Next ...

Another glorious day. In other circumstances I might have been pottering in the garden, I'd certainly have been more assiduous in watering the azaleas at the top of the bank in the front garden (they tend to run out of moisture in prolonged dry spells, and I can't actually remember when there was any real rain); we might even have taken a picnic and gone off for a walk at a sensible time. But no: there was all the lovely social media aftermath of last night's concert, there was the usual business of remembering to do the Italian lessons, and then there was the proper packing of a suitcase and finding the paperwork from the safe drawer where it (theoretically) wouldn't get mixed up with other stuff. I actually had to go down to the travel agent to pick up vouchers for a couple of trips we're booked on for next week, as well as my prescriptions (No - not from the travel agent - don't be frivolous.)

However, normal habits are too strong to keep in check for long, and freed from the need to avoid hay fever or too much talking we did go out in the afternoon to Benmore Gardens, where the only people we came across were a string of smallish schoolchildren (from Edinburgh) on bikes being led along the road at speed on their way back to the outdoor centre and a couple from church whom we've known for decades. They've opened a few more of the paths onto the hillside in the post-storm cleanup, and we were able to climb the steep path to the Bhutan pavilion and sit with the scent of a million bluebells wafting up from below and the sound of birdsong the only thing we could hear. 

The lower gardens were where the wonderful colours of azaleas and other blossoms stood out among the tall trees, but the photo I've chosen because it's so wonderfully green in that new, vibrant way of young foliage, was taken just as we approached the bridge over the River Eachaig on our way into the gardens. The river is as low as I've ever seen it - you can see its shine at the bottom of the photo. As a result of our enjoying this walk far too much, we were late for tea and rushed to get to online Compline, but it was worth it. 

Someone asked how long we were going to be away for (a week). "You'll miss all the good weather", they said. But one doesn't travel for the weather at this time of year - it's for the being there. And one of the best bits, I've realised, is that I feel I can say to someone asking me to decide on something "I'll deal with that when I come home." 

It'll be phone-blips for a while, much more minimalist than proper keyboard rambling. And Benmore Gardens will still be here next weekend...

Any bets on the Conclave?