Hovering about

Today’s guest picture comes from my Welsh correspondent Keiron. He has got an electric bike too, and sent me this idyllic picture from one of his recent rides.

We had another fine and warm day here today, but there was a brisk wind, so I was happy to let my bike have a day off while I spent some time in the garden enjoying the sunshine.

I did some useful tasks, starting with using the hover mower to trim a path along the dam at the back of the house. The idea is to leave as much natural growth as we can while making it possible to move about without falling into the water. I couldn’t help noticing that another oriental poppy had come out at the far end.

When I had finished, I had a walk round the garden, taking in a developing rosebud, good growth on the recently pruned buddleia, and a very pale aquilegia.

Then we had coffee.

After coffee, I turned my hand to composting, first sieving a barrow load of compost from Bin D and then turning almost all the compost from Bin B into Bin C which has been lying empty. This was fairly energetic work and it took me until lunch to complete the task. I didn’t take any compost pictures as too much excitement is not good for elderly readers.

After lunch, Mrs Tootlepedal sat down to watch the Giro, and I went out into the garden to see if I could photograph some of the young starlings responsible for a terrific amount of noise during the morning. There were young starlings on every tree and bush waiting to be fed . Harassed parents fetched them tempting morsels.

I got distracted by an astrantia, many alliums, and the first Rosa Moyesii of the year . . .

. . . but the noisy starlings soon reclaimed my attention.

I found an adult sitting beside a blackbird. Some parents went for creepy crawlies . . .

. . . while others mined for sunflower seeds.

I went back in and unwisely sat down to watch a few minutes of the cycling before doing something useful. Two hours later at the end of the stage, I managed to haul myself off the sofa and check on the bird feeder. A young starling was getting some seed carried to it.

Then I went to see what what was happening outside. Flowers were coming out. Lupins had started, more irises had appeared, and another flower had come out on the rose bush.

I went in to cook some beef olives for our evening meal, and while the potatoes were cooking, I nipped out and mowed the middle lawn.

The weather stayed fine and the wind had dropped, so I went out for a short three bridges walk after our meal. It was a perfect evening for a stroll.

As well as the peaceful sunlit views, I was pleased to see the red horse chestnut in flower, and the ivy leaved toadflax on the wall at the Scholars Field was doing very well.

The only bad thing about the day was a communication with the bike shop. My road bike has been there for weeks while having what should have been a quick and simple service. However, when I asked what was happening, the mechanic described the situation as ‘a can of worms’, and it turns out that new parts are needed, and these have been hard to get hold of. All being well, I should get my bike back next week. After 300 miles on my electric bike while the road bike has been at the bike shop, I just hope that I won’t have forgotten how to pedal under my own steam when I do get back on it again.

Dropscone continues to improve. I am taking him to hospital for a check on his shoulder tomorrow afternoon, so I will get a full update then.

The flying bird of the day is a passing pigeon.