I must report that while there is still much colour and the vegetables are splendid, the lawns have taken a pummelling and the excessive (for us) heat of recent days has taken its toll.

Bear in mind neither the Textiliste and I enjoy using perfectly sound potable water on the garden. Yes, we need to, but stressing our plants is a fact of our gardening life.

And as I reported recently the parakeets have been doing to our sunflowers what the Education minister has managed to do the hopes and aspirations of many 18 year olds – pretty much destroy the young and sunny blossoms – tossers, both.

Still, here we go and as an incentive for those interested a few piccies of Dog at the end.