Is it a yoghurt tree?

No! We call it Anni and Chris & Bev referred to it as Judy's breakfast. Kindly delivered in person on the back of a bicycle by our dear friends on the occasion of our 'anni'versary. Yes, we've been here for a year.

And it's a mandarin tree - so far, we think at the last count, 20 wee fruits and 15 flowers. The perfume is wonderful, the prospect of extra-fresh breakfast for Joody is great.

Who needs yogurt when they can have a mandarin freshly picked each morning?

I'm surprised Terry is looking so radiant; he had spent hours de-thorning and digging up an ornamental lemon tree - now what's the point in that? Thorns and leaves and no fruit! He has a blister on the palm of is right hand to prove it.

Next pic in this saga will be a Joody breakfast. Watch this space.

Waterfalls & colanders

When we visited the UK a few weeks ago, we went to see Jo in her new flat in Leicester. It's a lovely flat and we're very proud of her. It came well equipped but, not being of a culinary bent, she's at pains to know just what everything is for.

You'll be glad to know she found a use for the colander.

And we visited Mamie in Leeds. Took her 'up the Dales', as they say. Here she is with Terry at one of our favourite spots of all time.

Ee it were grand to see the Dales in May. What a treat!

On the way back, we had a real boots-on walk in the Pyrenees - or the Pie-reens, as Terry is wont to call them. Beautiful waterfalls were the reward for our exertion.

But we have to admit that the best of them all - you saw it in the background of Mamie's picture - is West Burton Falls. They ask us what we miss in the UK. Well, apart from Jo and Mamie - and Alkie, of course, and a few very good friends, it's got to be this very special spot, particularly in the Spring:

Surprise package

We were expecting Dan and Helen for the weekend, as you know. We were expecting Alister for the week, as you know. They brought with them a wee surprise package - Jo. You can't image how lovely it was for T and me to have them all here together.

Dan and Hel had gone back to Barcelona - just for a while. Due to spend the summer in Guildford and Edinburgh respectively, before returning to Brighton for a while and then seek their fortune in the UK.

Still two left and here we are in Aledo.

A lovely evening with Chris & Bev was had before Jo went back to Blighty and Alkie too - destined for Costa Rica in August. We shan't see him again till the wedding - and he's already worrying about his best man's speech. It'll be great!