Monday 10th August 2026

Were not the weather so hot and dry, we would be in the south of France, preparing to cross over the Pyrenees into Spain.

As it is, we're back home, and its Monday morning.

The last day before we restart phys and life returns to something like normal.

But life is not normal. Like France, the colour of the countryside and gardens is brown, and there is has been little or no rain since the middle of May, apparently.

We had a little water in the butts left over, so the ponds were topped up, and the Canas and tomatoes given a slight drink, but most of our other plants are dead or beyond help.

Life is far from normal.

Jools went out soon after breakfast, and so I grabbed a camera and went for a short walk, hoping to see butterflies or other insects.

And in that I was successful, though by the time I stirred myself it was mid-morning and all species too flighty to be snapped.

The hedgerows are full of autumn fruit, though whether the local farmer will let nature or us harvest the bounty is another matter.

The horses in the new paddock at the end of he street try to nibble what native plants have survived thus far, otherwise stamp their hooves for the return of who will bring hay, as the winter food stocks are used to cover the gaps.

Past the old butterfly glade, now overgrown, I walk to the paddock at Fleet House to snap what butterflies there were around the abandoned farm equipment, though they too were too flighty to be snapped.

It was hot. Not overly so, but hot enough. Hot enough to want to get back home for a cold drink.

Back down Collingwood, then down the track to our street and back home.

I was gone less than an hour, and the walk was pretty flat, at least compared to where we were a week ago.

I arrive back just as Jools returned, so the kettle was put on and brew made.

That made life better.

But it really was too hot to sit in the back garden, at least until the afternoon when the shadows cover the top patio.

And when it does we can admire the hedges, now shorn, as Rob did them whilst we were away, and bagged up the clippings, the clippings which Jools dropped off at the tip earlier.

We stay inside during the hottest part of the day, out of the sun, trying to stay cool.

A cold beer or cider went well with lunch, as did an ice cream and hour later. The day grew old.

For the evening there was the last game of the first round of the League Cup, which passed a couple of hours until it was time to go to bed at ten.

Some rum helped ease the pain of the dullness of the early season football.