Noticing pumpkins, ash trees and onions

Every evening before I go to bed, I take The Boy (our sweet, but rather nervous Border Collie) for a short walk round the garden. I only have to reach for the torch, and he’s out from under the bed and at the door. I don’t know how he always knows.

Last week we stepped out after the worst of the storm had passed. It was dark, and the rain was still sheeting down, but we decided to do our loop, nonetheless. Up the steps, past the veg patch and back down to the house. On the way I discovered, through the chaos of dancing leaves and creaking pines, another part of a big Ash had come down.