Ah well

The late summer flowers are brightening the garden, such as this leucanthemum - just a daisy, really, but so pretty. It's still hot. 

On Tuesday we went up to visit Son and family. He got out the water slide for his two little ones

and they had a fine time. They are very lovely.

The countryside was looking nice but it's a long way to drive, on big scary roads. I'm somewhat phobic about big roads and always expect to die in a flaming pile-up. 

I'm allowed to take photos of their cat. 

Back home, we had friends for the day today after a long Covid gap, and that was lovely. In the evening I went for a wander along this track, admiring the rosebay willowherb and but glad it wasn't growing in my garden. It's very pretty but a prolific seeder. 

It's taller than me now. (This is not a huge feat.)

Summer is wearing away. It's now getting darkish by about 9pm. 

I always feel sad for a few days after we've seen one of the absent offspring. It's sometimes hard to believe that they'll never live near us again. But of course they won't. I do hate when people say to me - as they do - "Well, they could be in Australia." Not being stupid, I do know that, and yes, of course that would be worse. But presumably they think that this will cheer me up. And it doesn't.