Into summer

As I write tomorrow starts summer – just as the weather here has decided to return to late spring. Things should turn again later this week, with warmer, sunnier weather. Today, however, while it decided to warm up in the middle of the day, we had rain early and are looking at more in the evening and overnight.

The previous half week was verrry busy. In good ways. Very full and pleasing.

My child left teenager-dom. We celebrated with some small gifts (he’s at a point where he doesn’t ‘need’ things – the best gift as far as he’s concerned would be travel, and we’re not there yet). We had a meal at a tiny (seven tables) fairly newly opened Japanese restaurant from which we’d gotten takeaway a month ago. It’s a stupendous place with a tiny menu (some small plates, some ramen, some sushu and sashimi, a few hot items). Really lovely evening – and it was my first in-restaurant meal in a year and a half (he’d had a few with friends). That was sort of astonishing – watching people walk around town was just so new and surprising. Who’d’a thunk it…

I got my first in-salon haircut in a year (I’ve cut it myself twice over the past year). Went short. For no reason I can put my finger on. A sort of longer pixie cut. I haven’t had short hair in literally 40 years (it’s weird to say that). Back for colour and cut tweaking (there’s a cowlick over one ear that needs dealing with) in a few weeks. Oddly, it didn’t feel like pampering so much as ‘if this isn’t done soon something weird will happen’.

I had my first German session (doing this with the mother of one of my son’s friend who is a translator). The point is conversation. It’s a bit daunting having to memorise irregular verbs. Haven’t done that for a long time. So, Tuesdays late afternoons I go over to her very impressive renovated 17^th century rectory. She won’t accept payment so I’ll be bringing a plant, some bulbs or something from the local farm shop each visit (last week was a small French lavender plant).

The shed has been cleared out with the detritus dropped off at the recycling centre. I’ve finally got the garden cleaned up and the terrace area mostly rearranged so the plants and the seating make sense. And my little brown fig tree showed up (this year’s birthday gift to me) and got potted.

The house is almost clean – just a few things left to sort.

The only thing that was a fail was trying to get samples of the Dusita perfumes Patty mentioned last week. I left it too long and half of what I wanted to order is now out of stock (the reach of Posse?). Will just have to wait a bit.

Wore Ylang 49 to dinner and Ninfeo Mio to hair. They are my staples right now.

Summer is one of my favourite seasons (the other being spring) – always has been. There’s a busy work period from mid-July to early August but bar that, things slow.right.down over the next two months and it becomes easier to focus on the now and the what next. I think better and more clearly during warm weather.

The pics are my border/path and the big poppies (left) – as opposed to the smaller ones in the border (top). They are both self-seeded. I think their appearance is due to the builders messing around back there for months. I’ve certainly never planted poppies. But I deeply appreciated them deciding to pop up in my garden. The stuff to the right of the path is from Bee Bombs — wild flowers. You randomly distribute these pellets and then see what happens.

So far (though you can’t see them in this pic), there are some poppies and small daisy like flowers in bloom. I’ve also stuck in some nasturtium (yellow, red and orange).

Have a good week. Any small pleasures to report and things that surprised you?