Where's the Heat Gone?

A problem with going somewhere with temperatures in excess of 40ºC is when you return to the UK. People here are walking around without many clothes on, and I have felt cold just about all day. The planting here has benefited from these conditions though. Saw my first snapdragons of the year when we went off for breakfast at Prior Park Garden Centre

Heading out afterwards saw this car, whose driver has the top down - convinced that it is Summer!

Drove through the centre of town, getting as close to Pulteney Bridge as we could without getting a fine for driving straight on.

 Saw these rather fine hollyhocks on our way.

This massive church at the end of the road really dominates its surroundings.

Across the river on the old bridge.The river is high and still muddy brown from the recent rain.

 Coming up to the London Road.

This seems to be a fairly recent development in building sites - the on-site silo of dry mortar from Remix.

We had the joy of shopping at Morrisons…

Later on this afternoon, I took Bella out to reacquaint herself with her immediate surroundings. The privet has begun to flower in profusion since we went away.

Finally the buddleias have started to emerge into flower as well. 

Got a text from O2 giving me £10 to atone for the network disruption that happened when we were on Symi. I was on Wind GR &/or Cosmote at the time, so wasn't affected at all, but nice to get something back…

These notices for the building work that continues up Charlcombe Lane get well used, to the point of confusion.

I don't know - you go away for a week and another house has decided to dig up half their front garden for car parking as well as the garage they already have. At least this garage is actually used for a car - the yellow Triumph I have shown here before.

In the fields , more insect life and some changes in the flowering plants over the last week.

Grasses and others plant still persisting.

 Little thistles are flowering all over the fields.

Evidence of a clandestine late night session left tidily on this drainpipe.

Another type of hydrangea - maybe a lacecap. Time will tell…

A beautiful rose.

 Cornflowers also out in profusion now.

The little meadow at the end of our road has been mowed in our absence.

This day a year ago, we went down to Toppings bookshop at the bottom of Lansdown to hear Lucinda Lambton talking about her new book, "Palaces for Pigs". Saw this animal-themed light fitting on the way back up the hill.