Arco iris

It was pretty rainy today. I’m not sure whether that’s why Mr Perkins decided to have a wee in a cardboard box of stuff under the telly table or what. The dampness of the box suggests that it wasn’t the first time.

I’ve got this plant, like a little tree. It doesn’t like dry soil; its branches fall off. This is unfortunate, given whose care it’s under. In the kitchen, I see it all the time, so I usually remember to water it – little and often seems to be its preferred pattern.

It likes brighter light than it can get in the kitchen. It grows incredibly leggy. I lopped its leggy branches off and put it in the back porch because there’s lots of light in there. In the back porch, it’s out of sight, out of mind: I forgot to water it.

It’s dropped a load of shrivelled-up branches. I was trying to pick them up, but every time I breathed, more twigs and leaves fell off.

I decided to take it outside and give it a good shake. I clumsily knocked it on everything I passed in those few steps to the outside, causing more droppage.

Outside, I shook it so vigorously, the water from the belated watering I gave it the other day centrifugally forced its way out the top of the pot onto my hand. All remaining appendages are well screwed on, but they look desiccated. It doesn’t seem to be one of those plants that perks up after a good watering, like a peace lily.

The sun came out this afternoon and dried loads of the rain up. I got to the leisure centre for Pilates, and it started pattering down. Typical.

Inside, I queued at reception to pay, then saw a rainbow outside through the door. It was complete and it was massive and it was beautiful.

I went upstairs, put my stuff out, along with everyone else. Then the receptionist came up and told us the instructor had just phoned to cancel because of an emergency.

None of us seemed overly disappointed; we discussed alternative plans, wondered what partners would be doing when we got back, looked forward to looking in the fridge.

The rainbow was nearly gone when we left, but you could see its former splendour.

When I got home, the Messrs P were doing exactly what I expected them to be doing.