Back on the plot and it’s baking hot. First of all spent the early morning on a tree plot where my wife and I help out for a charity that grows trees, can you get any more worthy?

An early start to try to avoid the intense heat and then some weeding of the rows of young trees. A short break mid weeding for a herbal infusion and some home made flapjack, can you get any more middle class?

It’s amazing how much you can get done on a large plot with loads of people to help, after a couple of hours the place looked great and we are confident that the tree will survive and prosper.

Back to base and a spot of lunch, when I then tried to shade my greenhouse otherwise in a few days we’ll have fried green tomatoes. Found a large piece of cardboard that I knew would come in handy one day, but getting it down from the garage very nearly ended in me falling from the ladder. Managed to frighten myself! A siesta followed.

Nerves recovered, this evening off to my own plot to check if everything was ok. A few fine young carrots. I suspect the bugs were just not expecting them as they are generally clean and healthy, very tasty too.

Took a few photos to try out my latest eBay purchased camera and very pleased with the results so far. I love buying things on eBay and I surmise generally that it’s best to try and buy using evidence from the photos and the location, in this case a respectable part of the Lake District and what seemed to be a woman seller was a good omen. They tend to look after their cameras and then not use them much. I was right. A quick read of the instructions during siesta time helped, though generally I’m not good at following instructions, ask Elisabeth. ( Take driving:The invention of the Sat Nav resolved my inbred feeling that we were always going the right way, and that I should ignore any instructions telling me to go in another direction emanating from the passenger seat.)

Tried a few experimental shots with new camera. This is Borage growing within my spud crop. Great for bees but a bit of a thug as it goes forth and germinates everywhere.

And this is the same bunch of borage taken from below, with resident bee getting his tea.

Stay cool everyone.