The Cosmos on the patio

At the end of a busy day I spotted Woodpeckers with her camera outside the back door.  I realised she was zooming in on some of the grapes hanging off our vine, which has gone wild and climbed all over the place, including the fence and the neighbour's tree.  I seldom pick the grapes as I like to see birds going to eat them for a treat, especially the blackbirds who find difficulty in getting our seeds because of the danger caused by the prevalence of cats.

I didn't have long between heating some food, eating it and rushing off to a big council meeting at 7-30pm, when I hoped we would get approval for the content of the Neighbourhood Plan.  We are presenting it for the public consultation process at the beginning of October and lasting six weeks.

So after putting the oven on and the food in it, I rushed out with my camera because the evening light from the setting sun was still shining on a few patio plants.  I love this Cosmos plant, which seems to have really appreciated being repotted in fresh compost a few weeks ago, and whose flowers are still looking gorgeous.

The meeting went well, although there were some other contentious issues that were of concern.  A group of local residents came to lobby about the refugee situation in the world and were wondering what could be done locally.  Last Saturday The Guardian, a national newspaper, featured a long article by a Stroud resident titled 'Why we're ready to open our homes to refugees'  quoting Kevin, the mayor, and others.  There was some jovial concern that the town was described as conservative, because we have an MP from that party, whereas many people see it as a town with a very independent spirit.  The Guardian has subsequently featured a letter to the Editor today humorously refuting that conservative charge!

The town council agreed to support the Neighbourhood Plan, which has been prepared on its behalf, so we can now move forward.  Yay.  However we will now have a battle to get the referendum on the Plan held within a reasonable time, which the local body responsible for electoral processes is apparently intent on delaying.  So there is another challenge ahead.