I was walking through the grounds, on the way to my office, this
morning; just as it was daylight. It was so beautiful, quiet but not
still. The rustling of the dry leaves remaining on the trees, a bird
hopping along and pecking at the earth, perhaps one that should have
long gone to another climate and the smell of the laverder bushes as my
skirt caught them as I took a short-cut across a shrubbery. It felt
good to be alive, to be able to see the Hypericum, blooming for
Christmas with so many, many, gentle yellow flowers, to see some bulbs
already pushing through and to realise that Christmas is almost here -
a lovely time because afterwards we start to plan the garden and that
comforts me; so much so that when the staff arirved later I was humming
Jingle Bells and all I want for Christmas are my two Front Teeth.

Judith Lea
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