The problem with lounging at the lido all day is that one gets into relaxed mode... Actually though, with a two and four year old 'lounged' is probably not the most accurate way of describing the experience!

[More:]

Still, I was pleasantly surprised that keeping a proper eye on the children was not as hard as I had feared. And there is something so relaxing and uplifting about being able to enjoy the sun (properly lotioned, of course!). So much so that it was almost too much effort to drive home.

Luckily, my two year old fell asleep in the car on the way home and went straight up to bed. Meanwhile, my four year old has gone with his grandparents to a hot air balloon show (result!), so I have been lounging on the sofa while my husband pampers me with pizza and wine, to be enjoyed in the great company of...no, not him...but some poetry.

There's something so satisfying about reading good poems. It's like enjoying fine, rich food. And I have been making a glutton of myself recently with two particular sets of prize winning poems.

The first set is the winning poems of last year's Plough Prize, including the short poem section, which can be read here. The second set is the prize-winning poems, poetry collections and short stories from this year's the new writer annual competition Collection.

Talking of which, there's still a few left that I haven't read yet...