10 - 13th July

I went to the allotment again to do a feeding programme on the peppers and squashes – it takes awhile. I was also able to pick some sweet peas. We have enough at home to supply our cut flower needs so what to do with these ones? I had decided on giving a small posy from each cut to one of the receptionists at work and I had a particular one in mind who was not too far down the time line when I could give them to her (I was worried that they would wilt). The problem arose in my mind however – ‘How do I, a married man, give flowers to another woman without her getting the wrong idea and making mental attachments to me, or think that I’m a creep, and without being so obviously the other direction and declare loud and clear that I have no interest whatsoever in the poor lady and don’t be so ridiculous as to think that anyone would be so inclined as to present you with a small gift?’

I approached the lady in question, raised the small bunch and asked ‘would you like these with no strings attached?’ She smiled and said ‘yes please’. Success! I don’t always get it right with the fairer sex you know!  Like most men I get a bit confused as to why women seem to smile and giggle at the inappropriate advances and comments of handsome men, but when a less aesthetically pleasing man does something nice for a woman, he is regarded as a creep!

Yesterday I cut a bunch of sweet peas of various colours for my Mum. She and Dad have been hosting us for a few meals while the kitchen is in chaos and this was a little thank you. Today I cut a bunch of the red and white sweet peas for ourselves and they have a certain stunning quality when combined in a vase.

11^th July

As some light rain drizzled down I was found out in the garden checking over the sprouts plants and rubbing off the many caterpillars and eggs to be found on them. I fed the garden plants before dinner.

Everything seems broken at the moment – my glasses, the car (a starter motor fitted just long enough ago to be out of warranty but has only done about 9 – 10 thousand miles!), the old kitchen, the toilet seat, the back fence and the lawnmower!

13^th July

I potted up the sprouting broccoli into old plastic cups and then proceeded to go about removing caterpillars and eggs from them. I will have to recheck the brassicas in a little while before they get planted out. That is a job which is overdue but no good in this damp weather as it involves digging into wet clay soil. Dad’s brassicas are large and productive and mine are at the starting gate.

Another bunch of sweet peas from the garden, a nice mixed display. This is now the third decent sized bunch, probably 4 if you add together the 2 early but small offerings and the ones at the allotment. You can’t buy them in the shop as they wouldn’t last long enough to reach the shelves but I guess you would pay at least £2 for a handful, more if you were not buying in a supermarket. I also picked a few more strawberries. Again, they are deep red, juicy and sweet, no need for sugar or even cream!