I assume everyone has been watching the Olympics from London. It has been a real success story overall. I loved the opening ceremony, particularly the section featuring the NHS.

 For all its perceived shortcomings the NHS is something of which Britain can be truly proud . I come from a family of eight children, all born under the NHS. We have had excellent health care over the years despite the opposition of the usual vested interests that think that a profit should be turned out of providing health care. The best remark that I read about it was the person who tried to imagine the Americans celebrating their health care system under similar circumstances. I salute my former GPs; Drs Boyle, McGlade and Quiery.

Glad I got that off my leftie chest.

Usain Bolt?????...how does he make it look so easy?

The earliest memory that I have is being lifted up to see over the wall flanking the River Bann to see the beautiful swans swimming past. It was on the Bann that three local lads; Alan Campbell and brothers Richard and Peter Chambers first learned to row. All took bronze medals in London. Well done!

Garden Report.

My zucchinis (courgettes) are still doing well. I can't believe that so many zucchinis could come off one plant. I had joked to Susan that all you have to do is plant a zucchini seedling and then stand well back! I'm beginning to think that the joke is closer to the truth than I thought. 

The tomatoes are thriving. Two plants continue to provide us with more than enough tomatoes for our needs.

I planted strawberries but I think it will be next year before they will fruit in any sort of abundance.

Chives have been a bit of a disappointment. Very very slow... they look like undernourished grass.

I am waiting for my solitary pepper to change colour...any day now.

I think that my beans must be a autumn variety. Just coming into flower now. Still, there is plenty of time.

A last minute addition was an eggplant (aubergine) seedling. It looks healthy but no baby eggplants yet.


Caribana

This is the annual celebration of all things Caribbean. Unbeleivably large parade; floats, bands and lots of people in costume consisting mainly of feathers, glitter and anything that shines.
I enclose a few photos for your education.

 

Honestly, they insisted!