As I did my last blog early, this is the first one since both election results are known. While there seems to be a wind of change in the UK, and likely for the better, or as much as can be done for the better with no funding, here in France we face stagnation and insecurity until people grow up and learn to play nicely together. With the sane elements refusing to work with far right or far left, both of whom are chucking teddies out of prams and saying it is all unfair, we could have a long wait - in any case until September, when they might remember what the tax payers pay them for. Of course I gather Belgium runs rather well when there is no one in charge and that could be the same here!
At the local level, things are challenging but for different reasons. So far in July we have had 61mm rain - which is more than we usually get in the whole month. This is actually quite good for some of the flowers, which are lasting longer in the cooler, wetter conditions. While there aren't as many flowers as usual on my agapanthus, I have been enjoying them now for a week and they look like they will last longer too.
My "black" day lilies are looking rather magnificent too, while the star gazer in the background is lasting well as well, so it's not all bad.
The garlic crop is something of a disaster. I planted the first lot of cloves not long after the shortest day (the traditional garlic planting day) and harvested them yesterday, so well after the shortest day, but the best are the size of marbles and others are smaller. We did have one as part of yesterday's dinner, and it was very tasty, but it took ages to peel all 12 cloves, each the size of a grain of rice. The shallots will be fine for pickling, but not much else sadly.
The onions are a different story. I lifted the red ones yesterday, as the tops had mostly collapsed and the ground is very wet, so best not to let them sit and fester. Normally the best I get is about the size of a pingpong ball, but this year there are several that are much more meaty. The white onions will need to be lifted in a week or so, and they are looking even better.
I've also been lifting the first row of potatoes I planted - they are second earlies so ready to start eating now, and with the damp conditions I am getting a smidge paranoid about blight setting in. I was particularly pleased with today's haul from one plant, which will provide three meals for us this week I think.
While I was away, Jack the Ripper shuffled off this mortal coil and went to the chicken run in the sky. That is the second one this year, but not surprising as they have a limited life span and we haven't restocked for a while. As we were down to one laying hen, (Mac the Knife), (the freeloading bantam and Auntie Mo the retired sponger not doing anything useful other than eating slugs and annoying the cats) I was given permission to acquire three new hens. We were a bit late to the market, so I didn't have much choice, but I got the last speckled hen and two brown ones, one of which is darker than the other so I might tell them apart. There was a white one, but I only spotted her when my three were removed as she was happy to be sat on by all the others. I don't think that is a good sign, certainly not when they have to co-exist with cats. So anyway, I carried home a cardboard box filled with the Marx sisters - Groucho the speckled, Chico the dark and Harpo the pale.
They should start laying in about three weeks or so, and for the moment seem to be behaving themselves. Rebus the kitten has taken it upon himself to keep a very good eye on them, and make sure they don't to anything too stupid. The other residents of the chicken run regard them with horror most of the time.
Today is the Fête Nationale (never Bastille Day), and to honour that, the Tour de France is making the cyclists go up a very steep mountain to finish today's stage in the Pyrenees. It seems only fair that I go and watch them suffer for my entertainment and celebrate all things French.
Have a good week!
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