For Rose on her Ninth Birthday

A Wish For Our Children

On this doorstep I stand year after year and watch you leaving,

and think: May you not skin your knees,

may you not catch your fingers in car doors.

May your hearts not break.

May tide and weather wait for your coming

and may you grow strong to break all the webs of my weaving.

Evangeline Paterson
20^th Century

Caldicot

From the outside, forlorn and derelict

On the inside

Warm and filled with the scent of roses

I spent the day spinning and chatting to children.
Perfect.