Sloe, Sloe, Quick quick, Sloe

Out walking on Sunday I remarked that it looked as though we would have no sloes this year. Not a sign of any blossom.

Yesterday I saw the first tree promising some blooms.

Today they were really getting down to business and I actually had the camera with me!

Anyway, there will be Sloe Gin next autumn.

Today's extra is a Fire Salamander spotted on the road on our way back down the village this morning. I took the photo then checked to see if it was still alive. It had pegged it. So, it's a photo of a dead salamander, sorry.

Apparently they emerge after rain (we have had a bit) and take up stationary position on the road - where they promptly get squished. Not certain what evolutionary advantage this behaviour confers.

In Other News: plans for another Big Trip are firming up. There should be some nice Blips forthcoming, though in the usual patchy manner associated with our travels (sorry again). We head to Girona in Spain in mid-May, then we turn northwards to be in Copenhagen for mid-June. Several weeks touring in Scandinavia then see us return to Copenhagen in July. Thereafter our plans become more fluid but we expect to wend our way home fairly slowly via Germany. Altogether we will take in 8 countries, not counting France. An adventure!