Yesterday was our Garden Tour. This time we did the nurseries. First stop was actually at the farmer at Bagdad who has signs in his hedge selling various produce most of the year. After raiding and depleting his  stocks significantly we  did a quick tour of his garden and then on to Honeywood Nursery at Bridgewater. The owner of this nursery is the chap who donated the plants to the garden so we all spent up big there too. A quick sorty to the Island Markets to discover that the person who used to be there selling plants has not been there for a couple of months. But we stopped and had lunch anyway, and I found a block of stilton that had to come home with me.

After that we went to Stonemans Nursery in Glenorchy where Susan Stoneman gave us a quick peek into their back blocks and talked to us about their growing methods and ideologies, then finally to Granton Plants which is run by a nice young man who is practically running it by himself. Lots more lovely healthy plants went into the back of the two busses and finally we headed home.

Today was supposed to get to 17 but was really rather cool for much of the day. So much so I cut some firewood and lit the fire around 4, at which time it promptly became warmer, so I am rather hoping it goes out soon. I popped in to clean a cottage and came home to find a friend vigorously whipper-snipping my yard. Unfortunately it started raining so he had to stop, but it was a lovely surprise to get as much done as he achieved. He gets a better result with the whipper snipper than I do with the lawnmower! Very professional job as far as it went.

Tomorrow will be a day of housework and gardening I suspect as it will allegedly be sunny. But looking at the week ahead, I think the weather gods have concluded that if it is the beginning of Autumn we must endure colder weather. Twelve degrees forecast for Thursday! Eeek!

On my way to clean the cottages today I remembered I was supposed to be picking some broccoli at the Garden to sell to the local shop. So I popped in and also found three Russian beauties lurking in the polytunnel. I have brought them home to eat (Black Russian Tomatoes, in case anyone is worried).

Then on to the cottages where I scored two chunks of cheese (smoked cheddar and triple cream brie) as well as half a roll of pepperoni - not sure what to use that for - perhaps in a casserole?

Then home where I realised I have yet to prepare a planting list for distribution on our tour tomorrow, so I must get on and do that now!!

Not much excitement here today apart from a constant stream of locals up and down the lane. A cottage to clean, a bank to clean later, and a load of clean linen to stack at the cottages, and that was my lot for the day.

The ankle is getting better - at least the swelling has gone down to some extent, but is still sore in strange places. May go back to the doc if it is not better by this time next week. The dogs are being very patient, but it is not fair on them to be limiting their exercise.

 This was last Friday's harvest - Zucchini fritters, broccoli and blue cheese soup, and gazpacho in a bowl.

 Yesterday dawned with a red sky. This red rainbow in the West put in an appearance just before the sun topped the hills to the East.

And after a day of grey skies, storms and general nastiness, the liquid gold of a stormy sunset highlighted the hills over the back.

The hot today only lasted till lunchtime when a storm brought blessed relief (and localised flooding). Much cooler outside now, but still pretty hot indoors. I will open a few windows later when I get back from cleaning the bank.

While visiting my friend yesterday I discovered the husband of another friend has up and left her in search of a younger woman, so I called in to see how she was getting along today and discovered she has no idea how to do many things simply because her husband has always done them. So I have given her my phone number so I can go in and show her how to change gas bottles when the time comes, and so forth. She is also considering a lawn mower. I suggested she get a self-propelled one as she has a number of physical problems that would make mowing difficult for her. Then I discovered she has half an acre to deal with, so I may revise that advice and suggest a ride-on. The nice man at our local BP can keep and eye out for a cheap secondhand one for her.

Home for a few dog walks and reading a book. I have been working my way through the Rosemary Sutcliffe books (eagle of the ninth etc) and, having run out of the ones in that series am presently reading Mark of the Horselord which I had not enjoyed on the first reading, but which is growing on me this time around.

I am looking forward to a cooler night, that is for sure. Last night was sheets only, and even they were only deployed after midnight!

ergh. I hate hot weather. Hot humid weather is even worse. And today was both, with a strong wind thrown in. Looking forward to that promised thunderstorm, but no sign of it yet.

Called in to see a friend while I popped into town to get some blue cheese and milk, and sat and chatted for a bit, but then home to hide from the heat - unsuccessfully as it is 26 degrees inside the house and unlikely to cool down any time soon. They say we will have 21 overnight, and 27 again tomorrow. Horrible stuff. Thank heaven for lemon barley water and ice!!

Made the broccoli into a broccoli and blue cheese soup which I will be eating chilled tonight. Too hot for a hot soup and I think it will be OK as a chilled one. Will make some toast to bulk it out a bit.

Ironically it will be 16 on Tuesday with five overnight, so it will take a bit more getting used to, this summer. Glad I cleaned the bank last night - tonight it would be just too horrible to face!

Bit of a scorcher today. But I managed to get the cottages cleaned early (one lot did not turn up, so it was only two of them to do), and get home to do a couple of loads of washing, change my own bed and walk the dogs. Not to mention enjoying the easter egg some thoughtful guest had left for me.

The ankle seems to have gone down to normal size once more, but there are a few creaky groany bits in the foot which will require a little more rest I suspect. I have to gird up my loins to go clean the bank a little later. It was 28 today, so nastily hot, but it will be 32 tomorrow, and therefore even worse, so I might as well get it over and done with while I can.

Last night him next door decided to do some running repairs on the pig ark at 8:30 at night. Since I have previously pointed out to him that using power tools at that time of night is not only inconsiderate, but is also a breach of the law, this time i took over a print out of the Nuisance Regulations (a summary page which lists activities and acceptable time frames for it) and asked him to stop, pointing out that this was the second time of asking. The ark is not presently in use as the pigs are still housed in the loosebox, so there really was no excuse.

I will draw his attention to the fact that a report to Council will be a result of any further breaches.