WINTER

Winter went quickly in spite of having several frosts that knocked the bananas and a few other plants.  Luckily it didn't seem to damage the actual bananas and we have just picked two large bunches.  I have been trying to get back to blogging for a while but the time just seems to fly.  

I managed to get through winter without picking up any bugs but managed to get a cold/cough about three weeks ago and it just doesn't want to go away so today was the second Parkinson Walk in a row that we haven't been on.

The fence in the front of the house was, presumably, built at the same time as the house - 1973 - and was past its use-by-date so Doug decided to replace it.  The photos below are from both sides of the fence.  Flower garden on the road side and vegetables on the house side.

Anyway, Doug dismantled it and manage to remove the posts that had as much under ground as above and then we decided we like it without the fence so it will stay that way.  There is a fence further back. Doug is now working on new edging around the garden.

BRIGHTON

In our local paper this morning was this photo of Falmer pond.  It said it was in Sussex so I did a google search to see where Falmer is as I was brought up in Surrey right on the Sussex border.  I discovered that it is, in fact on the outskirts of Brighton just 15 miles from Worthing where my parents were living when I came out to New Zealand.  

There have been many other photos of a parched London.  England doesn't look like a green and pleasant land at the moment judging from these photos.  

Meanwhile, it is, once again, hosing down here but we keep being told that the El Nino is about to change all that.

MONDAY 10TH AUGUST

Yesterday, it rained all day as forecast.  I baked some peanut brownies for Doug and made a tamarillo and apple crumble.  These jobs always take me longer than I expect. For lunch we had the last of the seafood chowder followed by the crumble with yoghurt.  

In the afternoon we went across the road to our lovely neighbours to socialise and help them celebrate their 68th wedding anniversary.    By the time we got back it was time to have our showers and our evening meal (the pea and ham soup I had made the previous day.  I also took some to our friends who were pleased to have it for their evening meal as well.

The weather has completely changed today and we had a very pleasant walk at Totara Parklands in lovely sunshine.  We didn't go for coffee as Doug had an appointment and I went home and did yet more washing as rain was forecast for tomorrow.  The washing is just about dry and I have got it in.  Looks like it may now be fine tomorrow but at least the washing is done.  

For lunch we had a meal I have been intending to make for a while - garlic Portabello mushrooms with mashed cannellini beans and freshly picked broccoli. It was delicious and even got a tick of approval from Doug who usually likes to have some meat with his meals.  This was followed once again with the crumble.

I haven't got around to slicing and freezing the bread I made on Saturday so had better get that done and put fresh sheets on the bed. I noticed there were a few plants that got knocked back by the frost but they will regrow.

THE WEATHER

During the past week we have had two frosts.  Water froze in bird baths and there was some frost damage but, luckily, it looks as though the bananas are o.k.  Last time I can remember it this cold was before we got married so well over 9 years ago. 

The  weather is now set to warm up as we have rain forecast from tomorrow in fact we have a heavy rain watch from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. tomorrow. It then looks better for Monday,  Tuesday and  Wednesday with rain again from Thursday.

The worst part of the forecast though is the El Nino weather system which is likely to bring some extreme heat during our summer.  It sounds as though we may be following Europe with the heat and drought.  

We went to the butcher yesterday and supermarket this morning.  I bought a bacon hock from the butcher (much tastier than supermarket ones) and have a pot of pea and ham soup cooking at the moment.  Among other things we bought some Terakihi (fish), mussels, and cockles.  We usually have pan fried fish after going to the supermarket but decided on a seafood chowder which we made with the seafood from the supermarket and some prawns.  It was delicious and there is plenty for tonight and lunch tomorrow.   The photo definitely doesn't do it justice.

We both had some nice bread with it and I have a loaf of gf bread in the oven at the moment nearly cooked.

TODAY'S GARDEN

Just a few photos from today's midwinter garden. 

A small patch of parsley

Some calendula in the vegie beds

a very ripe lemon on our tree

The sprouting broccoli are starting to form. I also have Romanesco cauliflower/broccoli but they are not starting to form yet.

Two or three years ago a lady in the next street asked for some of our Lachenalia bulbs and asked if I would like some bluebells and snowdrops.  I had thought it was too warm here for snowdrops.  They are in an old  pot so that they don't get lost and are just coming into flower.

and the Pieris is coming into flower.

There are a lot of other plants in flower but I just took a photo of these few.

MIDWINTER FLOWERS

 I always like to have flowers on the dining table. For several weeks we had this potted chrysanthemum but it was nearing the end so I had a look in the garden.

 and I found these 

The oranges aren't ours but from a friend.

SOLAR

 We are pleased with our Solar panels in spite of some very cloudy days (it is winter after all).  A couple of days ago I discovered another use for the solar panels.