An Evening Out

 I toddled off to Cromer for an evening out with a few friends last night.  It's not really post-worthy as nothing much happened, but I did get a few nice sunset snaps from the pier where we had our first couple of drinks.

 

A Royal Toilet

 Well, RHS Sandringham was an experience, but not one I'd necessarily repeat (unless my friend gets more free tickets next time).  I didn't see much of the gardens because of how busy it was and how they got lost amongst all the exhibitors (mainly stalls selling snacks and tat), and only a very few of those that I did get a better look at were of any interest.  (On the plus side, it was easy to get to, there was plenty of parking, and it wasn't too hot.)  As a result, I didn't get many photos, so this is not a photos-heavy post - and half of them are from my own gardens!

 

 First up, a couple of photos from the Floral Marquee: 

Salvias, including at centre stage, Jon's favourite: Amistad

 

 

A veritable flurry of fuchsias including a few familiar faces (mainly from Jon's & Madam A's), but I couldn't find any that looked like my little not-Dorothy (see previous post).

Hexenhäusli Device Garden Update : July

 I thought I'd do a quick catch up from the gardens of Hexenhäusli Device as I have loads of garden photos sitting around waiting for me to sort them out and see which are worthy of the Garden Photos Event in November.  I don't think these will make the cut, but they do show what's going on here this month.

 

Early July was all about Ligularia and Lilies (last seen here).  Aside from one terminal triffid flower, the foxgloves in the Lake Border are just about over, as are the two towering Echium pininanas beyond.

 

 

Here's the view from the paysho doors.

A Barrage of Spume

"Taken unawares from behind, absolutely covered from head to toe with a deluge, nay, barrage of thick, salty spume!"

 

 I started this post on Sunday after returning from the beach narrow strip of stones at the foot of the cliff with Bitey but, what with one thing and another, never finished it.  I can't remember where I was going with it, so I'll just publish it now pretty much as is.

 

 This is what greeted us as we approached the promenade having finished our walk.  When we got down the cliff earlier in the morning, I thought the tide was as high as it was going to get.  I was wrong.

 

 Yes, of course we got wet attempting to get across the slippery clay to the prom. 

 

♪♫♬♩

 

 Here's some of the music I listened to while drying off:

Jessie Ware - Sauna (Extended Version)

Snow Patrol & Kylie - These Alarms

Robin - Always

Foxgloves Behaving Badly

 As well as the ongoing Parent Problems, I've also been dealing with foxgloves behaving badly - as the following photos demonstrate:

 

This is "Weird Foxglove 1" from the 13th of last month.

I'm not sure what it's trying to accomplish.

 

And here it is a few days later on the 19th.

Sweet July

 Well, a new normal has established itself here in Hexenhäusli Device so I thought I'd pop in during a moment of respite and share some new and old music, some snippets from the garden, and a photo from this morning's Bitey walk:

 

I wonder why Take That decided to release "Sweet July" now...?

 

As there's no video for Sweet July yet, here's one of my very favourite TT releases

(first seen at Jon's back in April)

 

 

The YouTube algorithm prominently displayed Richard X's Burning Flame remix of Bananarama's "Venus" for me the other day.

 

I prefer Bananarama's original, though

(which wasn't the original - that being a 1969 release by Shocking Blue)

 

 

 Right.  On to the garden photos.

Up Yours, Beaky!

I can't believe I got to my allotment cherries before Beaky and his diabolical family did!

 

 

 I went up the allotment today to strim the grass (and weeds) and harvest the first loganberries, and noticed that the cherries are almost ripe - and still on the tree!  There're only a few that are barely ripe, but I picked all those I could reach and ate them.  Up yours, Beaky!

 

* * *

 

 In other news, I am still around but haven't had much time for visiting your blogs or updating my own - never mind anything else - due to Parent Problems.  Their increasing age and deteriorating health (not to mention The Father's luck at generating a rare skin condition - drama queen) have kept me otherwise engaged and very close to the end of my tether.  Fortunately, things seem to have settled somewhat in the last day or two, hence my cherry scoffing and this post.  Hopefully things will return to relative normality soon.

This is an INFOMANIAC Garden Photos Event Reminder

 It may still be months away but, if you haven't already made a start, now is the time to start taking photos of the plants in your garden, courtyard, balcony, windowsill (or other green and pleasant area) for this year's

 

I N F O M A N I A C

Garden Photos Event

☙❧

 

 As always, the Event will begin on Hallowe'en with the Terrifying Triffids exhibit obstacle course, then the next day will be the official opening ceremony along with the Great Triffid Survivor Count (hopefully most of you will make it through if not in one piece, then at least alive).  Your garden photos will then feature every two or three days throughout November culminating in the Grand Finale.

 

 The Garden Photos Event is open to all - you don't need to be an Infomaniac Bitch or member of the Bloggerati to take part.  You don't even need a blog.  Or a garden - a couple of house plants will do (and at a push, a can of cranberry jelly...)!  We would love to see gardens and greenery from regular and irregular commenters & visitors, friends of friends, and any lurkers, as well as the aforementioned Bloggerati and Infomaniac Bitches.  You can find out more, including links to previous events, on my GPE page. 

 

 And remember, despite what certain people may say - I'm looking at you, Savvy! - the Infomaniac Garden Photos Event is NOT a contest! 

 

☙❧

 

 Speaking of contests - not that this is one, mind - here are some more of the first flowers at Hexenhäusli Device.  But no bumblebee - I haven't seen her since the last First Flowers post, sadly.

 

27th May : Iris siberica, possibly?

 

 

28th May : They're growing!  They're actually growing!!!

White and black bat flower stumps (Tacca integrifolia and Tacca chantrieri respectively)

It's all a bit pants, really

The Grand and Circular Payshos of Hexenhäusli Device on Friday.  But wait - what's that on the table?

 

 

 It must be the time of year, Mitzi.  Not only did I find my nephew's pants on the paysho table on Friday, but on this morning's walk with Bitey another two pairs of pants made themselves known:

 

This pair on the High Street looked like they belonged to another child.

 

Whereas this pair dropped on the old railway line between Cromer and Overstrand were adult sized.  Overstrand is obviously up there with Chester, Jon.

 

 

 In other news: Bitey managed a whole walk without killing anything.  Although he did find this dead muntjac on the beach - handily already half buried!

 

CARNAGE... THE HORROR III: DEATHMONGER

 Emboldened by snuffing the life out of Raspberry the rat, Bitey has embarked on a killing spree.  First, that unfortunate sea gull last week.  Then yesterday evening a peasant* pheasant!

 

* Well, peasants aren't really people, are they.  There are always more where they came from, anyway.

(Good old YT captions!)

 

 

Original concept by Mistress Maddie. 

Sounds of the Sea (and Swearing)

 

 "Please make more audios of the sea!!!" Ms Scarlet instructed in no uncertain terms.

 Your wish is my command! (I'm sorry about the birdsong.  I know you didn't request it, so I hope it doesn't detract from the sounds of the waves lapping gently at the shore.)

 

7:37 am, Overstrand beach.  Yes, that's Bitey having a paddle.

More First Flowers but the same Twatted Bee

My recent bearded iris purchase, "Black Tie Affair", put forth its first bloom on Wednesday.

 Every day this past week I've been going up to the allotment with Bitey.  Not to do any allotmenteering, but to check when the first foxglove flowered.  Tuesday was First Flowering Day, but not from the foxglove I thought it was going to be.  Before I get to that, here's a video from Wednesday's wander up there: 

 

This barn owl treated me to a flyby at about five-to-eight.  Bitey didn't seem interested, but I was thrilled to see it - and have time to whip my phone out and take this video!