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 bight the previous weekend. After most of the week in hospital he was delighted to be bacl 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 bbreaking waves. I joined them for a bit. 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.

All change!

These photos don't show it but the weather has taken a ridiculous turn for the worse. We are experiencing heavy bursts of rain, thunder and lightening and a wind that whips the tree branches tearing off new lwaves and breaking flower stems. My poor roses! And why do I never get round to staking my plants before they have grown to a vulnerable height?

Strong colours are putting in an appearance now, red, blue and purple, suggesting warm summer days, ha ha!

I went out in a lull of the weather to cut out the damaged and spent flower heads. Some roses behave quite well but others just curl up and sulk when heavy rain hits them. (And I'm a bit the same.)

At least I'm not having to water the allotment!

30 plus degrees.

This is the sort of weather when I'm pleased to have a shade garden, there are plenty of places to be out of the sun.

The garden is bursting with colour. At the moment the stars of the show are abutilon suntense and Sambucas negrus. The abutilon has flopped all over the planting beneath it but is looking so lovely that I have left it be. I'll cut back once the flowers are over.

But the flowers that I wait for most eagerly are the roses. I brought little cuttings from our previous home and now, three years later, they are bulking up well. I stuck one or two in a very inhospitable spot beside the drive, with small hopes of success but Constance Spry is giving it her best shot.

Some of the rose names I have forgotten!

I've been going to the allotment in the cool of the evening to do some much-needed watering, watering cans only, it is tough work! On Bank Holiday Monday I couldn't resist a swim in the sea. We went early, before the crowds. It was slack tide and although the water was cold it felt wonderful to come back to a warm beach without the more usual wind that threatens to take the skin off your bones! We were home in the cool of the garden before nine, feeling rather pleased purselves!