In Full Bloom

The house and garden of our neighbour - nicknamed Monsieur Fleurie - is in full bloom now. A riot of colour, flowers lining both sides of the road, geraniums hanging in profusion from his terrace, every hedge and inch of grass neatly manicured. He spends every waking moment tending his garden, and the hundreds of birds he keeps in cages in his yard. He must be eighty if he is a day. If I live to be his age, I hope I have that much energy.