I keep hearing about how the country is in the middle of a drought- and that temperatures are soaring into the 30’s (degrees C that is.)
Well- not up here. We have had only a handful (4 or 5) of dry days since the beginning of May. Hopefully the bad weather has past now- we had a lovely day today- slight winds and sunshine, with a temp of warm 17 degrees.
As a sign of just how extreme it has been up here this year, here is a picture taken of some trees on the way into Lochgilphead-
No- autumn has not come early (I don’t think!) There are trees like this all over Argyll- particularly close to the sea. They fell victim to the violent storms that ripped in back at the beginning of May- when the tender new leaves simply could not cope with the strength and cold temperatures- resulting in ‘wind burn’.
We are told that the trees themselves will be fine. But we kind of know how they feel!
Apparently there is no such thing as bad weather- just inappropriate clothing (unless you are a tree.)
this fragile tent 
Oh dear, well if it’s any consolation many of the evergreens here (North Derbyshire) have also gone brown and died. I heard on garderner’s question time that this is due to the bad winter we’ve had (evergreens breath in the winter and this is not possible with prolonged frosts) and then the drought. The wind up here is very strong, so, as we’ve only lived up here a year, we’re learning that many of the plants we have cherished have shrivelled or been eaten, so have to get really hardy one’s next time. Also Gary’s beloved hazelnut tree has got terrible windburn and probs won’t survive…However, snails really like it here and I’m thinking about writing names on their backs, transporting them afar and doing the snail homing experiment Radio 4 did last year.
Get yourself some chickens Nik- they love snails and slugs! So long as they don’t get blown away. M and I are from the midlands too, she from south Derbyshire. A lovely place…