I feel like I’m running out of things to say on Mondays! I usually fall back on that British classic of the weather – which has been so-so for the time of year, some rain, some sunshine.

Brodie went back to nursery on Tuesday and it was like he’d never been away. He was giving (impromptu) tours of the nursery to the new boys and girls on their first visits and having “nice chats” with the new parents, which is a far cry from the little boy who could only say 2-3 words at a time last year.

Chimney Corner stories part 2

and

Cunningham and Petrov: The Mystery of the Missing Children chapter 20

There was once a little princess whose father was king over a great country full of mountains and valleys. His palace was built upon one of the mountains, and was very grans and beautiful. The princess, whose name was Irene, was born there, but she was sent soon after her birth, because her mother was not very strong, to be brought up by the country people in a large house, half castle, half farmhouse, on the side of another mountain, about halfway between its base and its peak.

This is the opening paragraph of The Princess and the Goblin by George MacDonald, a book which was one of Enid Blyton’s favourite books as a child.