Soccer, jumping and a peony

A wonderfully warm morning was spent with the Talpids on the beach at Collieston, playing 1 aside soccer and long-jumping. The rules of 1 aside soccer are quite simple; granddad loses, Talpid wins. 


In the afternoon proper summer weather returned and the heavens have opened once more. Just the sort of day for photographing wet flowers, such as this peony. In the Middle Ages peonies were often painted with their ripe seed-capsules, since it was the seeds that were medically significant. One ancient superstition was that great care had to be taken while picking the plant's fruits not to be seen by a woodpecker, otherwise the bird would likely peck out one's eyes.

The extra photograph shows more, even wetter, plants. Talpa the youngest is learning the art of preserving seaweeds by mounting them on sheets of paper, a pursuit much enjoyed by Victorian ladies.