The world from my window

At the weekend,Mr Grigg was out dog walking when he came so close to a deer they almost kissed. The animal strolled boldly through the long grass, unaware its movements were being tracked . It woke from its dream with a startle and fled before Mr Grigg had the chance to say hello. The next day, he was driving up the hill when a lumbering creature the size of a domestic cat walked in front of the car. He slowed down to see a brown hare ambling tortoise-like across the road. It stopped on the grass verge and glanced up as he passed before it turned round and disappeared into the horse daisies. This evening, heading out for a match with the Mapperton Marauders , Mr Grigg goes up to the attic to find his cap and cricket box. He pulls it out of the bag and finds a mouse has got there first. The cricket box is nibbled neatly around the edges. It could have been worse. The mouse might still have been in it. Ouch. That's about it. Love Maddie x

A dry spell in August means haymaking. The cut fields smell of my childhood, and the tractors thunder through the Square to pick up the bales before the rains come. This week, Mr Grigg has been victorious, picking up a medal in the battle for the Crosby Plate, a major cricket competition around these parts. Here he is at the presentation with his team mates. But you'll have to guess which one he is. The team should get a mention on Radio 4 on August 25 - my birthday - when human rights lawyer Clive Stafford Smith presents With Great Pleasure. This is a Desert Island Discs -style programme with guests presenters and literature at its heart. I know this because on Monday, the ever-resourceful Pelly managed to get us tickets for two recordings of the show at The Electric Palace in Bridport. This is an old cinema that has risen phoenix-like from the dust of years of closure to become one of the best and most diverse entertainment venues around. I feared an intense, highbrow performan...