Perfect peonies

I do love peonies - especially as I had never seen them until we moved to the UK as they don't grow in the southern hemisphere - big, blousy with a delicate colour and a rich scent, they are beautiful flowers to have in the home - especially when they are British grown as these ones from Waitrose are.

Luke arrived home last night from university in his car which was packed to the gunnels. Any parent of a child at university knows how much stuff they accumulate during the year (often of doubtful taste), which they bring home again at the end of the year. In a short time we had unpacked the car, sorted through all his stuff - laundry basket, wardrobe, shed or bin? - and packed it all away. The reason for the speedy turnaround was that we had another viewing this morning and it would not be desirable for potential buyers to be tripping over mounds of dirty laundry or boxes of books.

Luke and I went with Murdoch to the new house today - Murdoch had a fine time running around the garden and saying hello to the electrician (who was fixing a few things on the post building snag list) and the wallpaper man - mind that tray of glue, Murdoch!

Tonight is the annual dinner of the arts society committee where we say goodbye to retiring committee members and welcome the new members. I was asked to buy all the farewell presents for those leaving and I have such a varying collection of presents (all chosen at their request, no point buying them something they don't like) from ultra fine and delicate champagne coupe glasses to a very solid Burmese teak fruit bowl made from a WWI wreck that feels as if it weighs a ton!

I cannot even listen to the reports about those who have perished in the Grenfell fire as I get too upset - it is such a tragedy.