I arrived home tonight to an empty house. Now, that may not sound unusual to many people, but to me, it’s an incredible rarity and an absolute joy. After a day filled to the brim with an almost-missed deadline, walking through the quiet rooms of my home feels like walking on the edge of heaven.

The silence settles on me like a soft blanket. Outside, the snow clouds hang heavy but the air carries a hint of spring. Picking lavender from the prolific bush I’ve finally managed to grow extends the bright hopefulness that fills my soul in this quiet house.

The joy, the bliss, the complete aloneness is intoxicating. It’s a gift in the middle of a busy week that sits in the centre of a chaotic life.