Summers arrival

o, my amateurish photo essay is over and no doubt the blog probably takes about 10 years to load up now. I suspect it matters not. The fond farewell to spring was ultimately timely though because summer hit London Town with a vengeance this weekend. Everything flopped in the extreme heat - me, Dan, cats, plants. A mass wilting in the garden. Upside: I managed to wash virtually every textile in the house as each load took approximately 10 seconds to dry in the heat.

here was nothing for it, but to watch the embryonic peas grow and eat barbequed products to excess. We had our first barbe of the season and to be honest, eating was all that happened all weekend. Massive South Indian curry on Friday night to celebrate our 6th anniversary, farmers market on Saturday morning, barbeque Saturday and Sunday evening. We have been eating large amounts of asparagus whilst it's in season, rather decadently for breakfast with poached eggs and stone baked English muffins. It was also the first appearance of strawberries at the market, from our favourite farmer who was the direct inspiration for our egremont russet apple tree. Mmmmm strawberries. They were good, all gone now...

tell a lie, we did achieve something. All the tomatoes, cucumbers and aubergines were potted up into their final positions. I bought a load of these watering spikes that I'm now fiddling with to get the water dripping just right. Trial and error, but getting closer. I think there a bit more lo-fi than their equivalent at harrod horticultural, but their 10% of the price and support Oxfam so I can deal with the minor fiddle to adjust the flow.