Rowan Tree and Red Thread

comes before a fall no doubt.

Today we went to the Botanic Gardens in Dublin, my first visit there in
decades. We met with friends, getting to met some of their kids for the
first time and renewing acquaintance with another.

The kids played together well, overcame a fraught moment well (Rowan was on
the receiving end of some thrown gravel, but I know full well she could have
as easily been the one throwing it, so I hope a lesson was learnt), and we
all enjoyed the beautiful gardens.

Dodging the rain, we cleverly wrapped up and got to the car before the
heavens opened and returned to Sally's for a family get-together.

This also went splendidly. Rowan charmed and chattered, and both her parents
basked in her reflected glory, while also soaking up the praise for her 'my
he's a big boy' brother who impressed in his own way with smiles and
friendly tolerance of being passes from cousin to aunt to cousin.

Rowan performed a puppet show with three hand puppets (a frog, a dog and a
wolf, who were surprsingly good friends despite their relative positions in
the web of life), which was well received to a heartfelt round of applause
from all present. The look of pleasure and delight on her face made my heart
sing with hers.

The food was lovely (thanks Sally!) and the company easy and pleasant. I was
rightly and ridiculously proud of my children. It's been a good day.