"I realise it's confusing 'cause I'm inside a boy..."

 Before I explain the post title, I must first address Ms Scarlet's concerns from the previous post:

"I can't see the Kingfisher - will you show me where it is in your next post? Is there a prize for those who do spot it?"

 Well, yes, I will show you (see below), and no, there isn't a prize (unless you count not receiving my sister's worn crocs).  And the people not receiving used crocs through the post are Jon and Dinah as they found the kingfisher.  Well done you two! 

 

 

 And now for the title explanation.  Just watch this: 

 

 

 Yay!  The Ghosts of Button House are back next month!! 

Terror on the Norfolk Broads!

 Oof!  Here we are!

 

 So, what have we been up to since last our paths crossed?  Well, we'll show and tell you.  Mostly show because The Host can't be bothered with a lot of typing...

 

 The day after our previous post, it was The Mother's 80th birthday and a couple of days later (on the Bank Holiday Monday) we had an all-day boat trip on the Norfolk Broads to celebrate.  We were all there: both my sisters - Inexcuseable and Indescribable - and their families (and Indescribable's dog), The Father, but not The Mother.  She decided she'd much rather stay at home with Bitey and have some peace and quiet.  I don't blame her - I wish I could have done, too.

 Anyway, here are some photos:

 

Amongst other things, the Broads are famous for their windmills.  This one's having a bit of work done.

 

We startled a cormorant!

Hexenhäusli Device Garden Update : August

 Here's a quick update from the gardens of Hexenhäusli Device.  There's not a lot to see at the mo, but there are one or two feature plants still going through the drought.

 

Eucomis comosa "Sparkling Burgundy" on 7th & 23rd August

 

 

Allotment and garden foxgloves still doing their thing on 20th & 22nd

Eclipsing the Foo-Foo Valve

 It was a bit of a damp squib here on the eastiest part of the country (I'm sure Ms Scarlet had a much better view over there in the west), but here are some photos of yesterday evening's partial eclipse which followed me & Bitey on our walk and spent some time sniffing around his foo-foo valve* 

 

As we walked up Madams Lane, the eclipse made it's way across the field parallel to us.  The landowner has put up 'Private Land - No public right of way' signs, but they obviously don't apply to celestial phenomena.

 

 

At the base of Skylark Hill the eclipse, having made its way over the trees, descends towards Bitey.

Your Number's Up

 I keep looking at the shelf of mostly alphabetically ordered (by artist) CD singles I've accumulated over the years (above*) and thinking that I should play some of them, or at least save them onto a memory stick/card/whatever, but I just can't be bothered.  Besides, I can barely make out the artist/song on the spine of most of the brittle plastic cases and it's quite difficult to wheedle them out as they're packed in quite tightly**, so I might end up pulling out a single that I have no interest in any more (because I'm sure my tastes have changed over the years).

 I thought about randomly selecting a few to listen to, but knew the selection wouldn't be random as if I didn't like one I'd just pick another instead, so that's where you and your number picking came in. 

 

* Before you start counting and/or clicking to embiggen, the photo above doesn't show all my CD singles.  Goldfrapp's and Erasure's are with their respective albums on the shelves above, and there are two or three others languishing on other shelves that I can't squeeze back in this one (but they have been counted).

** Remember this.  It will be important once you've listened to/read the final pick. 

 

Anyway, here the results of your efforts: 

 

#73 Ms Scarlet : Pepe Deluxé - "Before You Leave"

"Before You Leave" - by Finnish band Pepe Deluxé - was released in 2001 and got to number 20 in the UK charts (but #10 in its native Finland).  I still really like this track but haven't listened to it, never mind heard it, in years.  I don't have any more singles or albums by Pepe Deluxé (who last released an album in 2024), so they're a one-hit wonder for me.

Pick A Number

 As Peenee laments in his latest - anniversary - post (happy 19th blog birthday, mrpeenee!),

"There are times when I sit down to write my latest hilarious blog and I discover I have absolutely no idea about what to write."

 The same is very often true here, so I just slap up a few photos that I've taken recently and call it a day.  But not today.

 Today we're going to play a game.

Well, we've thought of a game to play but whether any of you join in is another matter.

I'm sure they will.

 Anyway, it's very simple, there's no strenuous activity, and you don't really have to use your brain.

And we'll get two blog posts out of it!

"What about prizes?" I hear you ask.  Well, there are none because this game doesn't have a winner or loser (except, possibly, the Host's dignity).  Instead, the second results post is the 'prize'.

 Plus, if you like it, you can play the game on your blogs too.  It'll be different for everyone, so there'll be no boring repetition - well, it's very unlikely that there will be.

 

 Right.  Are you intrigued?  Or at least a little curious?  Or bored enough to take part in whatever the hells this is?  Good.  Then we'll begin: 

 

 All you have to do is pick a number between 1 and 108 and leave it in the comments.  In a couple of days time, I will return with the consequences of your chosen numbers.

 

☙❧

 

 Just in case anyone feels this is all too unfamiliar, discomforting, and too much to take in, I'll just slap up some photos I took from Thursday's visit to the Old Vicarage Gardens in East Ruston (last seen back in 2025, although I have been several times this year):

 

Inside the Diamond Jubilee walled garden

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!

"We're running out of clouds, staring at blue again"

 These photos might be from Saturday, but despite the imminent Bank Holiday weekend here in Blighty, the weather is set for more of the same (with the possible exception of this Saturday).  And with the added extra of warmth, if not actual heat!  Strange Things Happen:

 

 Thank you Alison Goldfrapp, for "We're running out of clouds, staring at blue again".  It's as if she knew. 

 And speaking of strange things happening: 

News From Norfolk: 

 

This is not just any animal rescue, this is an M&S animal rescue

 

Hillside Animal Sanctuary was called out to Marks & Spencer on Rampant Horse Street in Norwich after staff found a muntjac stuck within the glass barrier of a ground-floor escalator. 

 

[The whole story] 

CARNAGE... THE HORROR II

A sequel

 

The Garden Murderer has struck again.  This time on the beach!

 

 The morning started with a walk along the beach to Cromer with a couple of friends and their dogs, a black lab and a dobermann.  While the two other dogs were chasing a ball, Bitey veered off into the breaking waves where he somehow managed to bring down a MASSIVE sea gull that was taking off!

 He immediately ran off with it leading us on a merry chase.  It took the three of us to corner him so I could grab him and wrest the dying bird from his jaws of death.  Although there was no blood, the scene was harrowing.

 

 The murderer is currently stretched out on my bed probably dreaming of his prowess.

 

 The little git.