Last apple from our tree

As I mentioned the other day our neighbour had kindly picked up all the apples that had fallen from our tree whilst we were away, but this little beauty was still clinking on at the very top of the tree. A quick shake and a deft catch meant we were able to enjoy one last apple from the tree, despite its pecked holes and worm holes - having missed out on most of them during the past 3 weeks away.

A second day of getting up late, gone 11.00am when we finally surfaced ready to face the day. Susan went to see about some work in her old school so I took the opportunity to go for a short run via the allotment. Many, many weeds have accumulated since we were last there but there are 4 ripening pumpkins, lots more baby squash, some sweetcorn and beetroots to harvest. A late sowing of dwarf beans was looking luxurious too.

But the best thing was there were some marvellous apples and pears. I moved an apple tree to the allotment last year that I had planted on some waste ground a few years ago. It did not flourish there nor did it do very well in its first year at the allotment. But this year it is laden as is the pear tree. So, although this shot is of the last apple, there are more to come from the small tree at the allotment.

After the run it was time to cut the grass and then make tea before going out for a walk in the gathering dusk. We both found it difficult to get off to sleep made more so by the calling of a Tawny Owl, the first time we've heard one in the 14 years we've been here - and I had to get up early the next morning.