Still, it is worth it when my favourite flower comes out.

If I wasn't so concerned about keeping this beautiful little space rock we call earth habitable for a few more years I'd ask Adobe AI what the author's conclusions are in this document. Because it's 11 certificates for our old folks gardening competition. I'm not sure I need help with that, thanks

Something has gone horribly wrong in my life that i have ended up in a pub with a football match on. Fortunately I am already quite drunk.

FFS, middle of the day, blazing sunshine, pumping gallons of water on some fucking grass in the middle of a drought. At least do it at night, when it has a chance to soak in!

That's very similar to the one at Etton.

Just given my first tour of Norman Cross. Given what I knew about the Napoleonic war before Friday could be written on the back of a postage stamp, I think it went OK.

Hey, Anglican Water. Once you stop all the leaks pissing across the pavements of Peterborough I may consider your hosepipe ban.

Six mile ramble with my walking group this morning. Lovely, but a bit sweaty!

I'm supposed to be gardening. Paused for a cuppa and now incapacitated by cat.

So, Vikki, you have absolutely no idea why you can't lose weight? The cheese scones, as big as a baby's head, that you are so partial to don't play any role at all? Absolutely not. These are essential self care.

Little garden buddy

Outdoor art gallery, under the flyover.

I would have followed him anywhere.

Anyway, there's a roman fort under there. Now a golf course.

Made myself go for a walk today. I think it was worth it, but bloody hell my brain does not like being depived of sleep due to the heat! It has taken me way too many years to work out that my depression and anxiety are so closely linked to sleep.

Also, Burghley's garden of surprises is a delight!

And these...

Went to Burghley House today and I really recommend the gardens. They have a lovely sculpture garden, and while a lot of modern sculpture leaves me cold, even I found some I liked!

Billy has decided it is cool enough for cuddles. My legs do not agree.

I am genuinely not designed for this weather. The most exotic my ancestry gets is Scotland and Germany. I am firmly designed for the cold, windy fetid swamps of the Fens. This heat is all quite unnecessary. I would very much like to flake out on the floor with Lilith.

Everything is awful, nasty bastards are everywhere, but I have strawberries and flowers and I'm clinging to bits of beauty where I find them, just to keep me sane.

Love this massive poppy in my garden. It's huge!

Whoever decided to fit black leather seats to my car is either a masochist or had a fetish for sweaty arses. Deeply unpleasant. Leather seats are not a luxury upgrade they are an instrument of torture. Also needed oven gloves to hold the steering wheel.

New hair do complete!

If you're looking for somewhere cool in this heat, I recommend heading somewhere medieval!

I have done both this one and the American one, and you know what, I think I'm starting to understand why me and my Tory voting parents don't always see eye to eye!

Lots of talk about books yesterday, but this morning I finished this, and I feel a bit bereft at no longer having it to read. Bugger Middlemarch, I recommend reading this by @regretteruane.bsky.social