It’s been a pretty decent sort of week – sunshine! We had clear and sunny skies most of the week with tolerably acceptable temperatures. Indeed, we got up to 19o on Tuesday (about 66o Fahrenheit). So warm and sunny that we had to open the bi-fold doors! Scorcio!
The good weather brought all the village gardeners out into their gardens – the dulcet tones of mowers and strimmers competed with the birdsong, all a sign of spring in their own way. At the first shaft of sunlight, Ms Playchute was out in the garden, digging and titivating while her assistant lay in the sun.
Sadly, it’s back to colder weather and yet more rain this coming week, it seems. Hey ho, it was nice while it lasted.
Apart from the lovely weather, the only other excitement this week was the Moreton Pinkney Garden Club Annual General Meeting on Thursday evening. Boy, it’s exciting what goes on in MP! A glass of wine and a romp through the business of “electing” a chairperson, receiving the treasurer’s report and unanimously approving everything, the members were treated to an “interesting” talk by Beverley Bain, a perfumier who developed the (apparently) very popular Jo Malone ‘Pomegranate Noir’ fragrance. She is now active in the SmellTaste charity which supports those affected by smell and taste disorders.
She had us sniffing a number of smell strips although I have to confess, there were one or two scents that I was simply unable to discern. Even when I was told it should smell like rotten cabbage or a teenager’s smelly socks, I still couldn’t get it. Fortunately, I wasn’t the only one! Perhaps I am suffering with Hyposmia, a reduced ability to smell.
“Some people lose their sense of smell completely and suddenly, whilst for others the loss of smell occurs gradually over time, so that the person may not realise that it is deteriorating.”
Rather like our gradual loss of hearing over time, I guess. If it’s supposed to have the fragrance of a teenager’s smelly socks, I’m good.
We’re looking forward to a visit with Ben, Brex-Anna and Max at the end of the week. Max, Jessie and Juju are all getting excited to see each other again – they met up in Thailand last December. Lots of excursions and outings ahead, no doubt.
Great excitement on Friday afternoon when Penny came sprinting with great enthusiasm to describe what she’d found in our pond. After finding some stick-like insects in a friend’s pond, Penelope came home to look at ours. And, Yes! We have them too. Alien-looking, stick-like creatures moving about in the bottom of the pond.
Mr Google was very helpful in identifying our pond visitors. It seems they are Caddisfly Larvae – aquatic insects (order Trichoptera) renowned for making cases to pupate in, gathering stones, sand, twigs and leaves, and wrapping them with silk.
Found in clean streams and ponds, they serve as vital bioindicators of water quality and key food sources for fish, with most species acting as detritivores or carnivores.
Extraordinary.
YCNMIU
Nope. You really could not make this shit up. The “America First” president wreaking havoc on the world stage by seeking to obliterate what he obliterated a few weeks ago.
I am always reminded of the Calvin & Hobbes cartoon of some years ago (23 March 1986 – “How come we play war and not peace?”) every time some wannabe tough guy decides to bomb the shit out of the women & children in some sovereign regime.
And, a more recent cartoon with much the same message.
And finally, the greengage was the first to blossom in the orchard. I hope it’s a bumper crop this year – these beauties are sweet, juicy and simply delicious.
And finally, finally a few more photos, just for fun.
Meanwhile, keep breathing, keep happy, keep smiling, keep exercising, be good, be careful, and keep safe. And, be gentle to wasps and bees – we need all the pollinators we can get. And, hold your loved ones close.
Lots of love to you all,
Greg