Chancing my luck

Today’s guest picture comes from our friend Mike. He and his wife Alison are visiting family in New Zealand. He sent me this picture to show the sort of thing his son has to put up with in his garden at this at this time of year. The weather gods welcomed us home with rain

A day that slipped away

Today’s guest picture comes from my sister Caroline. She was able to enjoy the sunshine on the south coast of England today as she walked through some splendid municipal planting. By contrast, we had a dull grey day here, but as it was calm and reasonably warm (about 18°C at lunchtime), we were not complaining.

Mrs Tootlepedal is for the birds

Today’s guest picture comes from my sister Mary, It shows busy Kentish Town Stationin London a week or so ago, and demonstrates why Mary is not too alarmed at the prospect of taking public transport. Hardly anyone else is taking it at the moment. Our wind is still coming from the north so when the

Mrs Tootlepedal sticks some jewels in the ground

Today’s guest picture comes from Venetia, my Somerset correspondent, who turns out to be in Namibia at the moment.  She sent me this portrait of male and female Long-tailed Paradise Whydahs.  The males are in full display mode. Our welcome spell of fine weather continued today but with a reminder that we are still in

A happy chap

Today’s guest picture from my sister Mary shows some reflections on the Regent’s Canal. The day started with s stiff breeze and a good deal of rain but the breeze was quite a lot less strident than yesterday’s near gale and the garden was full of goldfinches as a result.  They didn’t always seem very