Lots to say. Andrew has been off this week which has been lovely. After the excitement of Monday, we had a very quiet day on Tuesday, as I was shattered. On Thursday, Andrew's parents, Rita and Roger visited with Sylvia, an old friend of theirs from their school days, who has been staying with them for a few days. It was lovely to see her, as she lives in East Sussex, so we don't cross paths very often. The weather this week has been good mostly and on Thursday it was hot and sunny, so we were able to put up the parasol on the outside table, lay out the cushions on the benches, and enjoy the garden. Andrew did some weeding on Wednesday and I must say it looked inviting and surprisingly mature especially as so many plants are currently growing like mad and/or bursting into flower. Most excitingly, the pond now has a large collection of wriggling tadpoles, which is wonderful.

We did a nice menu on Thursday. We started with Nigella's watermelon salad, with mint, feta and olives. Very refreshing and really scrumptious, definately one to repeat in summer weather. Followed this with Jamie's chicken caesar salad, which is gorgeous (we've had it before), made with home made bread and herbs from the garden. Dessert was passionfruit shortcakes, eaten outside. Bliss. Before lunch, we also had the first Pimms jug of the summer - what could be more evocative of sunny days?

Yesterday was astonishingly humid, and we had a spectacular thunderstorm and flash downpour late on Friday night. Today is sunny and hot again, but with more breeze, so more pleasant. Andrew has hung up some outside lights in the back garden - fairy lights shaped like dragonflies that twine artfully in and out of the climbing roses and the chocolate vine. They are on the same timer as the floor lights and look gorgeous. My next task is to persuade Andrew to enjoy a barbecue - he hates them and I love them. I understand his objections - nobody likes raw sausages, burnt to cinders on the outside, stinking of paraffin, but a well-done barbecue of beautifully marinated meat, lovingly cooked over proper charcoal to the right consistency is a joy, and I think there is something inherently festive and enjoyable about cooking and eating out of doors - I love picnics for the same reason.

Sadly, this week has flown past - it's always nice to have Andrew at home rather than hurtling round the country at high speed. Today, got down my summer clothes from the loft, and hoicked up my winter ones. Another marker for the progress of the seasons. It's lovely to say hello to my Birkenstocks again. I live in these during the summer. Like Barbour jackets, these age wonderfully, in fact are horrible when new, and become more tolerable as they acquire the worn comfort of age. A bit like marriage perhaps? The current Birkenstocks predate our marriage so are around 12 years old - if any readers can beat this I'd be interested. Of course in Barbour terms that's positively juvenile - a good waxed jacket can go on for 30 years.

Some photos attached of visitors and plants.