Saw the water-lily bloom ...

Bet the Lady of Shalott didn't have to look at the water-lilies through the rain ... but even on a completely dreich day when the rain never really stopped, even if it relented occasionally, the pond in Benmore Gardens was pleasing.

Must admit, though, that when you're engaged in multifarious blethering with a pal that you don't see often enough the rain is somehow less of an issue. In fact, I'm amazed that we weren't besieged by midges; the amount of carbon dioxide exhaled in our afternoon should have had them roaring round.

Nah. Midges don't roar. They merely materialise.