What a weekend! Together with my niece, Rebecca, I spent Saturday at an event organised by Conservation Today (see www.conservationtoday.org). Nine speakers in one day! It was a thought-provoking and diverse event and still it left me with the big questions. Given the significant effects of global warming predicted by scientists, are we still aiming to achieve the radical changes that would avert a disaster? Or is it too late for that? And if it’s already too late, what are the aims of conservation today?

On Sunday, I spent time dipping into a range of household tasks. These included doing some of the cleaning needed following some building work. So I stirred up some dust – and I hope some of it has now found a new home. When I went to mow the lawn, I noticed Mr. Fox was in the garden and decided to wait a bit. (I wonder what my farmer father would say about that if he were still alive!) I was surprised when a second fox joined him – this is the first time I’ve seen two foxes in my garden. I took a photo of them both through the window.

And then, with Rebecca and her brother Edward, I made my way to our longstanding haunt, The Spice of Life. How did we start a competition to see who could name most solo pop singers? And is there any other group of people amongst whom there might be a shadow of a possibility that I might win? Sometimes, age has its advantages.