Trees, dusted with the pink and red eucalyptus flowers. Yellow-orcha, stone filed earth, shimmering in the heat of summer. Farm dam, relief in which children play with the freedom of summer holidays.

The summer menu at Clos Malverne intriguing. Litchi, wrapped in ostrich and stuffed with gorgonzola. Overshadowed by the simple salmon with avo that was sensational. Succulent venison, delicately supported by the cranberry jus. Dark chocolate creme brûlée (‘crime-brute’ in the auto spell, probably more accurate) with its summer berries, excellent.

An abundance of pink and blue hydrangeas. Purple agapanthus and yellow day-lilies, between emerald lawns. The gardens of La Petite Dauphine in Franschhoek. Our surprise anniversary stop. Red chairs, emphatic beneath ancient oaks. No less attention seeking, than the red dress of a women walking through Grand Central station in the early morning. A French urn, artfully placed, a balance to mountain peaks.

A courier truck loaded with cardboard boxes containing new canvases arrived at the studio. Larger ones than I have been using for awhile, which is a bother as the studio is full of the reneged covered furniture waiting to be moved up to Knysna. That, and the holiday wine stock doesn’t leave much room for paintings. Particularly wet ones!

Survived the spa evening, which certainly worked out the travel kinks. The wind, impatient, full of enthusiastic holiday spirit. Knocking at windows, a ceaseless invitation.