WOW - 81!! Happy birthday Johnboy. It's a lovely day here today - hope yours is too
Chris

Monika, so sorry to hear that. Hope it all goes well for you and that you are back in your garden soon.

Maybe artichokes aren't as delicate as we think. Years ago, in north east Scotland, I planted 22 artichoke plants and the first winter covered them well to protect them from the cold. The 2nd winter they were covered, but not as well. The third winter I forgot to cover them at all, and they all surv...

Thanks everyone for your thoughts, Yes, it is good to be home but also very strange in some respects. We used to speak to Eric's Mum on the phone most days and it's only now sinking in that she's really gone. I think when you live a long way from someone, it's too easy to imagine that they're still ...

Thanks OH - just waiting for the weather so I can get into the garden. Good forecast for the weekend

Hi Everyone, So sorry not to reply before now. We've only had 25 days at home since the end of November, but are now back for good. Thank you so much for all your good wishes . . . and hope Mouse had a good day. No birthday cake here unfortunately but looking forward to my piece of Mouse cake!! The ...

I'm coming back as a lion!!

Hi Alan - yep, that's the one! . . . and that was a very quick reply!!!

Hi Johnboy,

Thanks for your concern - no, we haven't had any flooding here, but did get a fair amount of rain. We live on a hill too, so that helps. The river Gers is at the bottom of the hill, but could never get this far up

We have a relative of elder growing all around us - it's a very invasive weed which grows to at least 4 ft tall and stinks when cut. Not the same thing as the ground elder that we had in Scotland (which is where "if you can't beat it, eat it!" came from). I don't think the berries are edib...

WOW - I knew I should've watched it last night

Well, we've finally got summer here too, at last. Had lots of rain and cold weather until about a week ago, but now it's brilliant. We've just had our first globe artichokes for lunch, roasted with baby garlic and fresh marjoram and thyme, and tomatoes (tomatoes not our own unfortunately) with parme...

Hi Binky,

Papllev are the parsley. Just checked mine.

Chris

A man on a train travelling at lunchtime. The train stopped for 15 minutes in a station, and the man got off to grab a quick bite in the station restaurant. Not having much time, he rushed in and sat down opposite a man reading a newspaper with a plate of spaghetti in front of him. The waiter came t...

Hi Old Codger,
Here is a big ball of sunshine for you to help get you on your feet again . . .
Oh well, it's a smile at any rate. Get well soon.