LAST ROSE OF SUMMER

'Rustica' first appeared on Blip on April 22nd, the sun was shining & she looked beautiful. Today she reminds me of the ageing process; her petals are almost transparent & she has definitely lost her 'bloom'. But even in old age, she retains a certain loveliness.

A few years ago I was in Nairobi trying to clamber up the very high steps into a land rover. I turned to our African driver & said "old age is awful", No, he said solemnly; "old is gold". I often think of that.