lots been going on but

The big news is little brother has finished his Grand Cycle Tour of Scotland as the picture here shows.

Well done Robin Dad would be proud of you, and he probably is.

What a few days

Its has been one of those weeks and its not over yet workwise either. Hopefully though I might get a chance to relax something which I think I have earnt this week.

Whats happened then well two days gardening as per usual, then the last three have been a tad different but very enjoyable. I have been helping out a local ecologist on a development site in Norfolk, a bit of work with reptiles and good fun it was as well, common lizards and a grass snake. Been long days though with the travelling and fitting in a garden or a bat survey when I got home.

Did get a bit wet today but yes we do need the rain still, and after all trousers get dry eventually.

Little brother is still doing well although the rain he has had has been very heavy and unfriendly. The worst was from Tongue round to Ullapool steep roads not made very welcoming by heavy rain. The Tongue Hotel deserve a really big thank you from Robin, there hospitality was incredible and he is very grateful for all you did for him as someone raising money for Marie Curie.

He is now away on the islands again, he landed at Stornoway Wednesday evening after a rough boat trip and is looking forward to his cycling there as he knows it will be quiet with a bit of wild camping which he loves for good measure. New photos coming up.

there has to be a first time for everything

Well there does of course in this case my first tax return as a self employed personage.

Blimey I registered as self employed in late March and they want me to do a return for the little bit until the 5 th April 2010 for my 2009/10 return.

Never had to do one but the lovely folk at the Cambridge office helped me through it, so a wieght of the mind indeed. Lord knows how I will get on with 2010/11 but it might be easier I suppose if its all as self employed rather than this where it was mostly employed and a little bit of self employed.

So that was half of today what about the rest, gardening of course the bread and butter of my earnings. Two today and its good to see things changing expecially after that bit of rain, he does go on about rain dont he, Yes, by the way did you notice the bit today on the news about wheat prices going up a lot last week and of course bread will follow, why, crop failures and poor yields because of the dry weather. See you can see the world in your garden. Lots of wildlife too, loads of bumblebees today on my lavender still; Bombus lapidarius, Bombus pratorum, Bombus lucorum, Bombus pasqurum and good old Apis mellifera of course the honey bee.

Hows little brother doing, well really, moving on nicely really, another picture below.
















Then there next doors cat, my cat Herbert and this one dont get on or do they, cannot work it out, they posture they squabble and that one next door tries to nip in and scoff Herberts food, he got a surprise tonight. Herbert was in there when he popped his head in, he left quickly shall we say.

what have I got to feel sick about

I mean I might be feeling a bit uurrgghh at
the moment, bit cold like but no cold !
so could not work for a day, when little bro
is still cycling on and sounding and looking
as if he is doing well.









I had to cancel a couple of gardens because of feeling
sick so this morning I am going to fit one of them in
one of my nice ones to catch up, it will be the first bit
of a weekend I have worked since leaving the park
way back in March.

Anyway enough of me the pictures of little brother.
The first and second were taken by a Marie curie local
rep who met Robin at Kessock Bridge I think on the
A9 above or around Inverness. Thanks for the pictures Vonnie. The third I think is in the Cairngorms and
looks lovely.

Robin is in the Orkneys at the moment having a bit of a
rest up for the first time this week. So far all going more
or less to plan.





Back to the gardening work the rain these
last few days has been great and really needed,
to be honest I know we will not see the full
impact of this summer on trees in particular
for a couple of years then I fully expect to
see more thatn a few dying of because of
the stress this has put them under. Elsewhere
in gardens I think most perennials have
flowered earlier althopugh quite well again because of stress, they want to make sure they can set seed for the next generation in a tough year just in case they die.



I do worry about veggies though, unless you have been able to water and should we is the thing then seed germination in gardens has again been poorish. Carrots and Leeks have not done well in the soils Histon and Girton way which can be a bit heavy. The spuds have been a bit slow as well, driving past fields full of well grown spuds you have to wonder how much water has been put on and can we really afford to keep doing it. Will be interesting to see the price of English veggies this winter.

little brothers progress

It might not be about me but its about someone who matters to me.

Little brother is doing well and so far is on track coming up to the end of week one. Last night he was at Brora after a tricky day which led to him seeing more of the Black isle than he really wanted too. His spirits are good and physically he seems to be enjoying it or is it eating the two cooked breakfasts a day that he is enjoying.

Anyway got some pictures now sent from his mates at Nairn where he stayed Wednesday night. There are two above one is from the Forth Road Bridge , wheres the other one I dont know can you help????

I will post more later on.

well who would have thought it eh

Well who would have thought it eh.

Lots of gardening today, cutting back overhanging trees just like being back at the park and some serious weeding, very good for the soul I can tell you you have to relax. Might well have another couple of gardens as well. Then theres another bit of work which might be coming my way that will involve me wearing a hivis jacket, wont say anymore yet but it aint litter picking the central reservation.

Little brothers cycle trek goes on, dont forget http://www.justgiving.com/RobinsGrandTour

He is well on his way now past Carnoustie and Dundee and I think still recovering from crossing the tay bridge where you ride between two lanes of traffic going each way at a bit of a lick shall we say.

bard of suffolk

No I didnt win but I had a go which is the important thing. It was held at West Stow Anglo Saxon village and a great place to tell to a very appreciative audience.

Told a story about how Suffolk got its name from the Angles, took a lot of research but I reckon I can do more with the story and make it more than just Suffolk. Yes thats right stories with history from the flat bit.