This was said to me this morning in a mock-exasperated voice by an elderly gentleman. He wasn’t cross, and I hadn’t just mown him over – on the contrary, I was patiently standing out of his way to allow him through our local GP’s surgery door ahead of me. It made me smile.

I have spent the last seven weeks slowed down, but now the kids are back at school and I am going fast. I am not in a hurry, I just rather enjoy the sensation of stretching my legs and walking at speed, rather than having to match my pace to people half my height who like to go the scenic route. I am enjoying grabbing my bike out of the garage and speeding down little pathways where I would normally have to crawl past the holiday pedestrians. I like the feel of the breeze in my face and the sense of freedom. I’m relishing in the chance to busy myself round the house, cleaning and tidying, making the space mine again.

Sometimes, just sometimes, you can get just as much enjoyment taking the time to speed up to smell the roses. Just so long as you take care to not knock anyone over on the way.