On the face of It

Crab apples

Mr. Lamb mentions 'Later on, when it's a bit cooler, I'll get the ladder and a stick, and pull down those crab apples. They're ripe for it. I make jelly.' He specifically refers to crab apples for jelly-making.

Lamey-Lamb

Mr. Lamb tells Derry 'Lamey-Lamb, some kids say. Haven't you heard them? You will. Lamey-Lamb. It fits.' This is the nickname children use for him due to his artificial leg.

He climbed the garden wall

Mr. Lamb observes 'Only you climbed the garden wall' when talking to Derry, even though 'the gate's always open'. This shows Derry chose to climb over rather than use the gate.

They sing

Mr. Lamb explains: 'Some hear bees and they say, bees buzz. But when you listen to bees for a long while, they humm....and hum means sing. I hear them singing, my bees.' This shows his positive perspective on life.