Grandson started secondary school today and he is excited and nervous in equal measure. I smiled when I saw a photo of him in uniform and then I felt sad to think of the children wearing masks as they walk around the school corridors. It’s all a long way from life at The Gables where the cats rule the roost, so to speak.

Where the pots of flowers in the courtyard continue to bloom

And there is an endless stream of squirrels running along the fence to collect walnuts for their winter store cupboard. Help yourselves.