Day 21 Trees

Spent some time this morning watering the garden. In the front garden I had to dismantle the frost protection from around the tap first. All well and I gave all the tubs a good soaking. I was happy to see that the lilac has it's first flowers. It is a little sucker that I brought from Eastgate. Mostly everything else is looking healthy but I shall have to watch the roses for black spot.

I am sad to say that the tree a few doors up that was 'pruned' recently by a couple of 'tree surgeons' shows no sign of top growth. I commented to them at the time when I was passing that they were tempting fate - although not in those words. There are too many of these people armed with a chain saw and a truck who masquerade as tree experts but haven't a clue. I was a lovely tree although planted much too near the back of the house and probably when in full leaf cut out a fair bit of light. I am still hoping the best for my Acer which is showing signs of leaf. Last year many of the tips died back and I read that it was due to lack of water! I suspect rubbish sub-soil, as this area was once a building site and there may be not enough good, water-retaining soil for the tree to prosper. 

Phoned my daughter Claire this morning. She is ok. She lives in Roath with her Jack Russell dog Della and shares her house with lodgers. One of them, a ballerina, has taken temporary work as a cleaner in the Covid-19 ward of the hospital. I heard that another landlady had evicted one of her lodgers for that misdemeanour but I am glad to say that my daughter is made of sterner stuff!

Video of Della the day we collected her from the breeder in Swansea. She is now nearly a year old.

Spent some of the afternoon on my patchwork and later joined Sheila down at the allotment where we worked for a while on our beds getting them ready for planting.

I am now absolutely knackered and have poured myself a stiff gin and tonic (note to self - just used last tin of tonic) and am wondering what's on TV. I see that there is a film about Queen Victoria and her Indian clerk, Abdul. I think I saw it when it was first screened but should like to watch it again if I can stay awake!

Snippet from the News

The home secretary has said she is sorry if people feel there has been a failure to supply sufficient personal protective equipment (PPE) to NHS staff, as it was revealed that 19 UK health workers had died after contracting coronavirus.
Speaking at the daily Downing Street coronavirus briefing, Priti Patel was asked twice if she would apologise about the lack of PPE being provided to frontline workers. “I’m sorry if people feel that there have been failings,” she said. “I will be very, very clear about that.”

Correction - People don't feel that there has been a failure to supply sufficient PPE to NHS staff - we KNOW it!

Snippet from Facebook

Snippet from Twitter

Quote "Old Age comes at a bad time"

Random Photo

This was the cake that I made for Jim's 80th birthday. We had a big family party. The cake is topped with rows miniature vegetables similar to those that Jim grew in his allotment. I still have the vegetables but we ate the cake.

Margin: photos from our trip 2014 to New Zealand.

TOT ZIENS! Drink Gin!