Weatherbeaten

The weather has not been kind to the tulips. However, a side effect is that the flowers and their stems have taken on some amazing shapes, the stem curving and twisting away from heavy showers and the petals opening and curling in unusual ways and jewelled with raindrops, so that this battered white tulip is far more interesting than the still closed black tulip at its side.

A damp but gentle morning; some yoga stretches and a bit of being with the breath; a visit from the cheekiest of the neighbour-cats who stood firmly outside the patio doors, daring me to open them and when I did not, lay down and stretched as if to say, "Well if you're not letting me in, I'm not letting you out!"

Struggling to get in to the highly praised Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adiche, but trying hard, not least because it's set in post 9/11 Nigeria. Also looking forward to the second of my three consecutive catch up lunches with friends: yesterday meeting S after 25 years (since we were rugby mums); today meeting C for a marathon chinwag and looking forward to catching up with GOD on Friday. So much news to swap with friends; great idea, this retirement thing!