On Saturday I saw this big bumblebee burrowing into one of our camellias. If a bee can look happy, this one did, and it wouldn't turn around or pull its head out of that flower for love or money, as the expression goes. You can see why these particular camellias are not my favorite flower -- they're already browning, and that's a brand-new blossom. But the bee doesn't care.
I just spoke to my upstairs neighbor. I heard him coming down the stairs and stopped him on the porch just to say hello. I wasn't sure anyone was living there but apparently he's still around, though his family is back in Israel. Given the choice, I believe I'd want them here rather than there at the moment, but I didn't press for details. At least I know the apartment isn't vacant.
I haven't called the council for a new rubbish bin, as I'd planned. I realized we have two, and for the time being, I just stashed the broken one at the back of the bin row, and we'll use the good one. If it's just me, Dave and one person upstairs, we ought to make do with one bin just fine.
I got up at 2:30 a.m. and saw that mysterious light burning brightly in the building opposite, shining its glare into our garden. I still think that's a vacant apartment. That light is on all the time.
And that's about all the news (?) I can come up with this morning. Otherwise I'm just walking to work and walking home, listening to my podcasts and trying to catch up on my New Yorkers. More of the same.
How many more days left on the Freedom Counter?
ReplyDelete14 days after today!
DeleteI wondered f I ought to tell you off for spelling Neighbors your way instead of our way, but decided I'd better not!!!
ReplyDeleteMy American spelling will never leave me, just as I will never adapt to Celsius temperatures!
DeleteI wonder if that light is on a timer to make the flat look inhabited?
ReplyDeleteI don't think it ever turns off, though! You'd think if it were on a timer it would run in the evenings and the mornings and shut off the rest of the time.
DeleteSomeone to walk with, someone to cuddle with, someone to relax with after work.
ReplyDeleteAnd someone keen to teach you new gardening tricks 🐾🌞
Lottie | Battersea Dogs & Cats Home https://share.google/jd3IE5AGvrJeOwlit
Awwww....Lottie! She looks fab! We are very close to adopting a dog but I still have several weeks of work left. Not good for Lottie, who apparently struggles with being left alone, poor thing.
DeleteI imagine your neighbor is worried all the time about his family in Israel. And lonely. I feel for him. Well, he's got nice neighbors anyway.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure he worries! I like them and I hope they avoid any danger.
DeleteYour more of the same is a good life… except for that work stuff.
ReplyDeleteI have no complaints...except for that work stuff!
DeleteI would definitely get my family back from Israel, but hopefully the neighbor's family is somewhere safe.
ReplyDeleteHopefully. Maybe there are legal or other reasons that they need to be there.
DeleteMaybe you should invite your neighbor down for a meal if he's alone right now.
ReplyDeleteWe don't know him that well at all, but maybe once I'm home more we'll have an opportunity to get to know him better.
DeleteBees do love camellias, don't they?
ReplyDeleteThey do! It was a happy bee! (To the degree that I can measure a bee's happiness.)
DeleteI'm glad to hear you still have a neighbor but the thought of having family in Israel right now isn't a cheery one. Counting down!
ReplyDeleteI know! He must be worried. I would be. Then again, people in Israel have lived with violence for a long time so maybe they are more inured to it.
DeleteSomeone is having the pay the electric bill to keep that very bright light on all the time. I agree with you about your neighbor's family being in Israel. That is a place I would not want to be right at this moment in time.
ReplyDeleteI wonder who pays if the apartment is vacant? I guess the building.
DeleteLottie looks like a good choice for you except for the separation anxiety! With your retirement coming soon ... I hope you make that choice! She will keep you busy with training and socializing!
ReplyDeleteShe does look adorable, but yeah, it's already hard enough for me to leave a dog at home. The added burden of separation anxiety would weigh heavily on me! I'd probably never go anywhere!
DeleteI love bumblebees. It's amazing that they can fly at all.
ReplyDeleteI think I'd track down the building super and ask about that light. He's the one who complained about the overgrowth in your back garden spilling over the wall, so seems like you have the right to complain about the light.
I do have a contact number for him. I could send him a message. I don't want to be a Nosey Parker but I do find it quite annoying.
DeleteI hope you include the bee as a neighbor.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely -- or maybe even a housemate!
DeleteI am surprised that you did not have a friendly chat with your neighbour about how Bibi led Blindman Trump into the current war on Iran. 1444 Iranian citizens have been killed and 18500 injured. 13 US military personnel killed and over 200 injured. Where is this all going to end?
ReplyDeleteOh, I wasn't about to broach that subject with him -- no way! I share your concern, though!
DeleteWatching bumblebees is so calming.
ReplyDeleteIt is! They're such placid creatures.
DeleteI have a neighbor whose son wants her to go to Israel for the summer. She said, NO WAY!
ReplyDeleteYeah, not the right time, for sure!
DeleteThe bee looks very intent and happy to have found your camellia.
ReplyDeleteIt seems your neighbor has a backup plan with the London flat. Escaping the war might not be easy given the current escalation. Personally, I could not stay put if I did not have to. I'd also worry about impact to my children.
It's odd that they were all living here and now they're not. Maybe they have familial obligations back in Israel, like caring for parents/grandparents or something like that. I suppose I shouldn't even be speculating.
DeleteI love bumblebees/flying pandas! Your everything normal blog posts are interesting to those of us living elsewhere and doing other things. That's the cool part about blogging!
ReplyDeleteI hope they're interesting! I do try to make them so, in the short blogging window I have every morning!
DeleteBumbles are endlessly entertaining - one of my favorite summertime activities is watching them on our flowers.
ReplyDeleteI feel bad for your neighbor - hopefully his family is ok!
So do I.
DeleteI heard a few days ago that sleeping bumble bees can survive in flooded burrows for up to a week !
ReplyDeleteWow! Well, they're made to endure in this climate, so I guess that's not surprising!
DeleteIf that lit apartment is vacant I would hate to be the next person moving in and get the electric bill! Maybe you should mention it to the local council or someone?
ReplyDeleteI could message the caretaker. Maybe I'll do that.
Delete