LOUNGE IN STYLE
The first telltale sign has arrived so, says our expert Agnes Stevenson, the first seeds have been sown and there is the promise of many more to follow
Pink chenille and velvet loveseat, £495, oliverbonas. com
A scalloped style loveseat for two, or cosy accent chair, will get you in the mood for another episode of Bridgerton on Netflix.
Over the past 12 months, our homes have become our whole world. The kitchen has transformed into the hottest eatery in town, our sofas are the location of date night drinks and, for some, the bedroom has even morphed into a make-shift office.
With no change of scenery, it’s natural many of us have grown tired of staring at the same four walls – but, luckily, with just a few smart buys and clever interior design tricks, we can all fall back in love with our humble abode.
As spring weather arrives, take the opportunity to update your space with new accessories, furniture and curated knick-knacks, which will breathe new life into every corner.
Floral patterns, light pastel hues and romantic fabrics top our “must-have” list and, here, we’ve rounded up just a few products we know you’ll love – there’s something for every budget, too, so get your credit cards at the ready.
Every gardener has their own triedand-tested way of working out when the growing season is about to get going again. For some it’s the smell of the earth on a damp day, for others it’s that first sighting of a crow with a twig in its beak, for others it’s an equation based on lengthening daylight hours and rising temperatures.
I use none of these methods. Instead, I count the number of cars parked at our local allotment site and as soon as there are four or more two days in a row then I know it’s time to break out the propagator and start sowing.
That moment came last week and so this weekend I’ve kicked off the season by sowing tomatoes and sweet peas. Both should germinate quickly.as soon as they do, they’ll be evicted from the warmth and moved to the coolest, brightest spot indoors while other seeds take their place.
Ideally they should go into the greenhouse, but that isn’t arriving until April, so I’m planning on using plastic plant protectors to keep things growing on outside until the greenhouse turns up.
Plastic is not my favourite material but I’ve found that tough, see-through plastic boxes will last for a long time and perform a variety of tasks, such as cold frames. In the greenhouse I’ll be using them to give an extra layer of protection to very tender plants and outdoors I often fill them with water when I have lots of plants in pots that need a deep soak.
Recycling is as much a part of gardening now as weeding and watering, so I use loo roll tubes for starting off sweet peas and I sow many seeds into egg boxes filled with compost as it saves on pricking out and the egg boxes themselves will completely disintegrate once planted out.
At the moment I’m only
sowing those things that need a long growing season, but by this time next month I’ll be moving towards full production, bringing on hardy annuals, starting off the first in a succession of salads, raising pea shoots and peas for pods, getting going with carrots and oriental greens and finding space for perennials too.
People sometimes forget there are many perennials that can be grown from seed and some will even flower in their first year. Growing from seed is a great way to fill lots of space or to get your hands on plants that would otherwise be expensive or hard to track down.
For instance, there’s only one colour of lupin I want to grow. It has saturated-pink flowers that seems to work with every other colour in the garden. Buying enough of these as plants would be pricey. Instead, I’m going to grow a packet of mixed colours and keep hold only of those I like, giving away the purple and yellow flowering plants to friends.
Malcolm had to look twice out of the French windows to check he wasn’t seeing things. “At the risk of asking an obvious question, why is there a goat on the back lawn?” he asked.
Rainbow shifted from one foot to the other.
“It’s your birthday present from me, Grandad. Don’t you like it?”
Sensing a tactful approach might be best, he cleared his throat.
“It’s rather an unusual present, isn’t it?” As if knowing it was being talked about, the animal raised its head and stared directly at him before opening its mouth to bleat.
“I didn’t mean to get you a real goat,” Rainbow replied. “You were going to send one to Africa, to help people there. And you did – I’ve got the certificate.”
“Don’t you need to be 18 to order these things?”
“Gran helped me.” Rainbow glanced over her shoulder as a spluttering noise came from Hilary, Malcolm’s wife, who made a hasty exit, doubtless to get a drink of water in the kitchen.
It had been down to Hilary that they had bought this draughty old house and its monstrosity of a garden many moons ago, rather than the sort of place most sensible people settled for when looking for a family home.
She had always had a fanciful side, with her romantic novels and yoga classes, along with running a health food shop. Even after living here for over 30 years, they were still playing catch-up with the endless jobs that always needed done.
“But afterwards I began to worry that it might be treated badly and suffer,” Rainbow continued.“not to mention the long journey.”
Since their granddaughter moved in, the kitchen had become awash with vegetarian cookbooks as Hilary tried to come up with ideas of what to feed her. One could only have so many omelettes.
“So, to make up for it, I adopted this one. I mean, we’ve got that massive garden, and it takes ages to cut the grass, so a goat’s just the thing, especially since you said your parents used to keep them when you were a boy.”
Malcolm couldn’t help smiling at the memory. How long was it since he’d thought of that? Life was so busy, there rarely seemed time.
“He came yesterday while you were out,” Rainbow continued.“gran and I put him in the shed with food and some hay. One of the panels is broken where he’s kicked it. I was worried you’d hear him.”
“I didn’t hear a thing. I was so tired, I was out like a light.” Malcolm frowned. “So your grandmother was in on this?”
Rainbow nodded. “apart from the charitable donation, not until yesterday.”
Hilary reappeared from the kitchen. The aroma of coffee wafted in behind her. “i hadn’t the heart to send him back. He needs a home.”
Something about her tone reminded him of another moment, almost a year earlier, when she’d said almost the same thing about Rainbow.
“The girl’s constantly being moved from pillar to post,” she’d argued. “that’s no life for a 14-year - old. the fact Laura’s asked us to look after her speaks volumes.
“She needs this job to get her life back on track, but it involves travelling abroad. It’s not as if we don’t have enough room.”
Rainbow’s father, their former son-inlaw, had been what Malcolm’s mother would have referred to as a “wastrel”.
In fact, both Malcolm and Hilary had felt the marriage was doomed from the start, but refrained from saying so to their wilful daughter.
“That’s the trouble when our children grow up.we can’t protect them any more,” Hilary had said. “all we can do is stand back and be ready to pick up the pieces.”
It had been almost a relief when he had left them, despite the pile of debts he’d left in his wake for Laura to cope with.
Stubborn as ever, she’d refused financial help from her parents, but at least they had been able to help with Rainbow, even if it had resulted in Malcolm’s hopes for a quiet life being put on hold.
Laura’s smile beamed across the room from her framed photo on top of the bureau. Maybe he and Hilary should have put their foot down as soon as they’d got the first hint that she was getting in with the wrong crowd.
Then again, knowing Laura, she wouldn’t have listened. Strong-willed women seemed to run in their family.
Rainbow was already showing signs of having inherited the streak.
Coping with a teenager again at their stage of life was even more wearing than it had been the first time around. Yet, for all that, Malcolm knew that life without Rainbow’s impulsive, sometimes whirlwind, presence would be less colourful, somehow.
“Now we’ve got that out of the way, I’ll switch on the oven, warm the croissants, and we’ll open champagne,” Hilary announced. “after all, it isn’t every day you turn 65.”
“Thank you for the reminder, dear,” Malcolm said drily. when she kissed his cheek, he breathed in her perfume – the same one she’d always worn.at least some things stayed the same. they hadn’t seen Laura for over a month. She had promised to try to be back in time for his birthday but, with working hundreds of miles away and the expense of travelling, that was more easily said than done. Rainbow had her mum’s old room, but the bed in the guest room was always made up.
“Happy birthday!” Hilary produced a cylindrical package that emitted a tell-tale glug. Malcolm read the label appreciatively.
“Single malt. very nice. I’ll enjoy a tot of that later.” She handed him an envelope.
“Two tickets to visit the distillery in Scotland. I’ve booked a hotel room. Now you’ve stepped back from partner status to part-time consultant, you can’t argue that the firm won’t be able to spare you,” she said with a smile.
“My word. I feel like I’ve struck gold.” He stopped. “what about Rainbow?”
“I’m 15, grandad. I’ll be OK. Anyway, Tina’s going to look after me.”
Tina was Hilary’s sister, and lived locally. She’d be coming round later to join in the family celebration. Malcolm looked outside again.the goat was still watching
It’s your birthday present, Grandad. Don’t you like it? I didn’t mean to get you a real goat. You were going to send one to Africa, to help people there. And you did – I’ve got the certificate. Gran helped me
him. Even as a child he’d always thought there was something about a goat’s gaze, as if they could see into your soul. “Let’s go out and say hello.the poor thing looks lonely out there,” he said. “But you’re still in your dressing gown.” Rainbow’s eyes widened, whether in horror or shared mischief, Malcolm wasn’t sure.
“I’m 65. I can do as I like.”
That had always been one of Laura’s phrases, albeit with different ages inserted.
“But I might change out of my slippers,” he added with a wink. If anyone happened to look in the garden as the two of them ventured out, they would have been greeted with a strange sight, with him in his dressing-gown and boots, and Rainbow in her habitual black. Malcolm didn’t care, though, and neither did the goat as it trotted up to them.
“Are you going to call him Barney, after your favourite goat when you were little?” Rainbow asked. “you used to tell me about him when mum and I came to stay here and I couldn’t sleep.and how your parents kept goats for milk.” “Fancy you remembering that. ”a lump rose in Malcolm’s throat. “they’re affectionate creatures, goats. I missed them when they were gone.” Rainbow rested her head against his arm. “i know.you told me about that, as well. I’ve always loved your stories.” She giggled as the goat gently butted him. “Barney wants food. I’ll get some from the shed.”
While she was gone, Malcolm gazed around the garden. when he and Hilary had moved here, they’d had so many plans to lick it into shape. Lots of other plans, too. Having waited so long for Laura to arrive, the three of them were going to be the model family. Looking back with the wisdom of age, had there been too many expectations laid on Laura’s shoulders?
A sudden breeze set the shrubs at the bottom end of the garden rustling. He must check that none of those were poisonous to goats.the swing he’d made when Laura was five still hung from the apple tree, swaying back and forth as if powered by an invisible child. Laura had always loved that swing. Rainbow did, too. She used it even now, sitting on it looking thoughtful for hours at a time.
“Here we are.” His granddaughter tipped some oats into his hands and Barney helped himself, lips and breath tickling and warming Malcolm’s skin. “We’ll have to get a nanny goat to keep this one company,” he said. “goats aren’t meant to be solitary, you know. They get lonely. She could be yours, if you like.”
Rainbow’s face lit up. “really? That would be great! Thanks, Grandad.” “Thank you for the present, even though I must admit it wasn’t exactly what I’d had in mind.”
“But you won’t have to mow the grass now.”
He chuckled. “we’ll see.”
When Rainbow went back indoors for breakfast, Malcolm stayed out for a few more minutes to savour the peace of the garden and the undemanding companionship of their new family member.
“Well, old boy,” he said, scratching the top of the goat’s head as he always used to with childhood Barney. “Something tells me you’ll soon make yourself at home here.”
Barney licked his hand again and was looking hopefully for more food when Malcolm became aware of voices from the kitchen. a moment later, Hilary called from the back door. “Malcolm!”
“Yes?”
“You’ve got a visitor.”
And him not even dressed yet! “Keep them in the front room and tell them I’ll be there in a minute,” he called back.
“That isn’t an option. they have some important news.”
Malcolm groaned and prepared to stamp in like an awkward teenager, but when he saw who was next to her, he stood rooted to the spot. a second later, a smile crept over his face, matching the one on his daughter’s.
They started walking to each other at the same time, Rainbow following close behind her mum. Malcolm opened his arms to encompass both of them in a hug that spoke more than any words.
The moment was broken only when the goat, impatient at being ignored, butted him.
“I see you’ve got a new lawnmower.” Laura grinned once they’d all stepped back.
“A lawnmower that needs a lot of care,” he returned swiftly.
“In that case, it has the perfect owner. Happy birthday, dad. It’s good to be home.”
“It’s good to have you home.” Malcolm hesitated.
“What’s the important news?” Rainbow, obviously bursting to say something, squealed.
“Mum’s been promoted. It means she doesn’t have to travel away any more. Isn’t that brilliant? We’re going to live somewhere close enough for me to come here every day and look after my nanny goat.”
“Right,” Hilary said, still on the doorstep and as practical as ever.
“I’ll put some extra croissants on, shall I?”
“I’ll introduce mum to Barney while Grandad gets dressed,” Rainbow added, loudly enough for Malcolm to suspect that most of the neighbours would have heard.
That was all right. He didn’t mind if the whole world heard. His family was together, safe and sound, and he wouldn’t have any of them – goat or human – any other way.