In Brief

Posted by Tania Kindersley.

Today is mostly pictures, because I am tired.

I am sad the Queen did not win the Derby. 'Oh come on, your Majesty,' I found myself shouting. (The dogs were amazed.) It is quite odd to love an eighty-year-old woman whom you have never met, especially when she embodies the madness of the hereditary principle. And yet, I love the Queen. Love love love her. When this first came upon me, I was rather embarrassed about it. Now I think: don't care. It can just go along with the other peculiar freaks that I have in my head.

'Oh the poor Queen,' chorused the Mother, the Stepfather, and the Step Uncle and Aunt, as I took them some chocolate fridge cake.

'And to be beaten by the French,' said my mother, in horrified tones.

'At last,' I said; 'payback for Agincourt.'

The lady herself took it with her usual stoicism, dignified in defeat.

Luckily, my small friend B had been to visit, to make up the for the disappointment. She instructed me on how many fairies can live in a hollow acorn. It is seven, you will be interested to know. Almost certainly she will soon tell me how many angels can dance on the edge of a pin.

Lunch with the Younger Niece, and my friend M, who made me laugh.

Now I am exhausted, and going back to my Sitting Very Still plan.

Here are some pictures:

The dog of the Older Niece and the Man in the Hat. That slightly melancholy look is because she really, really wants me to throw a stick for her and I cannot find one:

The Pigeon is being so adorable today that she gets two pictures, for the full beauty. The first is very slightly blurry, but I love it because she is doing her Grace Kelly look:

And the second is Dignity on her monument:

The hill:

Thanks, as always, for the enchanting comments of this week. I worried yesterday that I might have been guilty of the dreaded Over-Share, but the kindness of your response sent all angst running for the hills. You are the very best of Dear Readers, and I thank you all.