Happy Birthday Beagle to Corinne, Bronny and me over the past month

Beagles are significant to all 3 of us and, given my cunning plan to use a photo of Bronny's beagle failed to materialise - the beagle vanishing into cyberspace as they tend to, often dragging washing and other people's sandwiches with them - thought I'd use this photo.  The fact I look incredibly young has nothing to do with it.  I have had the most wonderful birthday - cards, gifts, phone calls and emails from all over the place - thank you all.  If every day was like the past 2 days, I'd still look like I do in the photo (I'm the one on the left).  I lead a charmed life, so thank you. XXXX

OK. The Rabbit wins.

It looks as though Thumper has won a trip to Wales - presumably for cuteness.  So I thought I'd better get in the picture too.  Here we are in our garden in Angus Drive, England, a few years ago.  Discerning gardener-type people could be forgiven for thinking this was a young Edna Walling...  It looks frightfully Bickleigh Vale.  But to keep my gardening credentials, I thought I'd show you my rosemary which has finally flowered.

Said gardener-type people may be thinking that plants tend to flower when they're stressed and on their way out, and I think this may be the case.  This rosemary plant has survived amazing drought conditions and, though it looks quite healthy here, in real life it's not looking so crash hot.  I've been waiting years for it to flower.  I love the story that Mary (ie mother of Jesus) threw her mantle over the bush (not my one) and since that time it has had blue flowers.  Given my bush has only one flower (read no further if you are of a religious bent) it must have been her g-string.

Friday on my mind

I should keep my big mouth shut.  After rabbiting on about my Mondays off, I've been asked to work Mondays for 3 weeks, with Fridays off instead.  So last weekend was a short one for me.  Didn't travel anywhere - just tried to catch up.  Previous weekend, you may recall, I went to Adelaide for 4 days so Mum and I could organise a bit more of our Big Trip to Wales.  Mum always puts Thumper, a toy from my childhood, on my bed and it crossed my mind that I could take him to Wales - a bit like Flat Stanley for those who remember that saga.  I haven't totally dismissed the idea...  Welsh Rabbit????

Driving to Adelaide, I noticed a most disturbing sight at the winery at Kingston-on-Murray.  So I photoed it with my phone on the way home.

What will happen to the wine? And doesn't it look like Raspberry Ripple ice-cream?