It was a good weekend. The sun was blazing and my face got brown. I picked marigolds and honesty for a sizzling purple and orange posy. And lilac, campion and cow parsley for a big frothy bouquet of pink and white pastels.

The sea was as blue as the South of France. Even if it was still far too cold to get in.

And then I went shopping. I bought Marghanita Laski's The Village, a Kate O'Brien novel and a Beverley Nichols gardening book. All three for 90p.

I bought 15 children's story books. 10p each.

And a bottle of premier cru Meursault for £3. No, I couldn't believe it either. He was selling it for cooking but said some bottles were fine for drinking. If you were lucky. If not, they'll be the best moules mariniere I've ever had in my life.

Then, to make a sunny day perfect, the ice-cream shop had my favourite marmalade and ginger ice-cream.

And there was a lovely apricot sunset.