Frozen yoghurt on sea

Some late summer miracles: frozen yoghurt has finally arrived in Hastings; buckets of firework dahlias for sale on the roadside; beautiful rainbows and skybows; a fly fishing lesson; and re-runs of My Year with the Bear Family.

Excellent distraction from the super sad and muddy tidings from New England. Only 3 weeks away now and poor dear Liberty Hill Farm and its cows are, quite literally, entirely surrounded by water. If only Jed was really in charge ... what we need in this situation is a good, rural, New England president.

Yellowbrations (in which someone turned 30)

The sound of crinkly yellow tissue paper at 0800 can only mean one thing. Happy Birthday and another fond farewell to that great stage when I am 2 years older between April and August.

Much ripped wrapping later, off we headed for a surprise breakfast, an adventure in Dulwich, a gawp at the Cy Twombly exhibition and a wonderful meal at Nopi. It turns out that you haven't lived until you've had a rum and rosemary Old Fashioned.

Do it yourself...

Having painted 17 stairs this weekend, I resolutely refuse to photograph them as well. So there's no evidence of my noble DIY efforts. But here are some nicer moments from the weekend: romantic potholes, dreamy jags, toy donkeys washed in on a wave, the beginnings of a much more satisfactory scene above the bathroom sink* and some tide line treasure... (courtesy of B's iphone).

* I did actually paint that mirror too... until Friday it was a very fetching shade of B&Q brown.

In Summery

Find a penny update

Current total: £11.85 - can you believe it?!