AMAZING WEATHER

[PLUMPUDDING]

Hi PJ,

Madeira is beautiful, not too hot, mid 70s but very pleasant and beautiful flowers everywhere. They get plenty of rain so it doesn't get dried up. Lots of interesting walks along the levadas (water courses) so you can see all the crops the locals are growing in their steeply terraced gardens. You couldn't step back to admire your handywork or you would be off the edge.

Their bananas are the best tasting anywhere, a pity the EU won't allow them - apparently they are too small, or not straight enough, something daft.

Anyway, it is a great place for anyone interested in plants.

I've just about got back to normal now in the garden - attacking the weeds and picking fruit between showers. I wish it would warm up, all the squashes and pumpkins have hardly moved since I put them out at the beginning of June. Talk about global warming this is the second cold wet summer in a row.