Tigridia pavonia

Making it's annual appearance in the garden.  It was not hardy in Norwich, unsurprising as it comes from Mexico although is now a widely cultivated plant.   Here it's proved hardy through two winters grown in a very sandy raised bed.  Just 400 yards from the sea, hard frost is very rare here.  The exotic flowers are huge, several inches across but each one lasts just one day.

Maybe the Gala photo should be the Blip but I'm much more of a plantsman than a railway enthusiast, even despite where I work :-)

A showery day but with sunny intervals.   I don't seem to have finished anything but have been getting on with assorted jobs large and small.  The dogs and I had an outing this morning.

After a short pottery visit, I popped to Wharf station at tea time to meet John - middle brother - and Louise - my niece - who are visiting the area this weekend.   It's the Awdry Extravaganza weekend on the Talyllyn and they have been soaking up the experience.  Think Star Wars convention and convert it to Railway Series Rev'd Awdry stories and you'll get the idea.   Almost certainly in single most popular and well attended event we've ever organised!   An extra pic to give a snapshot of it - the loco in the foreground is from the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway and is mounted on a flat wagon.   It's been up and down our line multiple times this weekend.  It's been a very successful weekend, albeit slightly bonkers on several fronts.  Many enthusiasts come in full costume of characters from the stories.   I spotted a couple of Sir Topham Hats, Thin and Fat Controllers and there was at least one Reverend Awdry complete with dog collar and grey wig!