Road trip, part one

Road trip, part one: Last weekend, my husband and I took off on a day trip. Up the west coast on a whim we went, following what felt like the road to freedom in warm, balmy air, returning 10 hours later, our minds as smooth and untroubled as freshly laid eggs.

This weekend my husband is eager for a sequel. He wants to go to Skellig Michael to see the puffins. I am also eager for a sequel: I want to go to an island renowned for its subtropical garden, to see the late-blooming Magnolia Grandiflora. We decide to toss a coin for it, which is preferable to compromising, for the obvious reason that it’s impossible to harbour bad

feelings towards a coin. “Heads, it’s Magnolia,” I say, “tails, it’s puffins.” Heads it is.