Eye spy

Intentions to be sociable and lunch at the golf club faded as we caught up with correspondence, phone calls and checking out the jungle garden. In the end, it was toast, cheese and chutney (home made and rather ripe), then some work before taking the dog for a walk, grey skies having given way to sun and warmth. Up the hill, we saw that fire had blackened the whole of the hilltop on the other side of the valley while we were away. That must have been a death knoll for many small creatures. However, on our side, the birdsong reminded us that Spring is not far away. Ipê flowers were startlingly yellow against the blue sky and where they carpeted the road, and I gathered nasturtiums along the bank.

I picked up a slightly muddy farmyard toy in the road and intended to put it by the gate of a little boy I photographed a while back. When we reached it, those eyes were watching us again, so I handed it to him instead – received in solemn silence.

Back down to Rio this evening, leaving the usual hour and a half later than planned, but the roads were clear, we had a quick run and our guests were still awake when we arrived home.