Time to get in the sugar and get out the preserving pan to make greengage jam and plum jam and plum compote.

The usual time to pick them is August through to the end of September. They are ready a month early because of the exceptionally hot weather.

Always laughing, talking politics and trivia and family secrets and winding each other up and always, always loving each other. Special, precious times.

I am filling dishes of water for birds and putting out ripe fruit. Then I worry that the cats will kill the small birds but for now Nigel is almost too hot to hunt (although he did get a couple of shrews – sorry).

But none has fallen and the forecast for the week shows high temperatures and sun. I am scared and powerless to change the situation. Thinking of all those across Europe evacuated due to wildfires.

Which used to house the R101’s the successor to the zeppelin. In more recent times modern airships were built and parked there. They were moved a few years ago but I was privileged to see one flying overhead – it was enormous

After we sold the lambs and before the goat kids came along there was more attention paid to the sheep. First they were shorn and six weeks later we sprayed them against the threat of blow flies. Now they are happy to be left alone to graze in the field – although grass is in short supply.