Ablaze

It's Jack's 40th birthday tomorrow, so I spent some time this morning getting a few things ready. We'll be going round to his and Marianna's house on Sunday morning, for cake and coffee, before they set off on a week's holiday in Scotland.
Then it was time to do some cooking, with Richard, as two friends are coming over for dinner. Pear, walnut and rocket salad,  for a starter, from me, along with baked apples and egg custard for dessert. R is doing the more complicated bit, a monkfish stew with fennel. 
Before the light went, I pottered around in the garden for a bit. It was drizzling gently, but that only made the Chinese witch hazel - or hamamellis mollis, to give it its botanical name - shine out all the more brightly.