We have just returned from a wedding weekend. My beautiful goddaughter married her long term partner in a country home called Huntsham Court. It is is a Grade II* listed Tudor Gothic mansion in Devon, built between 1868 – 70. It was originally constructed for a new bride, ( Can you imagine how daunting that must have been?) a long stint as a hotel, and its modern revival as an exclusive-use celebration venue in 2012 by some enterprising young businessmen who saw its potential. It’s a grand old house with many bedrooms, creaking floors, ancestral portraits and beautiful gardens with age old trees and flowering borders, tennis court and a fabulous library.

The whole weekend was joyful, occasionally tearful, but above all full of good words. Everyone who spoke at this wedding chose their words meaningfully and purposefully. Heartfelt and warm.

I loved the house but especially the library – what a different era we live in now. There were reams and reams of Encyclopedias and dictionaries and books on exotic places and philosophical studies. All leather bound and smelling old bookish smells. There was a time when a series of Encyclopedias took pride of place on a family bookshelf.

Now its Google and AI more recently and the click of a button. No casual flicking of the pages, sinking into the sofa with time on your hands. So when browsing the library and I came across these books it was clear what I was meant to write about.

The Romance of nature which was all around us and Good words.

Both in great evidence over these days.