Hot, Hot, Hot

 

So yesterday as I've said, I spent most of the day lounging on the decking trying to stay out of the sun and make the most of the breeze. It ended up being a bit like musical chairs with either me or the brolly moving around to try and stay in some semblance of shade!

This was early on when I was sitting in one of the rattan chairs, from there I moved to the recliner deckchair and after that the sofa.

As much as the decking is lovely to have I'm not really an all-round outdoorsy type of girl - too many bugs for that, especially the flying variety. Still I lasted most of the day and indeed went back up there in the evening for some night shots for the family challenge.

Today has been too hot to be outside, so holed up indoors with the windows and curtains shut just trying not to get overheated. Pretty much nada in the way of breeze outside and quite frankly it's wearing pretty thin, I'd rather have some more normal, British weather thank you very much. Am sure the 'bro and family are enjoying the endless sunshine whilst they are on holiday in Norfolk. They aren't used to getting this much sunshine on their holidays 🤣 😎

Cherry Laurel

 

So whilst relaxing up on the decking, and having swept it off earlier in the day, it seems these cherry type fruits are once again making an appearance on it. Think this means they are cherry laurels and whilst the fruit may look inviting they are in fact poisonous to people, cats & dogs although the birds love them...

Yeah don't I know it when I keep finding berry coloured bird poop where I'd rather it not be thanks very much 🥴

They start off a red colour and gradually darken to black, or almost black. Hopefully won't get too many squashed anywhere and stain the composite decking.

Latest Family Photo Challenge

 

So yesterday, it being yet another too hot day again, although a better breeze than today 🥵 I spent some time up on the decking with the long lens on the M50 taking ideas for the latest family photo challenge - From Where I Stand. Or in my case yesterday, Sit!

This is just one of them taken on the mobile. Was quite relaxing and no effort on my part other than my brain wracking itself for ideas 🤔

It's a novel subject matter, the main premise being to perhaps select a square area, maybe 1/2 a metre square, and snap whatever you can see whilst staying within that perimeter. To be frank we're running out of ideas after 2+ years of family snapping!

Visitor to the Garden

 

Actually it is a frog - Google Lens is a wonderful thing - mind you to be fair it struggled with this image and so I looked up the difference between a frog and a toad manually 🤣

This little dude jumped out of my pot of pinks that hang on the wall near Mum's sewing machine. I'd taken the pot down to water it in the evening and out he jumped - near scared me half to death!

Managed a quick snap on the phone and after I went back to watering the yard's pots he jumped off into the corner and I've not seen him since. Put a bowl of water out yesterday underneath one of the large plants to see if he will come back. No idea where he's come from given I didn't think we had any nearby ponds.

Just hope he manages to find somewhere to keep damp and out of the sun and away from the bloody cats that frequent my garden.

Vintage Bike Show

 

Sunday saw Dad, me and Tedster head over to Aylesford Priory for a vintage bike show - uber hot and sunny weather so we donned hats and I wore a 3/4 sleeve shirt over my vest, we took the cameras and little folding stools so we'd have something to sit on for lunch if we managed to find any shade!

Had a really good day, more different makes of bike than I've ever seen at a show before but Dad knew most if not all of them! Had a really good chat to a bloke about his scooter and trailer - something I've never seen before:

This was post the restoration following a fire which pretty much damaged most of the vehicle:

He was exhibiting two scooters and also owned at least one of the bubble cars back home (think he was Dutch?).

All in all a lovely day and really friendly people who were only too happy to chat about their pride and joy!