The 3 month garden.

One of the first things we did on returning to France was to plant-up all the pots and planters. A home isn't the same without flowers.

We usually buy old-faithful Petunias, which will normally continue flowering until the frost gets them; but for some bizarre reason we couldn't find any. Instead I bought these Impatiens (below), which are OK; but not the same. We also have several potted Geraniums that have survived the winter and recently romped; they are now flowering like crazy.

I always go for blood red, with deep green leaves. It's the same with Roses, Geraniums, or Oleanders; I love that contrast. I'm not keen on pink or white; blood red is my baby.

We're only here for three months so no point putting in bedding plants. It's a different type of gardening, and the book is yet to be written. An opportunity for someone 'The 3 Month Garden'.

 

More nonsense.

 

I shall not go into details but some time ago a gang of very well organised Asian men were grooming young vulnerable white girls for sex in the Northern town of Rochdale.

These mostly under-age girls were ferried around and used as sex-slaves; having been plied with drink and drugs. This was a seriously nasty gang, and it involved many men.

The so-called ringleader of the gang was 51 year old Abdul Aziz (below) who was sentenced to 9 years in prison back in 2012.

Aziz was stripped of his UK Citizenship in 2018, and was to be deported to his native Pakistan on release from prison, but it has now been revealed that the 'Bleeding hearts, woke, liberal, human rights, legal brigade' have been successful in their campaign to have him remain in the UK.

These are the people who have criminal deportees removed from planes just at the moment of departure, who demonstrate against illegal immigrants being sent to hotels in Rwanda, and no doubt want the rest of the Rochdale Grooming Gang to stay in the UK.  

I cannot understand why this noisy brigade of 'do-gooders' are so vociferous in trying to keep such criminals in the UK. To me, the human rights of the abused children come well before those of Aziz. I wonder if any of the woke-brigade have protested on behalf of the victims?

And why are the Judges in UK courts defending criminals in the name of so-called 'human rights'? Time for change, lets get back to some form of common sense.

Come to the UK if you wish to benefit from all that she has to offer, but don't come if all you wish to do is commit crime; in which case expect to be sent back to whence you came.

Garden Furniture

I suspect that most of us with gardens will have garden chairs similar to the one in my photos.

They look good at the shop. They look as if they're made from some exotic hardwood. And they are usually affordable.

But in reality they are poor quality and don't last too long. I'm not sure how many I've had collapse beneath me; at least four. After a few years they simply 'break', even when over-wintered indoors; as are ours.

This particular one broke yesterday. The seat's tongue-n-groove joints had rotted, and only through quick action did Cro not end up flat on the floor.

However, they're easily mended, and with a few offcuts, some glue, and half a dozen screws all is well again. Voila!

As Lady Magnon just said "Invisible Mending".

Ana Kasparian I Don't Care About Your Religion

I'm posting this thanks to Andrew over in his Melbourne 'High Rise' apartment. 

No idea who this woman is, but she certainly knows what's what. I find it extraordinary that in 2022 people who still believe in gods and devils can dictate to others about 'reality'. A 'clown show' indeed; well said Ana!

Those Tomatoes.

On the 15th May, about two weeks before leaving for France, I planted four Tumbler Tomato plants in two wall mounted planters. 

The plants have done amazingly well. They are now covered in flowers, and already have a few small Tomatoes forming. You need to look closely at the photo.

These are 'Tumbler' Tomatoes, and as the name suggests they eventually hang down over the sides, and produce plenty of Tomato tresses. 

With them already starting to produce fruit, I'm wondering if there'll be anything left in two months time when we return to the UK.

Some of the leaves are looking a bit yellow, I may have to ask someone to feed them.

 

DNA

Some time ago my sister in NZ sent me details of her DNA analysis, which, logically, I presume would be the exactly same as mine.

How accurate these things are I don't know, but I have no reason to doubt their findings, other than one particular bit which I shall try to ignore.

According to their findings I do seem to be more Welsh than I am English; but this really doesn't surprise me. They estimate that I am 44% Welsh and only 27% English. I'm almost thinking of joining a Welsh Male Voice Choir.

More surprising is the Scandinavian connection. I'm really quite pleased with this as Lady M is half Swedish, and we have other Nordic relations. My youngest son's wife is also Swedish. I was amused to inform her that we both have mutual Scandinavian blood flowing alongside our otherwise exclusively blue tinted stuff. 

So, that's it. When next I'm asked about my 'nationality' I shall reply that I'm Welsh-boyo-English with a smidgen of Viking. Sounds good to me! 

Stats

Comments have no relationship to visits.

As you can see from below, I tend to have anywhere between 800 and 1,000 visits per day, but often very few comments; especially if my subject matter is particularly tedious. I suppose I'm also guilty; I do visit many pages without leaving a comment.

I'm not in the habit of looking at my stats, but I do very occasionally.

I find that most visitors come via Chrome, and they are Windows users.

They mostly live in the UK, US, France, Canada, and Australia. They do also come from other countries, but in much smaller numbers.

I have never blogged in the hope of huge visitor or friend numbers. I do know people who use Facebook almost exclusively for that reason; their number of 'friends' bears no relation to reality. They click to invite friends just to see the numbers rising.

Blogging for me is a combination of discipline and externalising thoughts. I like to get something off my mind each day, and I enjoy the daily ritual.

As I do normally try to reply to every comment, if I was suddenly to have over 100 comments, my days would be filled, and I wouldn't be able to cope; so I am happy as I am.