Scarecrows

It is a sociable weekend at the allotment with a produce display and competition, a scarecrow competition and a barbeque. It was another hot day and the allotment site is large so we didn't walk round the whole area. You will see from the photos how parched the ground is.It is hand watering throughout the allotments but some plots are near to the water points. Unfortunately my plot is not! This gentleman standing by his rhubarb patch was my favourite scarecrow. he had been very carefully put together and the message was good humoured; holding his allotment growing for dummies book and a bucket with slug food. I went to have a closer look at him and saw that his head had been constructed from papier mâché.

Not everyone was too bothered about whether their scarecrow had a head! We are all having enough problems keeping plants alive to sacrifice a pumpkin for a head.

Scarecrows of all shapes and sizes, from little girl ones to this impressive large crow.

Then it was time to join this little girl, suitably dressed in a glittery sunflower design, here with her grandad, and eat a beefburger and salad - and a delicious slice of pineapple cake!

The golden hour

The drought-stricken conditions continue. Too hot to walk our thick coated pup in the heat of the day. She is far more comfortable inside resting on the cool kitchen tiles.

In the early evening when the temperature has dropped we have walked her onto the heath. It is a wonderful time of day. Everyone takes pleasure in being outside, admiring the dried grasses, finding cobwebs, dawdling along, Mabel sniffing at the undergrowth, discovering information that we shall never know. It isn;t really a walk, it's an amble, a wander, a contemplation. Three generations together, happy in each others company.

It really is the golden hour. It reminds me of so many similar oaccasions over the years with family and with friends long gone now. I'm growing old and can look back at a lifetime of times like this that are so simple but so joyful. As we returned through the fields the man on the tractor gave us a wave. He was clearly enjoying the golden hour as much as us!

The weekend

The weather has been hanging around the 34 degree mark for a couple of weeks now and is not conducive to cooking or anything much else for that matter. On Friday we ordered a Turkish takeaway from the local restaurant and sat outside wuth family in the cool of the evening. It had been a fraught week for Himself and us all with illness and a rush to hospital in the middle of the night the previous weekend. After most of the week in hospital he was delighted to be back home.

On Saturday we went to the allotment to do some much-needed watering. It was futile, and unbearably hot. We sat in the shade of the hut for a while and then went home

Saturday night was football night so I was very late to bed. I'd intended an early morning swim on Sunday but completely overslept. Good weather at the weekends means a busy beach, something I'm usually at pains to avoid. Nevertheless, the sea was calling. There was a lovely coastal breeze and people were enjoying flinging themselves into the breaking waves. I joined them for a while. We sat by the water's edge and it was lovely to see everyone enjoying themselves.

There is always a boy digging a hole!

Cushions

We've been lounging in the shade under the gazebo and discovered that the outside seating that is left there, wooden and bamboo seats and loungers, are not remotely comfortable to sit on for any length of time. A quick look to see what was on offer online and I placed an order for a set of jungle cushions. Seemed appropriate!

Perhaps now the weather will cool!

38 degrees!

Simply not British, is it? I can't ever remember it being too hot and humid to sit out in my own gardwn before now but it is certain;y the case this week. Last weekend we hosted the book club and Saturday morning started with drizzling rain - not a good sight when you've planned to set the lunch outside. But by noon the rain had cleared and the sun appeared and it was comfortable to sit under the veranda

Now it is far too hot to consider being outside. We go to the beach first thing in the morning for a quick swim.

It is great to be able to stroll into the water without having to brace yourself against the cold! We don't stay for long but as we leave we pass people laden with goods for a day om the beach. I hope they've packed their sun screen!

It is good to be back hoome.

The garden is full of summer colour now.

It is too hot even sitting in the shade.

Do stay safe if you are experiencing similar conditions.