Marking Time

Up amongst the heather and the breeze - StanageOnce again it is that rather dead time of the year, the schools are out, everywhere is busy and of course it has been really, really hot - with no rain for at least a couple of months now and a series of heatwaves and broken records. On the plus side we have a ferry booked for ten days hence, have our fifth France six-month visa and I even got a couple of days out in the Peak, climbing with Colin.The new garden - zero maintenance!The flat next door has been sold and the new owners (inc Def Leppard guitarist) have done a magnificent job renovating it including a very smart garden refurb. I had a word with the guy who had done it - Apex Landscapes - and he said he could fit us in for the same treatment before we leave in late August - that'll be £9,000 thank you very much! In the event it took six guys working up to 10 hours a day in the hottest spell of the year (35C) to sort the garden - a magnificent effort, and it looks great.We have also done lots of walks out and about, mostly not very long, but almost every day - trying to stay high to catch the breeze or down in the trees where shade is on offer. It will be nice to get up in those high chilly mountains again.