Mindless violence and looting

My journey to work to me past some of the 'hot-spots' in South London last night. We didn't go to Woolwich or New Charlton but apparently stores were broken into and vandalised there too. Twitter has been awash with eye-witness reports and the BBC Breakfast and newspapers can talk of little else. Twelve months before aspiring to hold a glittering Olympics, London is in the eye of the world for all the wrong reasons.

Old Kent Road

Camberwell

Camberwell

Camberwell

Camberwell

Camberwell

Camberwell

Back to work

Holidays are great. Then you have to go back to work. Nearly a hundred emails in the inbox and that is just for starters.

Garden after the rain

For a while it rained so hard it was coming down like stair-rods. Then it eased, and finally stopped. The plants, at least, appreciated the downpour.

Not as big as last year's - Sunflower (Helianthus annuus)

Any day now he'll join the two that have flowered.

They might be smaller - but this year there will be 6!

Gazania - native to Southern Africa

So it doesn't mind a drought

And comes in many colours

Chocolate Cosmos (Cosmos atrosanguineus) - from Mexico, smells of chocolate!

Phyllis - my favourite fuchsia (native, originally to Hispaniola)

Still raining a bit.

Geranium, taking over the table!

Dianthus - actually native to Europe!!!

Verbena - for the bees. Originally from the New World

Lavender - thought to have originated in Asia, great at bedtime!

Still looking changeable.

The weather station has it right!

Cat games

Do you want to play 'Pirates'?

OK, I'll play by myself

Off I go!

I wonder... where next

Pause for a wash

Tinker, meanwhile, deep in thought

On the move again

Are you sure you don't want to play

Tinker thinks... he'll fall of there...

Can I fit on here?

Can I get on to this bit?

Finely balanced

You looking at me?!

Where to go from here?

Nope, I'm done... getting down

Cat thoughts

Annual Leave - Day 4

The weather today was in direct contrast to the scorching sunshine of yesterday. Grey, wet (on occasion very wet) and generally a bit chilly. More out and about as I went down to visit my Mum. Primary requirement, fix laptop (achieved). 

We went out and had lunch at the tea-rooms attached to Broadview Garden Centre, itself attached to Hadlow College. After a lovely lunch; soup (sweet potato and courgette) followed by creamed garlic mushrooms on toast; we went to see the gardens. These are various projects completed by the students and, even in the drizzle, stunning. Sadly my pink sandals didn't like the weather and turned my feet orange!

Intrepid explorers, in the rain

I like carved wood

Big and blue!

This garden was "Heaven and Hell"

The Italian Garden

Stone and wood (can't see the stone in this photo)

Annual Leave - Day 3

Today I went to the extremes of actually getting up and going out!!! Only a short distance to my cousin who lives close by. I got to visit with her and her little girl, who for expedience, I call my niece (first cousin, once removed). We had such a good time playing and reading stories that I lost track of time and ended up driving home in the rush hour (not so good).

I took a stop at Greenwich Park on my way home to get some air and enjoy the Flower Garden, and paused to watch an evening game of cricket in the late sunshine - what could be more English at the end of a hot sunny day?!

Annual Leave - Day 2

A year ago I bought myself a DSLR camera. Even though my compact cameras kept getting 2 mega-pixels better every time I upgraded a DSLR had been a long time dream (ever since my Dad had an SLR years ago). The only disappointment was even though I got a good package with body and lens included (a lot of purchases are body only) the focal length of the lens was only 35-55mm. For those used to the zoom on a compact this isn't very much. As I didn't spend too much on the overall package the aperture is only average too.

On my wish list for the year since I spent the money I got for my last birthday was the next lens up a telephoto/zoom lens. Today my 55-200mm lens arrived. As I was only splashing out the cost of the camera again (rather than four figures) the aperture is still average... but the lens does zoom. Now I need to go and take some photos!

Annual Leave - Day 1

I will do some stuff, this week (I have plans) it just won't be today.  My first order of business was to tidy up the bedroom. I started with the carpet. When we moved in we got a nice, good quality carpet. The only mistake we made was to get one in cream - we had a black cat at the time. 

So - fast forward several years. We still have black cats (two now) and the carpet has had a turbulent life. A stain where the AC leaked, a burn where the plug in heater dropped some overheated dust and a good few spilled drinks. We tried rugs, but they never would stay flat and Casper likes to sleep on them on the window cill now!

First job, on my hands and knees with the Amaze Brush. And it is. Something like sandpaper wrapped around a brick. So simple yet so useful, the sort of thing we all like to say "I could have thought of that", but none of us did. After that a hoover. Upright generally with the hose in the hard to reach corners. This is like exercise. I'm perspiring generously and have more than used up every 'spoon' at my disposal. Still at least the floor is clean. Just need to worry about the rest of the room now!

Before - cat fur everywhere!

Tools of the trade 'Pet Lover' hoover and 'Amaze Brush'

During - a spot where something sat and protected the carpet

After - it's cream!!!

You could stuff a cushion with those cats moulting!

Oblivious - half the problem has a kip!