Cross-posted from my new journal.

Mornings at this time of year are idyllic. It's still early enough in the summer that the air is cool, but the sun is warm and bright. Nika and I have been taking the opportunity to take long, slow walks through the woods. Everything is growing wildly at the moment. All but the largest, oldest trees are in full-leaf. The forest floor is covered in bluebells and wild garlic as far as you can see, and the air smells of life. The trees are full of birds.

I've lived in quite a few countries and visited lots more, but none of them are as lush and green as Britain at this time of year. Everything will die down in a couple of months, when summer gets really hot, but in the meantime, it's richer every day. The world is never quite so alive as it is now. I could stay out there all day.