April is almost my favourite month, never standing still, the pace of change so rapid. On the terrace, dead sticks spring to life while the earliest flowers put on their show and quietly vanish. Slow heartbreaks too, like the avocado that I hoped might survive being potted on but really has not. Heartmakes, if such a thing exists, with the discovery of a score of tiny seedlings in one of the cactus pots, now duly pricked out and maybe even growing on. May brings different trials, most notably whether the irrigation can be made to work. But April, April sings.

There’s more ➢

Where did the month go? This time I do know! To London, where I had a really good stay for two whole weeks. The longer stay made everything better. No pressure to be with some people all the time, which leads only to tension. Time to spend with friends I haven’t seen in an age. Time even to just walk around. What I realised more than anything was that I do not much want to move back to the UK. I want to be near to my friends.

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Where did the month go? I know it is a short month, but it was over so quickly. Still, there were trips to the beach and the cinema (Belfast) to remember.

There’s more ➢

There’s more ➢

There is no escaping the fact that 2021 was (still) not a normal year, and I am not sure any year will ever be exactly comparable to the Before Times. There is too much residual self-care going on for that. And yet, and yet … it was a pretty good year, and I say that knowing full well how privileged I am. I share a pleasant space with a person who is the love of my life and my best friend, we eat well, and want for nothing. We got our vaccinations and boosters, we were able to travel a bit, within Italy, and we stayed healthy throughout. So, much to be thankful for and to appreciate.

There’s more ➢