Rosy Outlook

Daughter Kate in Ireland has at least sent some photos that are usable and get me out of another emergency Blip. I suppose her brother can at least claim to have inspected the earth where the new pizza oven (almost centre of photo) is now taking shape.

Kate and her husband created the house and garden themselves out of a field. Naturally, the Irish climate makes gardening a joy but seldom sitting out on the terrace in baking shine a common event. But this year things have been very different and in the past weeks, lots of photos have been appearing of the grandchildren and dogs splashing about in pools, streams and water fighting in the garden. Today son-in-law Barry sent a video of the water sprinklers in action on the golf course he manages.

As Kate wrote, it was warmer in Ireland than Tenerife and the German TV weather people showed a map where coastal parts of Norway around Bergen were warmer than Majorca.

It's been great here too but only Tuesday night was thunder free and there is no sign of this letting up. At least it's good for my vegetable plot and maybe I might be able to produce a radish by the time the family come over in a few weeks time.

(Please don't nit-pick "Rosy Outlook" - I know a Sahara Date climber when I see one in full bloom.)