Frieda and the bear

The playground in the park across the road has a selection of animal figures placed around the fence, peering in through gracefully parted rails. They're lovely pieces of work.
F and I went to the park this morning, mainly for her to try out her new balance bike. But there was time, too, to check in with the bear (and the hare, the fox and the owl).
We had a very cheery day together.
As Richard and I tidy up, now that Frieda's gone home, we're listening to the wall-to-wall BBC radio coverage of what sounds like the queen's probable demise. We are republicans, not royalists. So we can feel sadness and empathy for her family. But for the rest of us? There is so much else to be deeply concerned about.