The weeks since my last post have passed under the shadow of my brother-in-law’s untimely death from a rare sarcoma at the beginning of July. His presence is felt throughout A Merrier World, from the endless brownie photos to the icing-sugar cloud of despair, the Curry Corner to the cookies … He is deeply missed.

Meanwhile, our garden has been bursting with new life, not least with a glut of broad beans.

I promised my sister that I’d write a post with this title, so here it is.