Good news! Good news! So good I said it twice!

The first good news is that Michael is making a very good recovery. If you couldn' t see the shaved section of his hair (a bit like the opposite to a Mohican, as it is almost central) and the very faint scar from his op, you would never know what he has just gone through. He looks fit, sleeping well, is now eating his usual man-sized meals, and is back to being his usual self, if a little sleepy during the day. But then, that is to be expected and his naps are all part of the healing process. On Saturday he walked across the green with me, to fetch the paper. On Sunday he went to church, and got his friend to drop him down at my plot, where he sat in the sun and watched me at my work, before we walked slowly back home. Yesterday he missed out on a walk, but I'm sure we'll be off across the green again today.

The second good news is that Hill Allotments have won the title of 'Best Allotments in Birmingham'! Well done to all of us! The mix of knowledgeable old timers and enthusiastic newcomers has resulted in a wide variety of plot layouts, a good mix of vegetables, fruits and flowers and, most of all, a friendly bunch of plotters. I have to admit that I rarely venture 'up the hill' but as far as everyone 'down the hill' is concerned, we all seem to get on well with each other and swopping tips and produce is the norm. Once again, I have to thank Wendy and Carl for the colourful welcome as we enter the site - their plot is an absolute delight. During some of my more difficult moments over the past few months, my plot has been a real sanctuary.

Why the sunset photo? Well, what's a blog without a picture, so it's just a pretty picture of a sunset, as seen from our window! Pity the digital change-over is resulting in some TV reception problems.