16th - 29th. July 2007

I've just arrived in Southampton for 5 days of grandchild sitting. They're all out at present so I have a couple of hours of non-kids TV and a garden without any toys out to sit in.
It was an eventual and epic trip down here. I took the most challenging route via Hastings, Brighton and Chichester. Although diverse terrain from the Romney Marshes to the South Downs, the Cinquecuento made it in victorious fashion.
I stopped three times; once because I wanted to, second because I was hungry and third because I had to.
I filled the car up last night, drove here (138 miles) and filled itup again - £9.98. So I reckon that's pretty good.
I calculated that had I come by Moped, it would have taken 6 hours with stops, eight wasp stings and about a fivers worth of petrol.
What's with this weather! Here in Kent it's nowhere near as bad as elsewhere in the country. I really feel for those affected by the floods; their homes, their families, their belongings and pets etc.
I cut the grass twice yesterday. Because it's grown so much since the last time, 17 days ago, I did it twice (the second lower than the first).
Normally I would lose about 5 bags from the lawnmower. Yesterday, I counted 14. Well, I guess it's lush, but that's all.
I also noticed the Farmer harvested all the wheat around us last week. I diaried it last year and it was the second week of August.
The Chicken Run is fairly grown with nettles. Yesterday I went in to cut some of them down, over six feet high in places, but as I was doing it I noticed the chickens quite happily walking through them like a forest.
They have about 5 'clearings' joined up with these little 'forest walks'. So I decided to leave most of it.
They're still laying for England and don't seem to mind the weather much atall.
I have some really fantastic weeds this summer, I'm quite proud of some of them! Although it's a never ending battle to keep the vegetable stems clear of any, it is at least attracting a wild variety of more friendly visitors to the garden.
I firmly believe those who say that every garden should have one area 'let loose'. It brings in the dragon flies, butterflies, frogs and other things.
Big Ron (our 1st4lb black cat) did use up a life yesterday because of this though. I was quite happily push pulling the rotary mower into the long grass against the hedges, when he leapt straight over the top. He was obviously nesting right in line! Ginger did this once with the strimmer and there could have only been an inch in it.Scares you!
But, the beetroots are booming, loads of them. After 4 years of failure - bingo - jackpot. I don't reckon on getting any sweetcorn and squash though. Unless we get a prolonged dry spell, that's it I reckon.
I'm still looking for gaps in my busy schedule to finish off the first Ark (see above). I started a full size one but, rightly as it happens, decided to do a Rabbit / Bantam size one first.
All the time I find myself saying 'I could do that better if..." or "I should have brought X" x X" rather than this" etc.
I don't intend to sell this one yet. I'd like to ask a couple of 'Handyman' types if they'd be interested in building them for me.
With the wastage I'll do some mini Guines Pig Daytime Runs to sell at Boot Fairs during the winter months. They'll have to be mini to go into the Cinquecuento!
Nest Saturday I rise at 5am to make my way to Edgbaston to see Kent play in the twenty/20 finals. Usually it's a big fun day out for the spectators and becoming quite a summer special.
We have as good a chance as the others, so who knows, after six seasons of looking after the Kent Team, I may handle some silverware.
You may wonder how I've found the time to produce 38 new pages this month. Well, a lot of them were on another website of mine which has failed to take off. Rather than to flog a horse, I found the articles which would fit into Down the Lane and whipped them accross. Not all of them are though. I think I've managed writing about eight!
So, a good fortnight with the highlight being almost arrested in Ashford Town Centre for stealing a bicycle. The full story 'Bicycle Thief Returns' is in the Blog, click here
Anyway, I think I still have some peace. I can usually hear the kids when they're just passing Winchester from here.
I've already heard that since seeing the photograph of my car, it's being called 'Pop's Toy Car'.
They'll know different when I get them to clean it tomorrow!
I've brought my tent down as well for them to have picnics in. I may even sleep in it. I'll tell them horrible things about foxes pinching things out of tents. That'll keep them inside!

2nd - 16th. July 2007