Not far now Nov. 8, 2006

When I am rich from selling all my wheelbarrow load, I want to buy Fox Howe near Ambleside. Retain those glorious gates with the inscription, get rid of the ugly modern double-garage, put a weather vane on the roof, have Anthony Gormley commissioned to put sculptural figures throughout the garden, amongst the trees, running down to and into the River Rothay.

And on one lazy day there at Fox Howe home, I would doubtless uncover a Matthew Arnold transcript in the loft. And when I am not playing the piano at the window, watching the autumn leaves falling, I shall walk my own particular flock of children, to church, pointing them again and again towards the gleaming spire up ahead and urging them “it’s not far”. Not that we shall go inside. To travel is often better than to arrive.