Coffee Homeground

It’s a little brighter today—not actually raining all the time, but the rogue clouds have yet to retreat. Raff kindly did the school run this morning, went to church, and then took his car to the garage for its MOT. We’ve been using the same garage, The Motorist Centre, for nearly 15 years… even after we moved to Whitfield, which is considerably further away. With five boys growing up, there was never any point in buying new cars (or even nearly new ones) because they would get trashed inside by little sticky fingers within a few months. So we have had our long list of cheap old bangers regularly serviced by these guys, and you could not wish for a more honest, reliable and reasonable bunch of mechanics. That sort of service is worth sticking with.

I spotted today’s photograph while making a drink in the kitchen this morning. Rafferty’s well-used espresso maker is sitting on the hob in a darker corner of the room, with its brushed metal and orangey-brown patina, making it a great still-life subject.