A summer morning ...

Found this account in one of my notebooks when having a bit of a spring clean. Jotted it down a couple of years ago ... tells the story of an early summer's morning here at Coombe Leigh when Ben was still very young and Amy was still fairly active....

Wake early, sunlight streaming through the crack in the bedroom curtains. A light breeze, sounds of birdsong - a bright sparkly morning early in summer. A morning to leap out of bed - no more snuggling under the covers, that's for dark, damp November mornings. Now it's June and the world outside is calling ... come on out and join us.

So I swing my legs round, feet to the floor, and tiptoe across the bedroom. Mustn't wake the dogs yet ... try to get dressed first - but no - Ben has the ears of a bat and he hears the tiny noises I make on my way to the bathroom. A large, black, furry face appears at the top of the stairs, eyes bright with love and anticipation. Downstairs I hear Amy stretch and yawn - the game's afoot and my cover's blown. So I dress as quickly as possible - canvas trousers and cotton shirt - thrust my feet into a pair of well worn sandals, forget to brush my hair - and we're ready to go ....

Downstairs a squirming mass of dog-flesh awaits me. Eyes bright with excitement, pink tongues lolling and tails quivering. I struggle past them to grab their leads from the hook. "OK dogs," I tell them, "we're off!" Immediately excitement turns to frenzy and Ben leaps through the door as soon as it's opened - then in his mischievous way waits for Amy to lumber up the steps, then pounces on her. Having put a stop to his nonsense and helped the old lady up the stairs, I pause to take a deep lungful of the fresh, cool air.

This is, I think, the best part of the day ..... a new beginning, full of potential - let's swim!!