortunate but you really can't have it all, can you?

Family came for the afternoon a little while ago and I took these photos while we all drew on the floor, rode around on beaten up plastic tricycles and sipped coffee in the shade on weather worn chairs that were just wobbly enough to draw attention to themselves. I took the photos in my photography section of my niece and nephew-in-law too and I quite like how they turned out. My niece has the most gorgeous colouring with the natural tones of blonde in her hair combined with pale skin and dark eyebrows and eyelashes. Sometimes I tease her that women pay hundreds to get her natural colouring and if she ever decides to swap it for something different I'll lock her in the cupboard under the stairs. I'm only half kidding - perhaps she'll receive a letter from Hogwarts this year? I was thirteen when she was born and when my mother died four years later my sister became a surrogate mother to me. Perhaps it's why I've always seen my niece as more of a little sister and I do get rather protective over her while simultaneously wanting to show her the world that I know so far.

I can't wait for the sun to shine that little brighter to illuminate the solar fairy lights in the evening so I can cook skewers on the barbecue and relax with pink wine in plastic cups on the patio while the birds rustle in their big home bush above us. That's what moderately balmy evenings in the UK are all about, right and I'm thoroughly looking forward to experiencing some this year, even if they're just outside of my back door.