Daughter tells me that her pride and joy sporty Audi, is likely to be written off. I hope the book is thrown at him, but the insurance is unlikely to cover the cost of replacing it. Anyone know how the victim surcharge works? It seems to be applied even where there is no obvious victim.
Morning all. It was just like an autumn day earlier with a mist, but that has blown away, and now the sun is up. Managed a bit more seed sowing yesterday, and the rain overnight should give them a good start. Next job is to clear the weeds and brambles around the rhubarb that is showing through them. Growing that from seed was a bit of a fun project, but I now have three very healthy looking clumps, and the pickings last year were very good. Have a good day everyone.
Morning all. Warm and sunny in rural France today. While waiting for the kettle to boil, I have been watching through the kitchen window the bees going from one blossom to the next on the two cherry trees. There are a lot more flowers on them than last year, so if the bees do their work we could have a bumper crop of fruit. Have a good day everyone.
Morning all. Bright and warm again, and I really should be hard at it on my veggie plot. Instead, a trip with Mme, who has her physio man back from his holiday in Poland. The health centre where she goes has a board up with the names of the thirty practitioners there, covering everything from teeth to feet. Last time I counted, there were only four or five who had names that were clearly French. Some may be born here, and carry names of parents or grandparents. Have a good day everyone.
Morning all. All of my gardening plans have been thrown up in the air by it turning wet, something that wasn't forecast. My daughter has returned from her three days in England with enough tea bags for us to see us into the autumn. Before boarding the train through the tunnel, both going and returning, she was selected to have the car tested for drugs and explosives. She is wondering what makes her look as though she might carry such things. Have a good day everyone.
Morning all. Not a nice day, with rain and a strong wind driving the clouds across the sky. An indoor day for certain. It doesn't look much better in London, and my knees are aching just watching the runners in the marathon. Have a good day everyone.
Morning all. Sunshine and showers are forecast for today. One of the news items from here is about the massive expansion of wind turbines that are to be built in the sea over the next few years. This is a joint effort by many European countries, including the UK. It is being done to safeguard supplies of green energy, and will require large state funding from all the countries. Currently, there is insufficient capacity to make the turbines, and some of the components come from China which is a problem. Still it is good to see cooperation at work, but will that still exist when in twenty-five years disposal of the structures becomes necessary? Have a good day everyone.
Morning all. Grey, but mild and dry. I am currently fighting tree roots as I attempt to create some more seed-beds. Despite going over the whole area earlier with the Rotavator, it is hard going. Leaving the roots intact will simply suck the moisture out of the soil as we go into a dry spell, which increases the amount of watering I have to do. My neighbour as he became older gave up growing his vegetables as he said it was just as cheap to buy them at the supermarket. That maybe true, but I still enjoy the flavour of picking some, and having them in the pot the same day. Enjoy your day everyone.
Morning all. Am feeling maudlin this morning - just received an email telling me that the son of a long-term friend/work colleague in Queensland committed suicide. My friend himself died early last year - having never fully recovered from being stabbed during a home invasion - and his wife died around six months later. Her death caused their two adult sons a problem - neither could afford to keep paying the mortgage on the family home - the older of the two having a family & mortgage of his own and the younger having never worked due to a mental health problem - and before they realised what was happening, the bank repossessed it. The youngest of the two lived on the streets for a while before finding accommodation in a homeless shelter. Last week he found out that the shelter was closing and he'd be back out on the streets - apparently unable to face that prospect, during the night he climbed onto the roof of the shelter and threw himself off. His body was found early the next morning by a 12 year-old girl out walking her dog - and, to compound the tragedy, the girl is his brother's daughter. The thought of how much tragedy one family can experience had me in tears.
That is just plain dreadful BB. I just hope that the elder brother and his daughter can live with it and it doesn't have ill effects on them.
Tragedy like that is difficult to comprehend and very hard to come to terms with for your friends surviving son and his family, I hope they can keep their lives on track Makes you realise how lucky you are when you hear of things like this happening to other people
Morning all. A lovely day is forecast, with a temperature of 25°C likely. In Spain, they have seen temperatures of 36°C already this month, which is a record at this time of year. An English couple who live just a few kilometres away from us have invested in a second home in Normandy where they hope to spend the summer because it is cooler up there, then return here for the winter months. Already there is a big difference in warmth, with the top temperature up north only 15°C today. Have a good day everyone.
Morning all. Overcast, but drying up from the overnight rain. Sun is expected to appear before too long, so gardening will probably come ahead of football. I cannot think how long ago that would have been thinking this way. Have a good day everyone.
Morning all. Lovely day here again, so more gardening. Mme informs me she can either do some gardening, or some cooking, but not both. Not sure what I will be getting today. The Parisians are back at the family home two houses away, and it was quite obvious last night that the BBQ had been fired up. The smell wafting in this direction was rather pleasant. An evening warm enough to sit outside with a glass of wine is very relaxing. Have a good day everyone.
