Things I Noticed last week-

The summer holidays always have a dream-like quality to them. It can be frustrating trying to juggle work, a house full of people and finding a little space for yourself. But as a wise friend once said to me, “Make the most of it. One day you’ll miss it.” She’s right. Having school and university-aged children still at home forces us into a different rhythm for a few weeks. We get up a little later, disappear into Rye for an hour in the middle of the day or catch a film at the cinema, then fit work around family life rather than the other way round.

Monday was spent photographing more of the new book with Polly. It was a day governed by light as we were shooting in one of the cabins and wanted to catch the beautiful dappled light that filters through the poplar trees in high summer. We had plenty of time to catch up on each other’s lives whilst we waited for just the right “dapple”… and although it slowed us down enormously, neither of us minded. Some things simply can’t be rushed and they certainly can’t be recreated artificially. It reminded me that nature often knows best if we’re prepared to work with it rather than against it. I’m so looking forward to sharing the new book with you all in September 2027.

By Tuesday evening the house had changed completely. Honey (our 15-year-old) had invited six friends to stay and before long the pizza oven was lit, dough was being rolled out and the snug had been transformed into a giant sleep den with mattresses, duvets and blankets spread across the floor. I always love watching this happen—it’s what the house is for: gathering people together. Every stage of family life seems to leave its own mark on a house. Years ago it was children’s birthday parties and dens made from dining chairs and blankets. Now it’s teenagers and young adults gathering with friends, talking late into the night and somehow managing to fill every corner of the house with laughter. It struck me again that the best houses aren’t the ones that stay pristine. They’re the ones people want to return to because they feel like they can relax and be themselves.

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