Phew, What a Spring Scorcher.

When Lady Magnon dons her shorts, and reads the paper in the welcoming shade of our flowering Quince, I know that summer has sent out a recconaissance party.

27C yesterday (seemed more like 35C). So I mowed, sowed, and bared my manly chest to the sun. I just hope that it'll last (the sun, I mean)!

Happy Birthday John.

Yesterday was my friend John's birthday. I've never seen so many birthday wishes on a facebook site!

His latest, recently published, book on 'Bob Marley's Wailers' is a magnificent tome. John is a world renowned authority on Reggae music, and his book is a must for anyone interested in Reggae, or music in general.

So, a slightly belated 'Happy Birthday' John. May you celebrate many, many, more!

The Last of the Carrots.

Traditionally we plant our root crops on Good Friday (22nd April, this year); i.e. Onions, Potatoes, and Carrots. I've learned the hard way never to rush anything.

Amazingly we are still digging our Carrots from last year's spring sowing. They're no longer 'perfect', but they trim up OK. These I've just dug this morning; in the half light.

They will go into a garlic, cummin, and harissa, flavoured Lamb stew, alongside some chunky Potatoes and Butter Beans; and gently cook for about 2 hours. Rustic fare!.

Franglais or Frenglish?

 

In 1994, M Jacques Toubon introduced a law in France (The Toubon Law), making it madatory for all official publications to be written in FRENCH. He also 'encouraged' all others to avoid the use of English.

Why? I hear you ask.... Don't the French speak French any more? Well, it seems not; they prefer English, hence the law!

Poor old Toubon (now universally known as Mr Jack Allgood) was fighting a losing battle. Even the manufacturers of this nearby, recently installed, box of electrical gubbins (above), couldn't resist one little bit of English. 'Outdoor' indeed; et pourquoi pas 'dehors'?

I'm with 'Allgood' on this; the French have a perfectly good language, why not stick to it?

The Golly Dating Agency.

This could be the world's only Non-PC dating agency.

Our Golly (that's him on the left) has found an on-line Belle (that's her in blue). They're hoping to meet-up in the near future, They've already exchanged Email addresses, so we're hoping for a successful outcome.

Gollies of the world unite...... at 'The Golly Dating Agency'.

(I thank friends Serge & Sami for the Emailed picture)

Mexicans This Way!

I continue my recent woodland theme.

A couple of days back our weather turned dull and damp (it's now back to 24 C again), so we took young Monty for a long walk along pastures (woodland) new.

When about an hour into the woods, we came across these two brand-new trail signposts.

So the question is this: Is the US now full to the brim? Are they sending their Mexican overspill to France? What illicit products are those donkeys carrying on their backs? I think we should be told!

The Woods.

There's something about woodland! And nothing I like more than walking through the thick of the trees, either mushrooming or just taking the dogs out.

If I didn't think it so 'homespun', I'd join Prince Charles and become a 'tree-hugger'.

However, I shall content myself with painting and drawing woodland. I've done it since I was quite young (above is from 1974, at my parents home in the beautiful Sussex village of West Chiltington); and I think I'll continue until I die.