Stormy Weather

[Anna]

Lacklustre runner beans have perked up. One plucky specimen has nearly reached the top of its stick.

Beans need water, water and more water! All but one of mine have reached the optimum height of their supports and will be pinched out today, (I don't use a wigwam but an open octagon wired horizontally, makes easier picking) the dwarfs are also doing well considering they went in so late as rather puny plants. The tomatoes have three and four trusses, not too sure how many I should let them develop before pinching?
Everything smelt lovely and fresh this morning and is now 20.4° with a few wispy high clouds

[Petrushka]

Mention of beans prompts me to ask what has happened to broad beans these past few years? Fresh one have been as rare as hen's teeth in Tesco and when available, pods have produced beans as small as peas thus making a large quantity necessary and they're not to be had. I love them and miss them.

[amateur51]

Mention of beans prompts me to ask what has happened to broad beans these past few years? Fresh one have been as rare as hen's teeth in Tesco and when available, pods have produced beans as small as peas thus making a large quantity necessary and they're not to be had. I love them and miss them.

Me too, Pet - I must ask if my friends who go regularly to the farmers' market have seen any locally.

A good substitute is to use frozen ones - blanch for a couple of minutes and then deskin them by hand - a labour of love it's true but a wonderful result. Your friends will come to admire your dilgence

[Serial_Apologist]

Stifling here this morning, but a gentle to moderate north-easter has now set in, levelling off the temperature at a pleasant 26 C, and the haze/pollution murk has cleared. If this is the coming pattern for the week, then I'll be happy.

[amateur51]

Stifling here this morning, but a gentle to moderate north-easter has now set in, levelling off the temperature at a pleasant 26 C, and the haze/pollution murk has cleared. If this is the coming pattern for the week, then I'll be happy.

Me too S_A - this is quite glorious, he says, indoors, patio door open, wooden blind down but just soaking up the warmth. Joints feel so much better. I enjoyed walking to & from the shops earlier too

[Anna]

Mention of beans prompts me to ask what has happened to broad beans these past few years? Fresh one have been as rare as hen's teeth in Tesco and when available, pods have produced beans as small as peas thus making a large quantity necessary and they're not to be had. I love them and miss them.

I haven't seen many about either so haven't purchased any, a few years ago the crop was decimated by a beetle and they were in very short supply. If I get to the greengrocer tomorrow I'll see if he has any and if they are in short supply. I wonder if, in this fast food age, they've gone out of fashion? You have to pod them, sometimes skin them = effort. I can't believe in the supermarkets they sell ready-chopped onions and ready-sliced beans and carrots!

It's now 26.4°. Neighbours getting ready for big barbie party. Patio has been scrubbed and then vacuumed (honestly!), two gazebos have appeared plus tables, chairs, sundry garden umbrellas and - most significantly - two dustbins for empty bottles/tinnies. I expect my invitation got lost in the post .......

Friend popped round with a waitrose summer berry cheesecake which they'd purchased reduced and wondered I could help to eat it ..... Watched a bit of the tennis but it's not my game, have got it on the kitchen radio. I've got a reasonable through draught here so it's not too bad.

[mangerton]

Lovely day here too. At 17º not as warm as you southrons, but sunny.

OT music note: Playing it safe today, and using the solid state amplifier. By 10 pm yesterday evening, the sitting room had become unpleasantly hot, the valve amplifier having been on all day.

[Anna]

OT music note: Playing it safe today, and using the solid state amplifier. By 10 pm yesterday evening, the sitting room had become unpleasantly hot, the valve amplifier having been on all day.

Crikey!! Most people just have a stereo, it appears mangerton has something more suited to The Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury!! (If I had the faintest idea of what that equipment is I might say something sensible! )

[mangerton]

It's now 26.4°. Neighbours getting ready for big barbie party. Patio has been scrubbed and then vacuumed (honestly!), two gazebos have appeared plus tables, chairs, sundry garden umbrellas and - most significantly - two dustbins for empty bottles/tinnies. I expect my invitation got lost in the post .......

Only two dustbins? Can't be much of a do. In Scotland we usually order a skip. Sorry to hear you weren't invited. I hope they don't make too much noise.

[Anna]

Only two dustbins? Can't be much of a do. In Scotland we usually order a skip. Sorry to hear you weren't invited. I hope they don't make too much noise.

I've been to their barbies before but this one is a family do, already some youngish (10-11? y.o.) children have arrived. They don't usually have music/dancing so it'll just be the noise of chat, terribly respectable! However, the wafts of barbequed food may be a distraction ..... Oh well, I've got honey and soy smoked mackerel and salad - there's healthy! Who really wants greasy burgers with blue cheese dressing?

[Nick Armstrong]

Crikey!! Most people just have a stereo, it appears mangerton has something more suited to The Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury!! (If I had the faintest idea of what that equipment is I might say something sensible! )

[Anna]

Oh, you just love my naïveté and innocence!!
Gosh, I feel quite exhausted after Wimbledon, time to think about food prep - barbie next door looks like an early finish - they are all sitting around eating already! - lots of wee beasties blowing bubbles and juggling (next door's second son is a superb juggler/struggling graphic designer/perpetual student/busker)

Ontopic - temp dropping slightly, but I think an uncomfortable night ahead. If I had a tent I think I'd sleep in the garden.

[BBMmk2]

Time for a bit of suinbdown bow, before the rigours of next week. Still quite a hot day, emotionally too!

[Anna]

Time for a bit of suinbdown bow!

Couldn't have put it better myself!

[Nick Armstrong]

Couldn't have put it better myself!

Oh, you just love my naïveté and innocence!!

I do, I do, I do!

... barbie next door looks like an early finish - they are all sitting around eating already! - lots of wee beasties blowing bubbles and juggling (next door's second son is a superb juggler/struggling graphic designer/perpetual student/busker)

I'm imagining the decorative bonsai hispi on your kitchen windowsill twitching as you keep your eye on them...

And I'm imagining the little ones at the barbie cramming sausages into their mouths while asking "Mummy why is that lady next door watching us??"