Marty

I'm sure it will be good to see each other. Is your mother used to the heat?

Hi, Albert! All well in Albertsville?

Same here Neither do I. But, to be honest, on the basis of that "Official Teaser" they released for that new film, I saw nothing that would even remotely encourage me to watch it. Not even when it goes on general release in the cinemas.

Greetings, Mr B (And goodnight, everyone.)

I reckon this is one that I'll be giving a miss.

Greetings, young Albert!

Off to bed, folks. Stay safe, all. I'm going to leave you tonight with this Tom Waits song...

Also in British English. It's apparently also where we get the phrase "the last straw" or "the final straw" from. (There is also a somewhat antiquated saying in English that is similar to the French one @clochette gave us: "The last drop makes the cup run over")

The following photograph of me was taken exactly seven years ago today. It shows me standing on the mound that marks the summit of Slieve Beagh East Top which, at 373 metres (1,224 feet) above sea level, is the highest point of County Monaghan, Ireland. This was the culmination of a challenge I had set myself near the beginning of 2013 to stand on the highest point of each of the 32 counties that make up the island of Ireland. I stood on my first county high point (County Roscommon) on the 17th of February 2013, and had hoped to get them all finished by the year's end. But bad weather, work commitments, and a trip to Tanzania to climb Kilimanjaro, all conspired against me. So it was not until 24th June the following year (2014) that I completed the challenge. Toward the end of the challenge I was joined by a friend, Tristan, who had also decided to do the County High Point challenge. He took the above photograph, with my camera, of me celebrating finishing the challenge.

Greetings, bro!

Greetings, young Albert!

It's another wet day here. I suppose one good thing about that is it gives the seedlings I planted out yesterday a chance to settle in their roots. I'm beginning to think I may have to start praying to the Almighty Cod in the Sea and hope it will move the rain southwards over the northwest of France. I think I may have to sacrifice the odd faerie or two for that to work... Hope all goes well, clo.

Back in the 1950's and 60's, whilst growing up in the north of England, we knew them as grannys bonnets (from the appearance of the flowers).

That's never a welcome diagnosis. But hopefully it has been caught early enough.

And you, Gary! I planted out cauliflower and celery seedlings this afternoon. Am planning to pot on some Aquilegia seedlings shortly... I'm not sure, but I think they may be known as Columbine the other side of the Pond...

Hey yourself, bro!

I still wonder about what weird shape of the average French person's arm must be, if they think the English Channel looks like a sleeve...

Marty's bit of useless information #210: The name of the English Channel in Breton (Mor Breizh) means 'Breton Sea', and its Cornish name (Mor Bretannek) means 'British Sea', and it's Irish Gaelic name (Muir nIocht) means 'Merciful Sea'.

Nor me. It's much more fun watching them when they skinny dip.

Marty's bit of useless information #209: La Manche is what the French call the English Channel - the strip of sea separating the south of England from France. Apparently manche means sleeve (of a coat or shirt) - which is what the English Channel looks like to French eyes...

Hey, Bucket. In this part of the world the winter skinny dipping tends to be done mainly either on Christmas or New Year's day.

There is something so good about a nice meal from leftovers And dumpster diving can be good fun as well! You never know what (or indeed who) you might find in those dumpsters...

All good here, thanks, ma Sherye. Hope you're keeping well.