
Our "Blood Sky" petunias (not their real name) are cranking along, more than three months after I bought them. I gotta say, I am very impressed by their durability and prolific blooms. All our petunias, in fact, have had an excellent summer, though I have to water them practically every day.
It's been ridiculously dry here. England is in the middle of a "nationally significant" water shortage, according to The Guardian, and water companies are mulling over further restrictions. We've had below-average rainfall for each of the last six months, and much of the middle of the country is in an official drought. So far we in London haven't had a garden hose watering ban (a "hosepipe ban," as it's known), but it may still happen.
Thanks for all your comments and suggestions yesterday about my weird itchy arms. I did find that taking an antihistamine helps, and it was only last night that I belatedly realized I've been in this situation before. Remember the insidious flower bugs? This is the time of year that they show up in the garden and begin biting the heck out of me, and they are so tiny that it's entirely possible I just haven't noticed them. In fact I went out just now to look at our banana tree, where I've seen them in the past feasting on mites, and sure enough, there they are. Insidious indeed!
I was standing in the borders yesterday morning picking blackberries ("brambles" to you northern language purists) for my cereal, and I know I have been ravaged by insidious flower bugs while doing that in past years. So yeah, I'm belatedly thinking most of this itching is down to the bugs. I suspect UV sun exposure hasn't helped either.
That's probably the last batch of blackberries I'm going to get this year. The crop is pretty much done.
The boiled egg I set out for the foxes disappeared yesterday around midday, while Dave and I were at lunch at Chipotle on the high street. I was excited for some daytime footage of the foxes on our garden cam, but no! The camera, for some reason, picked up nothing of the egg being eaten. There are some clips from around that time showing a magpie hanging around near the egg, and I'm thinking the magpie is actually what ate it. That's fine. As long as it didn't go to waste.
We had our annual flat inspection yesterday by our property management company. An agent came in, looked the place over, tested the smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, took some pictures, asked some perfunctory questions and that was that. I showed her a few areas that could suggest a problem -- bubbling wallpaper here, peeling paint there -- and pointed out that the front of the house probably needs a paint job. But I don't expect much to come of it. The landlords told us months ago they intended to redecorate the sitting room, but we've heard nothing about that since so I'm not even sure it's still happening. Anyway none of it's an issue for us. I'm happy enough with things as they are.
Writing this post, I have buried the lede (as we used to say in journalism) because today is a momentous day. Not only is it our last day of summer vacation -- we both go back to work tomorrow -- but this is the day Dave and I become British citizens! Woo hoo! Our citizenship ceremony is at 10 a.m. In fact we were really supposed to go back to work today, but we postponed our return to get this done. I've planned a fancy lunch afterwards and I am looking forward to being able to vote in future British elections, just in time to do my small part to oppose Nigel Farage. (Yes, Nigel, I am an IMMIGRANT!)
I'm glad you remembered the tiny bugs and those petunias are all gorgeous. Congratulations on now being citizens. Do you have to adopt the English accent now? And stand around discussing the weather with all and sundry?
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your day!
ReplyDeleteHave a good day and a fabulous lunch.
ReplyDeleteGood on you worth becoming British even if only to oppose Nigel! Hope your rash gets better, pesky bugs. Regards Sue H
ReplyDeleteWelcome to the family that is Great Britain Stephen and David. Now sing along with me...
ReplyDeleteLand of Hope and Glory, Mother of the Free,
How shall we extol thee, who are born of thee?
Wider still and wider shall thy bounds be set;
God, who made thee mighty, make thee mightier yet,
God, who made thee mighty, make thee mightier yet.
We will certainly be a lot mightier with you two lads on board!
Yes Steve, you are an immigrant, but you are a LEGAL one who contributes and pays taxes.
ReplyDeleteYay! Two more votes against Farage. Congratulations on your British citizenship. We would have to take a language exam here. Did you have to take one? Can’t wait to hear your new accents! Are you going for posh?
ReplyDeleteOn the bramble vs blackberry debate, this may help ...
ReplyDeleteBramble and blackberry are essentially the same thing. The term "bramble" generally refers to the thorny, shrub-like plant itself, while "blackberry" specifically refers to the edible fruit produced by the bramble. In some regions of the UK, "bramble" is also used as a general term for the fruit, sometimes even including other Rubus fruits like raspberries.
So there you have it 😉
Congratulations Steve and Dave on your new citizenship! That's so awesome and I'm happy for you both.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations! I'm sure that is a relief, after all that work, forms, etc. And please don't become like Gillian Anderson, speaking w/a British accent after living there for only a few years.
ReplyDeleteWelcome to Europe. I know that people in the UK think Europe is only "the mainland" or "the continent" but you are now Europeans. Congratulations!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your UK citizenship. A very momentous day! And good luck with returning to work. My former colleagues returned to work on Monday. I was glad that it wasn't me.
ReplyDeleteI have put four dead moles in front of my trail camera and within the day, all have disappeared and the trail camera has recorded not a trace of the culprit. I suspect some sort of hawk swooped down, grabbed the mole and flew off all before the camera began recording but have no proof. Frustrating.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on becoming a citizen of the country in which you reside!
Congratulations on your new citizenship! When we became naturalized Americans our little American son was very disappointed that we still talked the same! He said I thought you were going to be American like me! So be ready for a lot of this..
ReplyDeleteWoo hoo! Congrats to you both!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on becoming UK citizens ... and on potentially solving the problem of your itchy arms. The former is a big thing, and the latter just a big relief.
ReplyDeleteGood on you for resisting on BOTH sides of the pond!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations! Big day for the two of you. Question though...you both can still vote in our elections as well, correct?
ReplyDeleteOkay. So now we know why you were itching. You must have a powerful allergy to those micro mites.
ReplyDeleteI AM THRILLED THAT YOU ARE BECOMING BRITISH CITIZENS! Yes. I'm yelling. God, I wish I had another passport. I want to hear all about it!
Gnats or midges do seem to be a likely culprit. I plant some petunias in the spring in pots and they bloomed profusely and then started to wane and dying back so I pruned them back thinking/hoping they would regenerate with new growth...nope. They both died. Congrats on becoming a UK citizen.
ReplyDeleteBig day for the two of you! Nothing will change, yet everything will. Congratulations.
ReplyDeleteCongrats !! Congrats With All The Effort As Well , Its Definitely A Process For Sure
ReplyDeleteStay Proud ,
Cheers
At least you know it is the garden mites causing the problem. Do they disappear in a week? Until then, I'd consider wearing long sleeves.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your citizenship. Cheers!
I love petunias and you plants are prolific bloomers.
I find as long as I deadhead my petunias and water regularly, they bloom well. Miss one detail and they are not happy.
Glad you are getting relief from the itching.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the British Citizenship.
Have a great year at school!
Congratulations on becoming British citizens.
ReplyDeleteYAY! HOORAY! and How do you do? Immigrants rule!Cheers to you both- have a G&T and a banger!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on the events of the day!! I love your hanging basket of flowers.
ReplyDeleteAll the best to the newest British citizens!
ReplyDeleteThis is fantastic. I only wish we were younger and could do the same. Congratulations to you both.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on your British citizenship! We are envious!
ReplyDeleteI'm so excited about your citizenship! I saw the photos on FB and loved them! Three cheers. And yes, you did bury that lede but I suspect it will be a big splash tomorrow. I hope so! Good news, in a way, about your arms. At least that makes some sense.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your new citizenship! It's a BIG deal!
ReplyDeleteTiny bugs! I hadn't thought of that. Congratulations on your British citizenship; I wish I qualified. It's been dry here although we haven't had any restrictions. The weather report says an atmospheric river is coming. Oh, joy! It's one extreme or another. Your petunias are doing WAY better than mine!
ReplyDeleteThe deed will have been done now, so congratulations. I've never seen the mottled purple petunias in the basket.
ReplyDelete