It seems that I did not initially mention ivy as an issue . This was probably out of cowardice. Ivy is taking over the world and it’s starting in the garden.

It thinks I haven’t noticed – but I have. It is creeping down from the embankment, through the chain-link fence.

If I’m working in the garden, the ivy is canny. It doesn’t grow visibly in front of me. But if I turn my back on it, I can feel it inching up behind me. One day I will turn around quickly and catch it moving.

It has even learnt where the compost bins are, so that it can draw on their goodness before setting off again.

If you don’t hear from me for a while – look under the ivy…….

Or, just possibly, it has been a long, hot day and I need a sense of perspective.