This is Frank. No, he does not belong to us. Olga would never tolerate a cat in her presence! Frank belongs to Dave's friend and co-worker Lisa, whose house we went to yesterday for lunch. Lisa and her husband and kids just moved within the past year to a house they bought in Camberwell, South London, and the lunch was meant to give us a chance to see it.
Lisa's garden is still a work in progress -- in fact it reminds me a bit of the garden at her previous place in Bethnal Green, which Dave and I helped her improve many years ago. This one, too, seems very sun-blasted and a bit parched. But she's planted some stuff and she has a thick stand of bamboo at the far end, which clearly serves as Frank's shady retreat. It will slowly look better as the plants grow and after a little more TLC.
We took tube and bus down there and I brought my camera thinking I might take a walk afterwards, but we didn't leave her house until 3:30 p.m. and I'd had wine and the sun felt intense and I was ready to come home. So I'll save the photowalk for another day.
The Russians are still packing and purging. I've seen many more bags of refuse leaving their flat. I shudder to think what they're throwing out but I draw the line at combing through people's trash bags! I can't indulge my crazy that much.
This little snapdragon (above) has grown in a crack on the front porch. It's a descendant of some yellow snapdragons I planted in a pot back in 2021. Every year they pop up in these cracks, and I guess enough of them re-seed that they manage to come up again the following year.
Frank looks like he’s made himself quite at home in Lisa’s new garden. Clearly he knows where the coolest spot is, even if the plants are still catching up
ReplyDeleteIt almost looks like a Banksy composition the lone little snapdragon against the wall.
ReplyDeleteHere, all the snapdragon flowers are red or pink, I haven't seen any yellow ones.
ReplyDeleteFrank is clearly more intelligent than a cat I once had. Bouncer [as in nightclub]. Bounce for short. The only reason I didn't call him Bruiser (because that was what he looked like) that it wasn't feasible for me to stand in the garden, subjecting neighbours to my calling out for "Bruiser". Bounce sounds softer - and that he was, a softie. Unlike Frank, Bouncer loved lying in the sun/max half shade. Fast forward not that many years. I noticed something strange when stroking him. Took him to the vet. Blow me down with a feather. Skin cancer. I had no idea that cats can get skin cancer. Not that it would have made any difference since one can't slather a cat's fur with SPF 30. Anyway, I left the vet minus Bounce. Beyond repair. He [and his mother who had a death wish from the start] will always be remembered fondly.
ReplyDeleteI bet you are itching to help Lisa's garden to get off to a flying start.
Ask Mrs Russian for a bowl of her Borscht (Russian beetroot soup) or at least her recipe as a leaving present to you and Dave. She will be chuffed and regret, bitterly, that they are moving out.
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I love the bright yellow snapdragon. "many bags of refuse"? Are they hoarders? Ugh.
ReplyDeleteFrank is a good strong name for a cat.
ReplyDeleteFrank, overseeing the garden work and checking the visitors!
ReplyDeleteI like it when flowers appear randomly. Very cheery .
ReplyDeleteTo be Frank...must be very pleasant ...
ReplyDeleteCheers to the snapdragon, great choice of location.
ReplyDeleteIn Florida, you would be very used to air con. It must be hard to return home now after visiting someone, having food and wine, and not having cooling.
ReplyDeleteI love the photo of Frank. And the snapdragon! Sorry about the oppressive heat. I’ve been missing you lately. Would so love to be in a pub with you again. Jerry says the same!
ReplyDeleteThe Russians are probably throwing out top secret documents, surveillance tapes and vials of "Novichok". It is your DUTY on behalf of His Regal Majesty President (King) Trump to riffle through those bin bags and indirectly save America from IMPLOSION! Thank you for your attention to this matter.
ReplyDeleteI don't know whether I'm glad or sorry the Russians are bagging their stuff..I expect Dave is quite happy not to have it migrate into your apartment, anyway.
ReplyDeleteLittle flowers turning up in difficult places always seems to be such a hopeful thing.
ReplyDeleteFrank looks like he is calculating the best opportunity to claw your eyes out!
ReplyDeleteI love that bright yellow against the white wall!
ReplyDeleteFrank looks slightly perturbed that his space is being photographed!
ReplyDeleteThe wall of bamboo makes a nice privacy backdrop for the garden. The white wall offsets it perfectly. Frank feels this is his spot. Lisa has a new kitty/friend.
ReplyDeleteThe yellow snapdragon growing in a crack with the tiniest bit of soil is a miracle of nature.
I love snapdragons!
ReplyDeleteHello, Frank! I sure hope that's the clumping variety of bamboo. I'm sure it is.
ReplyDeleteOkay. I have to confess- It would be so hard for me not to go through that trash to see what the Russians are throwing away. The mind boggles.
Frank looks quite at home in his new garden. I love the snap dragon. It's great that it keeps popping up every year.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like a lovely afternoon. Frank is a handsome fellow and I just love that snapdragon image. So simple and so eloquent. Like you, we had a visit at friends yesterday and I was thrilled because a) their place has air-con and mine doesn't and b) to get there we had an hour in the car either way and that had air-con. This won't last forever; meanwhile, I'm appreciating my fans!
ReplyDeleteFrank clearly has taken possession of the wall. Turn a blind eye to the trash Steve, even if the most fabulous Russian treasure awaits within. That ;ittle snapdragon reminds me of the purple columbine growing out of crack in the top of a stone wall in front of the glass studio in Scotland where I spent 10 days in 2016.
ReplyDeleteTrash is my favorite! sometimes there are things needing rescue, Sarah and i looked in ALL of the bins! At least there are charity shops there that welcome donations!
ReplyDeleteAs always , walks give great opportunities for photos.
ReplyDeleteI don't see many snapdragons around here but pansies sure do grow everywhere, including in cracks in the sidewalk.
ReplyDeleteWell I'm glad you're restraining yourself and staying out of their garbage:) I might be tempted too. Lovely cat, enjoying the shade.
ReplyDeleteGood job resisting the siren song of Russian garbage. Wonder if they have anything good in there.....
ReplyDeleteIs that bolting bamboo or clumping. It seems odd to see bamboo in London.
Frank is one handsome cat!
ReplyDeleteFrank is a handsome boy. Bamboo seems out of place in south London.
ReplyDeleteFrank is a fine looking fellow. We have a Frank in our family, too, only he's an elderly Chocolate Lab.
ReplyDeleteSnapdragons seem to be very resilient. We have one in our entryway that we never water but it still grows and blooms. And bamboo! We had it in one of our previous lives somewhere and Judy brings it up from time to time, wanting to plant some here. But it grows like a weed and may, in fact, be a weed. Frank is very handsome.
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