Beef at The Cat

Up and another gorgeous day. Lorraine and I did a bit in the garden, including varnishing a window cill, one of many that will have to be done. In the evening Lorraine did some planting out of vegetables into the raised beds, and I did a spot of watering newly planted things.

At midday, a beautiful leafy drive to West Hoathly and a pub called The Cat, where I'd been once with Anton after a walk, to meet Penny and Steve. We had an excellent Sunday lunch in the pub garden. Nice to see Penny and Steve who I'd not seen since they'd been to Japan -- a challenge for Penny as she hates fish. Meanwhile in the Cat I had some generous slices of roast beef trusting that the threat of orc foot will be staved off by my allopurinol. Washed it down with a Wobblegate cider, from Bolney near Lorraine's last school. Just once every couple of months red meat is marvellous. A Great Dane type of dog, but in grey, in the garden, that even I found it impossible not to smooth its head when passing.

Home, listening to BBC Radio 5 and Arsenal beating Manchester United. Always great to listen to United losing. We stopped off at the sign of the dinosaur at Paradise Park and nipped in to buy some ferns for our wildlife pond.

Watched the penultimate episode of Shogun. All rather splendid.

Below a clematis, and a climbing rose from our garden.