summer-house holiday. it's usually in the woods, near the woods or through the woods. there is usually water nearby, a clear fresh-water lake or the sea to swim in. sometimes the lake water is brown from the iron in the rocks and the rain washing through the woods. sometimes family flies in from abroad. it nearly always rains and sometimes it storms. we always go picking in the woods, blue berries that bloody the fingers, small wild raspberries with a big taste, porcini (boletus edulis) and chanterelles (cantharellus cibarius) for the butter and garlic in the pan and toast to sit on. it always feels like what it is,a small house in a big country.