Insect orgy

Another busy day at work, followed by a busy evening!

Late-afternoon walk on the Common with MrM and Louie. Lots of biting insects around, and also these soldier beetles. Spotted them at the end of our walk - about a dozen (extra) on one flower, all in mating pairs. Don't remember seeing any before, but our book says that they're "extremely common".

Finally got round to putting the first coat of paint on an old wooden step ladder this evening. It was in the courtyard when we moved in to the flat, and I'm planning to prop it against the wall with pots of trailing plants on the rungs. Put the ladder in the courtyard, fetched the paint and brushes, and had loaded the brush with the first lot of paint when a few raindrops fell. Moved the ladder and equipment in to the workshop in the nick of time, and the heavens opened. Not for long, but with a vengeance!