Marty

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

Lupins I think they may be called lupines on your side of the pond... (That's not one of my photos)

Here's my week nine photo of my attempt to take a new photo in B&W each week for 52 weeks:

Timothy is talking a lot of sense. What really worries me is what this pandemic is doing to people's mental health...

Hi, Page.

Hey, Timothy! Put your feet up and relax, You deserve it. Not sure exactly how Ireland's statistics compare to Demark's (and this isn't a competition, anyway) but the Central Statistics Office here issued a report last week which included the following: The CSO’s analysis of the confirmed deaths has found that COVID-19 has had the greatest impact on people aged 65 or over. Almost 92% of confirmed deaths occurred within this age group in the period from 11 March 2020 up to 15 May 2020. The data also shows that in the 0-44 age cohort there were 17 deaths. This older age group also accounted for more than 26% of all confirmed cases of the virus. Further analysis found that 14% of all confirmed cases are people aged 80+, despite only making up 3% of the population. In almost 88% of deaths there was an underlying condition, the median age of these deaths was 83, the same as that for all deaths. This compares to the median age of 48 for all those with a confirmed case of the virus. https://www.cso.ie/en/releasesandpublications/br/b-cdc/covid-19deathsandcases/ Seems to confirm your "if you're old but healthy [...] you still have a good chance of surviving infection" comment.

Hey, young Albert! Day's going well so far, thanks for asking. A far bit sunnier than it was earlier. But, before the sun decided to put its hat on and come out to play, I had another go at the root of that bush that I said yesterday (I think) was proving difficult to remove. Eventually, with one serious sounding "snap!" of what must have been the main root, it yielded to my superior strength 💪 and persistence, and is now lying upside down in the sun to dry out. It will join the others on another wee bonfire eventually. I might wait till Saint John's Eve (23rd June) for my next bonfire, as that is traditionally bonfire night here in Ireland.

I suspect that the decrease in humidity may suit you, bro..?

Currently 19°C (66°F) here, with a maximum of 22°C (72°F) promised. Not a great deal of sun today, though.

Almost sounds as though you're saying that life is a lemon and you want your money back... (I'll use any excuse to play a bit of Meat Loaf)

I've heard it all now...

I think he's still angry with me, bro. And I can't say I blame him.

There's something strangely erotic about that gif...

My mistake entirely. Thanks for pulling me up on this, Albert. And apologies to Gary for my stupidity. I have gone back and edited my reply, and deleted the photo.

I told you not to look!

I love mushroom soup (and pea soup)

What dughlas said.

Wow! Another busy little bee!! (Same warning to Val)