On display

Another month, another visit to county Wicklow to spend time with Carl's mum's friend Renate. We spent a really lovely time together, stuffing ourselves on coffee and wine and cake – but mostly endless reminiscing and chat and banter and laughter. Her birthday is next week, the day  before we head off to Gran Canaria, so we brought her a little gift to mark the occasion.

Charlie, her wonderfully friendly dog, was inside the house when we arrived, which is unusual since he usually barks a welcome outside and crouches down with one of his tennis balls strategically positioned between his paws and with that please-throw-the-ball look in his eyes. He wagged a farewell to us from his bed near the front door. Also missing was the activity around Renate's bird feeder, probably because her gardener had over-pruned their tree, which looked rather sorry for itself.