I didn’t bother with sugar, lemon juice or cinnamon in top. I don’t like the taste of cinnamon. Really best made with zwetschgen plums but good luck with finding them in the shops. That’s why we planted 3 trees of that variety 11 years ago. it took a while but now we have a good supply. Just off to the orchard to pick some more

For a plum cake

Apparently this recipe is published in the paper every “fall” – of course they mean autumn! The plums are falling early this year and I will need to pick them quickly before I lose them

With thanks to the bees

Remembering that in its short but active life each bee will only make one twelfth of a teaspoon of honey. We treat each spoonful with great respect and gratitude.

See Dr Google’s description below. We are seeing many such holes and bees around The Gables this year

In the UK, miner bees, also known as mining bees, are a group of solitary bees that nest in the ground, digging tunnels and chambers for their young. There are over 224 species of solitary bees in the UK, with many belonging to the mining bee group (Andrena genus). They are important pollinators and are generally harmless, with their stings not being strong enough to penetrate human skin. 

I asked dr Google if sheep and goats eat marrows. Yes was the reply. But them up and feed in moderation

We think a pigeon has been nesting in the tree.

Just now Nigel climbed into that tree – high off the ground and eventually mother pigeon flew out

I was terrified that he would find the nest. I called and cajoled. Click below

Our afternoon visitors were surprised at the climbing cat

I’m in the final phase of writing my second book. Here’s a short extract from one of the chapters

“In the middle of August, 1945, I went to Westcliff with Avis – a girl I had become friends with at the youth club. On our first day there I met Leslie in an amusement arcade. He was also there on holiday and asked if we would meet him at a dance that night. We agreed and, as they say, the rest is history.

Before we arrived in Westcliff, on August 6th, a nuclear bomb was dropped on the Japanese city of Hiroshima killing at least 140,000 people. Three days later a second bomb was dropped on Nagasaki killing another 74,000 people and injuring many, many more. On the 14th of August the Japanese finally accepted defeat and on the 15th of August VJ – Victory over Japan – Day was declared. It was a wonderful time of celebration and a great end to our holiday. The war was finally over.”

Mum and Dad were 18 when they met on that holiday. They went on to have 65 wonderful and adventurous years together.

A large moth but harmless – I’ve never seen such a large moth before