What's Mr Blackbird got to sing about?

I was up before 7.30am, and a quick glance out of the landing window as I descended the stairs revealed yet another miserable and wet day.  With a mug of coffee in my hand, I surveyed the back garden, which is becoming increasingly like a mini jungle - all lush and green, and just waiting for some warmth and sun to encourage the flower buds to open up and bring some colour to the scene.  On the very top of a tall tree in a neighbour's garden, Mr Blackbird was already singing his heart out, and continued to do so for the next three hours.  I can't confirm if he had a break or not after this, as I took myself off to Sutton for a bit of retail therapy, but since I sat at my laptop, nearly two hours ago (and it's now nearly 5pm) he has been seranading away.  I hope he's got a Mrs Blackbird who is appreciating his efforts as much as I am. 

My sister and husband spent a couple of days with us, en route back home from camping in Norfolk.  Guess what the weather was like there too?  Yes - wet and muddy!  I took my sis down to the plot to look at the progress, but there's not much to see really, as quite a few of my seeds haven't even germinated.  Good job I've got some back ups for the peas and beans, coming on in the greenhouse.  But it looks like I will have to resow the parsnips and beetroot.  Even the well hardened off sweet pea plants looked rather miserable.  For a few minutes the sun came out and we sat on the bench, listening to the birds.  At least the rhubarb is flourishing, so we are enjoying plenty of crumbles.

K & A were anxious to catch up on the progress of their son and wife, who are now about 300 miles into their mammoth trek along the Pacific Crest Trail, so we all crowded round my lap top to read their latest report.  They are finding it tough (to be expected), and suffering from blisters and the unwanted attentions of beas, who seem to lie in wait along the paths, ready to sting anyone who disturbs them (such as A & S).

Yesterday I spent some time potting up tomato seedlings in the greenhouse.  There was plenty of good root growth, but the plants are still quite small.  Then there was the job of trying to fit in all the newly potted up plants into the space they had originally occupied, now that they were in larger pots.  This entailed moving everything round without having to move out of the greenhouse (as it was drizzling).    It's much more fun when the weather is fine enough to be able to spread everything outside the greenhouse, before re-filling.

Mr Blackbird is taking a break.  So will I.