A Hot Weekend

 So the weather this weekend has turned uber warm, that constant ENE breeze has all but disappeared and left in it's wake a stifling warmth that we are ill prepared for - as usual.

So got this interesting little plant growing between the concrete slabs in the yard, pretty little flowers if a little hairy on the leaves. Google Lens'd it and it's a Vipers Bugloss, unsure if it's a seed grown from last year's summer flowers or not but it's pretty even if it might well be a weed?

In my efforts to have a go at this months camera club challenge - Guess What, I setup the DSLR kit lens on the M50 using the adapter but sadly found that for whatever reason the lens ceases to focus - just makes a weird buzzing sound. Tried it on the 77D too for comparison, the lens was fine the last time it was used (June 2020) and so even though I don't use it that often I'd rather not be without one. So looked on Amazon, where else, and bought a refurbished one with a year's warranty for £149. As this new lens was an STM version I needed to buy a new lens hood, they are never the same - that would be too easy!

These are some test images from the lens taken in the garden, really pleased with the lens, as an STM it focuses internally which is neater plus if I use it for video it should be silent, or as near to silent as it gets.

Sunday saw me, Julia and James wander around the Estate checking out the Yard Sale that was taking place in various houses in and around the Estate roads.

These are my purchases, a Galileo thermometer, a lovely ornate elephant and a Union Jack tealight bowl which will come in handy next time we have a Royal celebration. Always fancied a Galileo thermometer and a lady told us how they work as we were standing there looking at it and I also Googled the instructions too. It cleaned up really nice, just needed a good wipe over with some glass cleaner. My final purchase was a tube of little gold coloured bells for the metal tree that stands in the landing window at Christmas - definitely got red bells for it and think I bought silver too, but although I've looked in The Works for the gold bells I'm assuming they won't be back in store until nearer Christmas time again so these should be OK - just need to add some thread to hang them on the "branches".

All in all another good weekend although as usual the working week is just around the corner again. Oh how wonderful it will be to not be confined by the working week when I can finally retire...