pumpkinstrokemarrow

Despite yesterday's optimistic posting about the incubator pumpkins, the slugs have now knocked out all but two. Plus they have had the first of the second line planted a few days after the incubators. They are also getting dug into the runner beans - which had been germinating well but are now looking a bit tattered. Some signs of slugs in the broad beans but the black fly are still not out in force so on balance the broad bean crop is looking good. Rain stop play today not a disaster.

Reminded of the rather open ended function of a dictionary (when is it an encyclopaedia?) when finding out about protean - a word which a book about duality and doubles which I am reading is very keen on. It turns out (from OED), that Proteus was the son of a couple of weather flavoured divinities who could change his shape. Also that proto- is a prefix meaning from or before the beginning. Original. Don't think there is any connection beyond the language of origin.

Now done two Soduku in about as many weeks. Both knocked off in about twenty minutes so maybe the brain, in this case, is better when rested.

And more deep ethical problems from the DT. If one has been careful and saved lots of money, is it fair that one should stump up the cost of being kept when demented, when the toss-pot from down the road who has p***d it all up against the wall is kept in the same facility at Her Majesty's expense. I suppose it is only common humanity to keep said toss-pot, but maybe if there are lots of them we are going to have to move to a two class regime with better quality flowers for those who contribute. Watch this space.