Early Birds

The colchicum are flowering a bit earlier than usual this year.   A cool, wet summer has provided the conditions that triggers them to come out of their summer dormancy.  Colchicum x aggripinum is always one of the first and this clump will produce a lot more flowers over the next few weeks.   Last year they were out on 27th August, in 2021 it was 3rd September.   A cheerful splash of colour as the year rolls on.

Jamie woke still feeling more connected to reality and has continued feeling more normal through the day.   He opted for an afternoon at his place and cooked our tea unaided.   Brilliant!   He's stopping over at mine tonight as the evenings have been the most difficult.  If tomorrow brings further improvement we'll both breathe a sigh of relief.

After a long lie in I managed to fit in an hour at pottery and a blackberry picking dog stroll either side of a late lunch.  While on the walk which turned increasingly wet as light rain developed, I took a call from Ruth's GP asking if we could do a three-way chat.   Connecting back home it turned out that tests have confirmed that Ruth still has Salmonella lingering in her gut.  The treatment after her spell in hospital in May led to six weeks of the best heath she's enjoyed for years but it seems that it didn't completely eliminate the stubborn strain that she is troubled by.  It's news that fits with how she's been feeling in recent weeks so she'll be back on antibiotics.   The promise of a return to better health will make the discomfort that the meds bring worthwhile.

So, positive news on two fronts.  Now I just need to properly recharge my emotional and physical batteries.  No work until next month should help but I must try to stop and rest along the way too.