Another 21st

I can happily report that the Mum and the Dad are a small amount "tired and emotional" tonight. They have, at last, reached the final episode of the boxed set of "I Claudius" (aka "Clavdivs") which they bought when "Rome" ran out earlier in the year. Claudius is dead and the Sybil has sent him on his way to find the ferryman.

In this state, the humans have done that thing they do every now and then, which is to arm up with a glass of wine and "tour the estate". OK the "estate" is only 100' by 25' but they stroll up and down looking at what's growing well, what's destined for the chop, and what they might plant in the future. On this occasion, the following might want to save up their coins to pay the ferryman.....

Flowering Cherry-tree (triploid) - very stressed and mis-shapen after the drought of April 2007;

Myrtle bush - nice healthy bush but too close to the house, so that the top garden "finishes" out of line on that side, compared to the rest of the width;

self seeded greengage tree too close to the zebra grass;

Choysia - another nice healthy bush originally planted over the grave of dead stray cat but now "doesn't really go" next to the beech hedge

Massive acanthus - looks OK when small and vigorous in Spring but by now is a mess of dying leaves and lurching fruit stems. besides - where it is could be a nice Spring bed

Meanwhile, wish Mum a happy (another happy) 21st on Bank Holiday Monday. That's what she tells me she is in age, anyway, and being a small innocent pup, only 11 months old, who am I to query this?????

Have a great weekend
Deefer

I Clavdivs

After they enjoyed the BBC drama "Rome" so much, the humans had to shoot out and get the 1976 series "I, Claudius" on DVD boxed set, and we've been watching it ever since. On the TV titles, the "u"s in "Claudius" were always depicted as "V"s, and it's been a family joke ever since, to pronounce them that way. Little things..... But let me tell you, there are no dogs, no animals, no barking in it at all, nothing of interest to a westie, so my pics today are of the three of us plus Felix curled up on the settee "watching" I Claudius.

Meg is in her favourite position on the "far end" (Dad thinks her favourite position is where ever he wants to sit). I am (as ever) up on the back of the settee, either looking down on them all, or with my nose squeezed into the crack between the settee and the wall. Haggis here is curled up with Felix looking quite cute. Which ever one of them is on the sofa first, the other seems to wait till they're settled and then kind of squidge in alongside. Not sure what felix is doing with his head on one side in the front-on shot. Stretching maybe? Weird cat.

Dad has treated himself to a new shredder for the garden, so this afternoon we whizzed through all the cuttings of vibernum, bay and paulownia in double-quick time. Dad is delighted. he can finally throw out the old noisy rattly blunt thing given to us by the Pud-Lady, even though it was beyond its sell by date then.

Have a great weekend

Deefs