Shiny

We have perfect Spring weather right now: blustery and shiny bright, new-leaf-shimmering, with just the right amount of warmth in the air. I've been wearing my jeans for about two weeks straight (don't worry; I have two identical pairs) because I'm saving up against the time when the weather gets too hot and I have to abandon my beloved denim for three months. I keep putting on loads of washing just because the Irish housewife in me can't resist this wonderful drying weather.

The children leave the house like pinballs, bounce onto their scooters or bikes and spin away up the road, crossing each other's paths once or twice along the way. Mabel abandons hers at the foot of a neighbour's lawn, and runs around the back of the house, where they have an irresistable tub of sand and a variety of toys to play with, and sometimes a small boy or two.

I wander out in their wake, locating her by the downed scooter and wondering what exactly the etiquette is when your child is - permissibly - in someone else's backyard. I don't want to look as if I don't care and am happy to abandon her, but nor do I want to make the adults of the house feel they have to stop and chat to me while we both survey children who are actually mostly just fine without any observation. (Only mostly. Which is why I usually trail after her if she doesn't re-emerge soon.)

We need to get a bench for the front of the house, so that I can "supervise" in comfort while reading a book or making use of the wi-fi connection. Maybe a glass of something refreshingly fruity, some chips and dip...