Incy Wincy

New contender for world's smallest tomato

The World's Smallest Tomato

Could this be the world's smallest tomato or is it the world's largest hand?

We have grown cherry tomatoes this year and they have varied in size from cherry-sized to almost normal tomato size, but this one has hardly made it past pea-sized!

The Orchid

The first time we have managed to get an orchid to flower for a second time. There are about 24 flowers/buds on it - so many that its getting a bit top heavy.

Duncan and Pauline's Wedding Do

Lyn only took a handful of photos, but there are a couple of good ones. I think maybe they might merit some sort of caption competition. I've put in my suggestions - what do you think?

Brian looked on in awe and wonder as Margaret gargled the theme tune from Miami Vice through her gin and tonic while keeping the lemon slice balanced vertically on her tongue.



John and Georgie show off their new party piece ventriloquist act. (I'm sure there must be a joke about a dummy in there somewhere)




Karen wasn't totally convinced when Neil suggested they see Jools Holland at The Rejent for the 30th consecutive year.



David stifles a yawn as he doesn't have the heart to tell Jim that he's seen that photo of Margaret's thumb five times already tonight.




Brian got something of a surprise when he accidentally sucked instead of blowing on his hot potato wedge.

Veggies get going at last

Our mini veg plot is starting to look like it actually has some veggies in it at last. The lettuce is going strong and the radishes are taking shape. Still no sign of the spring onions, so we have sown some more seed this week-end.














The Toms are looking good and the first flowers are about to open and the runner beans are poised to start climbing their poles!

Abbey House Gardens

Well worth a visit for anyone who likes looking at other peoples gardens. Its only 5 acres so you can get round in a couple of hours if you want to, but could make it last half a day if you really try! Best check the website before visiting as certain days are set aside as 'clothes optional' and you may find more on display than you expected to see!

If I knew you were coming I'd have baked a cake

Baking your own cakes adds enormously to the eating experience. Firstly you know exactly what goes into them, and can see to it that they only contain the good stuff. Secondly the preparation time gets the juices going with the anticipation of the finished product. Thirdly the smell of cake being baked is almost - but not quite - as good as the actual eating of the cake, and finally cake never tastes better than when its still warm fresh from the oven. Nothing shop bought can ever come close!

Cats - The devil's followers

Cats wait at a safe distance while you dig the soil, weed it, remove the stones, fertilise it and rake it so that you can grow something in it. They continue to wait while you carefully plant seeds at the correct depth and spacing for optimal germination. They wait until you are safely indoors, or better still they wait for night fall and the sound of snoring. Then the evil bastards dig up your seeds, shit all over them and make a pile of the pooh and seed mixture in the middle of what was your seed bed.

The next day you repair the damage as best you can and cover the bed with fine netting, thinking that the cats will take the hint and shit elsewhere. How wrong can you be! They trample on the netting until its flat on the soil then they try and shit through it and somehow manage to half bury it in the shit.

If one of them makes the mistake of getting caught up in the netting, I'm going to scoop its poop into a small bag which I will attach tightly to its neck before sending it back to its owner - the devil - with a good kick up the backside.

Unfortunately B&Q don't seem to sell razor wire or electric fencing so I'm working on my own solution to the problem, knowing me though, I'll be the one that ends up suspended 12 feet above the ground in a cargo net with rottweilers snapping at my tender bits.

Anyway, apart from that I'm having fun trying to 'grow my own', its been a while since we last planted anything you could actually put on a plate.

Herbology

Made our first potions today.

Eyebright infusion for tired or sore eyes and some Plantain Cream for treating bites or stings.

Have a feeling I need to be careful when walking past beds of nettles in case some one accidentally pushes me in, so that clinical trials can begin.

Even Weeds Can Look Good

The Anniversary

Its our anniversary today and as my punishment for inflicting myself on my wife for the past 31 years I have to wear this badge for the next 24 hrs.

All things considered, I guess I got off lightly really!