Families are a lot like apple and blackberry crumble - sweet, fulfulling, made with love... and often not quite perfect, but who's complaining

This is an old one (but many of the good things often are).

On the cusp of a papal conclave, it also seems appropriate to quote from a Pope.

As the family goes, so goes the nation and so goes the whole world in which we live.

JOHN PAUL II, London Observer, Dec. 7, 1986

Devon foraging

We are not accustomed to foraging in the UK and often pass by fruits, flowers and funghi, leaving them for the animals.

On a recent cliff walk in North Devon (from Mortehoe to Lee Bay and then from Croyde to Puttsborough round Baggy Point, two of my favourite coastal routes with stunning views), we came across blackberries, mushrooms, honeysuckle and sloes growing on the cliff edge.

Unfortunately I didn't have a bag to pick them but did have a camera (and stained hands from eating too many blackberries!).