Back in the country

Finally we managed to get away from the oven that the city became. Thankfully, while terribly hot, it was dry heat, which is always more bearable. However, the fact that the tarmac and the houses became like radiators that disgorge the heat in the evening made it really wearing. Nothing got cool, not even at night, so we were dying to get away. Did one big shop in the market, bought 8 kilos of apricots for Nelly to make jam with and lots of other fruits and veg for us. Quick scoot round Tesco's and we were home.

I am sorry to report that the moles are still at it, so Roy is now waging a war to the death on them, singularly failing, I hasten to add. Our own apricots dropped and shrivelled up while we were away, which makes me even more determined that starting with next summer I am going nowhere in the fruit season. The grass was high(ish), but Roy has already mowed half of it and is now awaiting the long promised cold front which is due to get here by the beginning of next week. I keep telling him that while I understand that he is sick of the heat, with the cold front will come a lot rain, which makes mowing the grass somewhat difficult. Still, he is nearing 70 and I don't want to overburden him. Talking of mowing, we finally found a place to buy the missing bit from his strimmer, so now the edges are getting tidy as well.

Unfortunately the old fruit trees are showing a tendency to drooping and breaking off again, due to the weight of the crop. They did this 2 years ago and after a lean year for fruit last year, the problem is back again. We have supported them where we could, but now even the thick branches are snapping. Shame, but I suppose it is the combined effect of too much fruit, too old trees and the drought that is causing it. We haven't started the cefre barrel yet, but it is soon time for that as well.

Wednesday was my birthday and this year I got a lovely bunch of fresias and roses from Roy and lots of good wishes, mostly by Facebook. My one and only card arrived by snailmail and it was sent by Sheila. At least I got phonecalls from both Alex and Stephen, although Stephen has lost his voice so couldn't talk for too long. In fact, he did tell me that during his call to me he has talked more than the previous week altogether. I was most touched!! My prearranged treat of an "all you can eat sushi and sashimi" lunch has been postponed to a time less hot in the city.

I wrote a long article about WMOC yesterday for Tajolo, I hope nobody will take offence at what I had written. I think the event was very successful, but there were quite a few things that one could criticize as well. One doesn't want to seem a sycophant, so I put a few home truths in just for good measure and hang the consequences.

Must go now as I am still trying to catch up with jobs that gathered while we were away. I started my packing list for Scotland and Canada and it frightens me.
The photographs in order are:
The broken branches
The supports under the branches
My birthday bouquet
An odd peach I picked up in the market