mellow in Suffolk

For five days over last weekend I was with my brother at his new home in Suffolk. Pluck the pheasant strolled in the garden; cock Au Vin raised his voice a couple of times each day (but not early in the morning!); and I heard Stu the muntjack calling at dusk. People came by to say welcome and to invite their new neighbours to various village activities and in between we worked very hard on preparing the lovely old Georgian building for its new contents.

Ballroom [week one] from front drive

The whole thing was hard work but a five-day tonic too, and it was exciting to join in the conversations about how the building might be restored more to its original character in due course. Lots of creative work still to be done. But I've heard this week that the old new house already feels entirely like home.

life this weekend

couple I'm close to moved into the home they've longed for ..
friend's old frail mother died ..
teenager died on the street ..
garage cancelled arrangement for collecting car for service on Monday ..
ate with friends, laughing, sharing the story of St Patrick, making paper boats and sailing them on a miniature sea ..
neighbour very unwell with awful bronchial problems ..
friend distressingly poorly in psychiatric hospital ..
three teenage girls spoke in church to explain how they'd slept out in our churchyard to show concern for homeless people and raise awareness and money for the Gatehouse ..
couple I'm close to off to their holiday house for two weeks ..
hugged friend who wept at memory of lost daughter ..
removed monster ivy that's been destroying back garden wall ..
battled with vicious brambles ..
cleaned up smelly old offerings left around fence by neighbour's dog ..
found ivy interwoven with copper piping ..



wind and snow were forecast ..
hail and wind came, and sun shone for hours too ..
finished ivy removal and celebrated with coffee and Irish cream ..

Freedom Writers

The story of Erin Gruwell was in the Evening Standard this last week. Her story and vision are inspiring. I missed the film of her story, Freedom Writers, showing in Oxford this week, but hope to see it before long.