Creeping Charlie

Work must have acquired a job lot of amarylis bulbs in pots. Everyone is growing them. There's a prize for the prettiest flower, the tallest plant, the best effort. They're being judged on Thursday. Sadly, it would seem, they must have been offered up to work when there was no longer enough time for them to grow and bloom properly in time for Christmas. So, while everyone's off on holidays the flowers will bloom, fill the office with their beauty and their sweet scent and then wither and die in time for everyone returning. This scenario reminds me of my favourite Kafka story: The Hunger Artist.

Kuba brought in the plant pictured many months ago. I sit next to the window so it has become my responsibility. I found out that this plant was called a Creeping Charlie so I took a clipping from it home for Charlie. Its offspring is also flourishing on our kitchen windowsill.

Great excitement in a phone call today from Samuel to tell me that none other than Sir Ian Mckellen came to their school today to give a talk for Equalities week. Samuel got to meet him!