Too hot!

But it won’t last - cool change coming our way from the North so they say. Fluffy white vapour trails criss crossing our garden which denotes Cold Air up top.
This morning however was sticky. We decided a walk down into the coolth of the forest would be a bonne idée. But first...check Ernie. Always an anxious moment as to whether one will see image of confetti and champagne or the stark message Sorry. Yeah! today was champers - I won £50. And a quick check on the latest flowerings. Ferdinand Pichard has recovered and is in fine fettle this year.

Anyway, revenons à nos moutons. The walk. Along towards East Cheldon passing as we went the man stone-facing Winton’s gateway, white foxgloves on Winswood Cottage bank, Hans in his Landrover, the new mast behind Winswood Farm. And, yes, sheep. Some had been sheared (shorn?) and looked a bit punk-like with spikes of wool that had been missed! Beautiful wild roses in the hedgerow.

As we leaned over a gate looking north across the moor I spotted a dark shape in a far field of grass. A deer. Camera out, zoom to maximum, and it was revealed as a hind with a fawn. Apologies for fuzzy image but this was a long way away. You can tap to enlarge but it ain’t great! But lovely to see.

We gained the shade of the woods down to the ford and suddenly all was magically peaceful. Just the sound of birds in the trees. And the ping and click of Adrian’s camera!
It’s a steep descent to the ford and one has to question whether or not the return climb is worth it. Today it was.












It’s worse in the imagining than the actual doing actually. And so nice to stand on the footway over the water. Have a listen... video at the bottom.

On the way back we heard the familiar song of a yellowhammer and there he was on a wire. We used to see so many of them but now just a handful.

Back home, the postman delivered our new hose attachment for the kitchen tap so it was all systems go to fill the soaking tank with a hosepipe so we can water the veg. Even if it does rain tomorrow it probably won’t be more than deux gouttes - Jean de Florette country here at the moment.

the video...