Marty

Coming along nicely, thanks. The lawn could do with a cut, but we had rain overnight and the grass is still damp. Hopefully it will be dry tonight and tomorrow.

Hahaha... We deliberately put the ladies in the front row.

Hi, young Albert!

Yesterday was the 33rd anniversary of my father's death. He would be 101 if he were still alive today. Here's a photograph that was taken in 2013 of his eight children stood beside his grave. His age shown on the headstone is incorrect; he was actually 69 when he died.

So sorry to hear that news, Bucket.

Thanks for the heads up, Tim. Just read the first chapter on foot of your recommendation. Definitely looks good.

Hopefully the rain will at least help dampen down some of the dust.

I'll have a look at the couple of photos I took once I have transferred them to the computer, and decide if any of them may suitable enough to share with the rest of the world.

Hi, Gary!

There's just a possibility that my week 17 black & white photograph this Friday may be of two young male strippers in my spare bedroom... [Minds out of the gutters, folks! They were stripping wallpaper. ]

Hi, Page!

Hi, young Albert! As usual, I'm late responding again. My excuse this time is that I had two volunteers round for most of the day, helping me strip wallpaper from the front bedroom. Their mum's just picked them up, so now I must think about what to have for dinner...

Greetings, Page!

I forgot to mention the strawberries. The ones I transplanted from pots haven't produced much this year but, once they've settled in, they should hopefully do really well next year. There's a patch of wild strawberries that have been reasonably productive, though; and there's more in the abandoned garden next door. Not enough to make jam, but plenty enough to add to my breakfast cereal or porridge each morning for the past month or so. They're rapidly coming to the end of their season now; but the wild blackberries should start to ripen around the middle or end of August.

I sincerely hope it doesn't get that bad that it affects your ability to drive. That's one thing that I sometimes worry about myself as I am getting older. Currently, being over 70, I can only get a driving licence for three years, and then will I have to get my GP to certify me fit to drive before a new one will be issued. Living in a rural area as I do, and particularly as there is basically nothing in the way of public transport available, it would be a major problem should I ever be declared unfit to drive...

It looks so beautiful that it almost makes me wonder why it's known as Badwater, and why the National Park is called Death Valley...

With your COPD, it might be a good idea to stay in the house to avoid the smoke. Hopefully the wind will not blow too much of it your way.

Hi, Albert!

Hi, Gary! Hope all's well with you. Any improvement with the eyes?

It's coming along slowly, thanks for asking. The potatoes are growing strong. I'll probably lift one or two plants of the earlies (I think they're known as determinates in some parts of the world) in about two weeks times to see how they're progressing. The main crop (indeterminates) can keep growing for another few months, unless they get hit by the dreaded blight (in which case it will be a case of removing and safely disposing of all the stalks, prior to digging out the tubers). Runner beans are busy climbing the canes; some have even reached the top. They're starting to flower, but no pods to pick yet. Peas are half way up the netting, but no flowers yet. Broad beans are well in flower but, similar to the runners, no sign of pods yet. Cabbage, swedes (winter turnips), Swiss chard, and beetroot coming along nicely, as are the onions, whose bulbs are starting to swell nicely. Need to plant some winter cabbage and some kale next. I've a couple of cherry tomato plants in a container outside. They're flowering at the moment, and hopefully there'll be enough sunshine to enable the fruits to ripen on the plants themselves. The rhubarb plant I managed to get is throwing up lots of nice looking stalks. And the two blackcurrant bushes have settled in, so should give a reasonable crop next year. I'm hoping to get some bare-rooted apple and damson trees, and maybe even a pear, to plant over the winter months. They'll probably become available late autumn or winter.

G'day, bro. The day started off really sunny here, but it's got cloudy in the last hour or so. Currently 16°C/61°F with 52% humidity and the possibility of an odd shower or two later in the day. I put some washing out to dry a while back. Hopefully it will dry before the showers arrive.

Well, he did say "replace" ... But... knowing Albert...

It's not mine, though. I actually have zero tats or piercings.

Hi, Mr. B!