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eclipses and other snippets

I am aware that I am being less reliable about posting on the blog - after 5 years the novelty is wearing off a bit and also it started as a vehicle to document my uni degree work - now finished... in the first instance this twice weekly recording was a requirement to fulfil a module and then it became quite a good way to evidence my work progress and share life in general - something I've never been shy of - its gained a few faithful followers and quite a few unexpected readers from time to time - and I will continue to add to it but maybe as my life has become a little bit more mundane and I don't really expect my exploits to entertain as many people - well to be honest I never did - it wont be quite so enthralling and as often 😂😂but its been a good way to keep in touch with quite a few distant folk who I miss having in my everyday life..... 

This week we shared another partial solar eclipse - the weather was just kind enough to allow us a reasonable view of the sun slowly being eaten into by the moon,  We had the right glasses courtesy of https://gostargazing.co.uk/  and Dr Fred had set up the colander,  his telescope with the right filter on and distributed eclipse glasses - We had tea and cake in the garden and a friend and a couple of neighbours joined us.  Its not the most spectacular eclipse experience but it is still pretty amazing to think the sun which is  so faraway is being slowly hidden by the moon which just by some freak of nature happens to be exactly the right distance between the sun and the earth to make this phenomena happen.   

It continues to be a joy to be in the garden - in spite of desperate prickly heat requiring antihistamines (told you - no entertainment value here) we are spending long days pottering about - the roses - replanted and nurtured are starting to flower.  The poppies have finally settled and have deigned to open and gloriously blowsy.  We have moved the increasingly large banana plants into the garden and they are loving it - we can almost see them growing!!!   The garden has come to life - it looks less formal than this time last year and there is a lot more colour - some of it added by us but some wee surprises emerging due to less trees and more light.  



Adamfrost the hedgehog and his pals are still very evident but they aren't eating enough slugs - the whole of my vege bar one plant were devoured overnight!!!!   plus all my dahlias grown from seed!!!! C'est la vie - wildlife gardening......   Dr  Fred is obsessed with having daisies everywhere so he lovingly cut the grass avoiding all flowering plants.....


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