Brings back memories of 1975/6 when we had those drought summers, I was stood in the middle of the Hampshire Avon on the Royalty fishery trying to cool down on my annual holiday visits back then.

Strawberries, sliced and put in the moulds, but don't put too many in leave room for the sticks, top up with a juice made from Berry cordial that's just a bit stronger than you might drink, the flavour does diminish a bit when frozen, they look nice with the slices of fruit in them, taste testing to...

Well only one thing to say about Guzz gogg lollies.................................don't do it.............................just wrong....again, yet I love those gooseberry fools you can buy from Morrisons..............back to the drawing board. We have just taken delivery of more lolly moulds, so a ...

Picked my first autumn fruiting rasps today, only half a dozen, but the above mentioned pruning method worked.

Back in the greenhouse again, just click on the link and turn on the sound if you want to hear me waffling on.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=agXGvZvUxYM

I do like a Gooseberry but as I'm both not allowed too much sugar and I'm supposed to be losing weight, the usual crumble is off limits this week, so....................... Guzz gogg and strawberry ice lollies, after the success with the Black Currants I'm on a roll, stew the berries gently, put thr...

We are currently sat a very pleasant 15 degrees but no breeze so feels a bit muggy, not planning on doing anything strenuous so should be fine.

The Snapper sounds nice, with a couple of new potatoes and some salad?

Do you pinch the growing tips from the Broad Beans, stops me getting black fly on them, but the just attacked the Black Current bushes instead, a squirt with washing up liquid sorted them out.

In our garden the other night
Mrs Tiggy Winkle has an itch. by tigerburnie, on Flickr

As far as gardening goes, I avoid doing anything outside between the hours of 11.00 am to around 3.00 pm, find some shade and chill during those "mad dogs" part of the day. I do my watering just after tea at around 6.00 pm seems to work for me, sun hat and sun glasses are a good idea along...

Really windy today, I don't like strong winds in the growing season, so much gets damaged by it, at least it's cooler though.

Tree Sparrows often visit our garden feeders in early Autumn and through the winter.
Tree Sparrow by tigerburnie, on Flickr

I've not made any rat or pigeon flavoured lollies before, don't think I will bother, but the Black current ones come highly recommended.
Re your rat problem, cage traps, work every time , the pests can't refuse a free feed.

Are the red squirrels holding their own up there? They seem to have been driven out by the greys in most of England. There are areas where the Greys have taken over, I'm part of an initiative to report on the populations of squirrels and trapping is taking place, but to be honest, the Greys are not...