Ugo Boncompagni, (1502-1585)

Commonly known as Pope Gregory XIII and responsible for the Gregorian calendar. I mentioned him some two weeks ago on my blip series of the so called Ice Saints (danger of frost days) and that really the days are at the end of May but were moved forward with the new calendar. Did you know that England has no 3rd to 13th September 1752? Try ordering a back copy of The Sun ... no chance. Or that Shakespeare and the writer of Don Quixote, Miguel de Cervantes, both died on the same day even though Shakespeare outlived him by 10 days?

Well 27th May should have been the last of the Julian calendar ice saints but this morning we had a bit of a shock. I was up and about at 6:00 wanting to do some linseed oil treatment on (empty) bee hive boxes. Took one step outside and saw the ice on the car. Stepped back indoors and did the work in the house! Luckily it wasn't too severe and the plants that Sepp brought yesterday that weren't in the greenhouse were stored against the house wall and seemed to have survived.

At least the frost signalled the return of the sun which until yesterday afternoon had been rare this week. Somehow got the feeling that it was a turning point, seeing much more wildlife activity particularly around the pond with lots of dragonflies and butterflies.

After breakfast, Angie and Sepp set off back to Munich while I potted around feeling somehow very groggy. Don't think it was the port. No doubt the 3 hours sleep didn't help.

While pushing the wheel barrow over the horse fields, collecting up the nights droppings, I am always forced by the dogs to play with balls or frisbees. They dash all over the place and it's quite a noisy event. Just as we werev about to return the wheelbarrow to the stables saw a young deer on the edge of one of the horse fields, grazing quite happily despite our presence. It must be the same one Angie has seen almost daily in the afternoon.

Only when I took out the mobile to take a photo and insisted the dogs sat and were quiet did the deer look up and then took off! In the photo one can see him above Luna's head between the two white electric wire fences.

When Angie returned late afternoon, I crashed out and did snoozed off the rest of the day/night.