After early retirement, I moved in 2011 from the chilly North East of England to the wetter, milder South West, following a dream of a gentle and tranquil life, just me, my cats and my dogs, to live in a very old cottage.

The chronicle of my former life and the drama of the move can be found in my earlier blog, Slow Lane Life (www.attica-slowlife.blogspot.co.uk).

Then the new gentle and tranquil life took some surprising twists and turns. Nowadays, my cottage (and my life) is filled with noise, fun, and a great deal of love and laughter. The household consists of myself, The Gardener*, five cats, and one large dog.

Nothing much happens, and life is still slow, but we like it that way, and we are happier than I ever imagined possible.

*who generously lends me his photographs when I have failed yet again to bring a camera