It’s been what they would call in Ireland ‘a real soft day’ Almost forgotten what rain was like. And the harvest is just about to begin out here at Blogstead Episcopi. The reaper and binder is sitting outside my study window. And Kilvert’s fresh-faced country maids are all poised to do what fresh-faced country maids do around harvest time. But nothing is happening and it’s all gone soggy. Once it starts, we’ll have to keep Poppy in for a while …. don’t ask.