Marty

And the same wish is sent back to you, Gary.

Hi, clo!

Hi, Page.

Well, hi there!

Thanks guys! It was a really enjoyable day. Spent several hours discussing the state of the world over tea, cookies and cake. I then called in on an ex-colleague of mine, and had to drink more tea, and admire and praise his garden. He's high risk as far as covid-19 is concerned as, although he's only in his mid-fifties he suffered a massive heart attack about ten years ago, which he was lucky to survive, and has lung problems. So we met in his garden, and never came closer than four metres from each other. I then called out to another friend, whose son came out as gay a few months ago. Although he's 21, he still lives with his parents, and his mum had contacted me asking if I could have a chat with him. She is supportive, as is dad, but is concerned about the fact he may be meeting lads through the Grindr app. She's not opposed to that per se, just concerned about the current covid-19 and social distancing. I was actually surprised she knows about Grindr, as she is no spring chicken! Their children were adopted when they were unable to have any of their own after years of trying. So, as she lives close to the friends I was visiting, I rang her and arranged to call to the house after the picnic at my friends. I've known the family for about fifteen years, so the son has known me since he was around six years old. He is aware (as are his parents) that I am also gay, so he was more than happy to have a chat with me about gay issues. Mum left us alone at a picnic table in the garden, and the chat just flowed. He has met one lad since the lockdown, but all he did was take a walk with him and refused to even hold hands, as he would be worried about bringing the virus into the house and possibly infect his older parents, especially his mum who has a few health issues of her own. That 'relationship' died a death as a result. He told me he's currently chatting to another lad online who lives about 40 kilometres (25 miles) from him, but they've both agreed that, until the pandemic is over, they won't even think about meeting. I dropped into the conversation the usual observation that not everybody online is necessarily who they say they are. He said he's already realised that. I didn't tell him his mum had asked me to chat to him, which I think made the conversation a lot easier and more natural. We chatted for over two hours, and the only reason I cut it short was because it was starting to get dark and the midges were getting active as the day cooled slightly. And I had not brought a top out with me, so my arms were starting to be attacked by them. When I said I should head home he told me how grateful he was for me chatting to him. The family lives in quite a rural area, so he said I'm the first person in the near locality he has found to talk to who properly understands gay issues. I think he'll be fine. I did tell him about an LGBT youth group that meets weekly in a larger town about 30 kilometers (19 miles) away, and said I would find out when they plan to start the meetings again. So an eventful day, but rewarding in more ways than one. But it was close on 11:00 pm before I finally got home.

Good morning, all! Shaping up to be another good day here in the northwest of Ireland. Currently 9:30am and a temperature of 17°C (63°F) with a high expected of 24 (75). Today is June Bank Holiday here in Ireland and, especially on a day a good as this, the parks and beaches would normally be crowded. But 2020 is no normal year, so although I suspect there will be a little more outdoor activity today than in recent weeks, I am sure it will not be what we would normally see. Myself? I did some baking last night: wholemeal bread, chocolate chip cookies, and a banana loaf. This afternoon I plan, whilst observing all social distancing recommendations, calling round to some good friends of mine with those goodies. We shall have a picnic in their garden. It will be good for us to actually socialise for a change.

Hi, Page.

Depends what you're normally used to, I suppose... I'm reminded of an experiment I used to do with the kids when I taught second-level science many years ago. I'd have three bowls of water; one with ice in it, one with quite hot water, and the middle one just lukewarm. I'd ask them to put their hand in the hot water for about a minute, and then move it to the lukewarm one and tell me what it felt like ("Cold!" would always be the answer). We'd repeat with the hand in the iced water first. As you can guess they would then tell me the lukewarm water felt hot.

I feel your sadness, Gary.

Hi, all! Another scorcher (for Ireland) here. Currently coming up to 5:00 pm and the temp is still around 22°C (72°F), and not a great deal of cloud to block the sun. They're promising 23°C tomorrow, but think it may turn slightly cooler from Tuesday, with even a risk of the odd shower or two. I did something I've not done before this year. I was raking and hoeing some of the rough turned soil from a few weeks back, to try and remove any volunteer weeds, and prepare seed beds for carrots, swedes, and more beetroot. My t-shirt was sticking to my back because of the humidity, so I actually took it off and did the job topless...

Unfortunately the reopening of barbers and hairdressers in Ireland isn't due to happen until phase four of the Government's Roadmap for Reopening Ireland, which is currently scheduled for July 20.

Sorry, Albert... I was only messing with my screw comment.

Thank you, young Albert. (But my hair was a total mess! )

Sort of what I was implying in my previous comment...

A screw? (That joke probably won't be understood across the pond )

Belated Happy Saturday, back at you, Gary (What's left of it - it's 23:26 hours here)

A very belated hello back at you, Albert!

The temperature today in the village was 25°C (77°F), which was far too warm for me to work in the garden. So, still staying inside my 5km radius from home for outdoor exercise, I went up one of the mountains near me, where it was cooler (and also less humid). Here's a view back down over the northern end of Lough Allen, which is the first big lake on the River Shannon, which is the longest river in the whole of the British Isles (or, as some of my Irish friends like to put it: the longest river in the whole of the Great Britain and Ireland). And I don't normally do selfies, but the next one is of me later at the windfarm on the plateau at the top of the mountain. And yes, I know I need a shave!

At least the alligator didn't decide to follow you, unlike this brown bear that followed a twelve year old Italian boy down a hillside... https://www.mercurynews.com/2020/05/28/watch-bear-follows-boy-on-path-as-mother-freaks-out/ The linked article above includes a video of the encounter that the boy had specifically asked his stepfather to take. Don't worry anyone who hasn't already seen it - it all ends happily.

They started off as various colours, but they're quite a few years old now (container grown), and there are now more blue than whites, yellow, reds, pinks, purples and bi-colours. Although classed as perennials, they do have a tendency to die after a number of years. The blues seem to live the longest. The variety I grew from seed is Russell Lupin Mixed, named after the English horticulturist, George Russell, who developed them in the 1930s. I may sow another lot this year to grow in the ground in my new garden.

Yes. aka lupin

And you may find this interesting, Albert: Spanish archeologists suspect that they may even have found the remains of Christopher Columbus at the same site... https://www.thejournal.ie/department-of-culture-makes-contact-with-spain-over-dig-for-red-hugh-odonnells-remains-5111359-May2020/

Hey, Drew!

Correct! But we call it lupin over here