Hot hot hot

No-one has told the Weather Gods that we are supposed to be in Autumn as it continues to be super hot with weather warnings being issued nearly every day.  The poor returning Bee Eaters will be very confused as they are passing through on their way home heralding the end of Summer.  We had all sorts of plans for today - not least to go shopping as we are in MotherHubbardsVille again - but it all went out of the window when I decided to tackle the ivy.  This started out as a small cutting from Sheila and Klaus's house and like Topsy it grew and has, up until this year, always looked magnificent with green and white glossy leaves which might grow up the size of a man's hand.  This year has been a different story and a few weeks ago I had to take some drastic action and but it all back because it was infested with mealy bug.  In so doing I exposed the main trunks of the ivy which were now the size of my leg and pushing the paving slabs up.  We realised that this was dangerously close to the gas pipe which feeds our gas fire and when I looked at the new leaves and saw that they were absolutely jiggered with mealy bug yet again I reluctantly took the decision that it had to go and we would have to review that area of the garden and John was in agreement.

It took time and effort to remove the ivy, not least because it was disgusting with the bugs and then we had to carefully remove the massive roots whilst still keeping our gas pipe intact.  Eventually it was gone and we have a blank canvas to work on.  I had forgotten that this was just a mish-mash block wall with some paint on it and we had done our best to disguise it, first with a honeysuckle which was nice in the spring but messy and then with the ivy which had just got too big.  We now need top decide what to do with it and how to hide the water pipe which circumnavigates the garden and feeds the outside shower in the diagonally opposite corner.  Top of the suggestions is to continue the stone cladding which is on the first part of that wall all the way down to the gas store and I think that will look nice - I have also decided not to plant anything there again because of the roots and will change the pot that is there now for something smaller.

We had a lovely gift this morning as Argy called in with a bag of fresh local mango.  They had had the electrician come to sort out a few jobs and he had brought them with him.  The trouble is at this time of the year they all ripen at the same time and although absolutely delicious there are only so many you can eat at one time!!!  We had one almost immediately and it was just so good.  I shall be trying to get one of the seeds to germinate but hope I have more success than I have so far with the passion fruit seeds I am nurturing for Nicky as sod all has happened with them so far.

On the subject of Nicky, and Mark, we called round this evening to check up on them and to wish them a Happy Anniversary which they celebrated at the weekend.  Mark's birthday is the day after John's and Nicky and I swear they were separated at birth as they are so alike.  Good to see Mark smiling after the last couple of weeks which have been difficult for him - he is still nursing a very bruised arm after his heart operating - he says it is getting better but is still painful.