With the wild winds whooshing among the quavering trees and trembling shrubs as rowdy raindrops pattered on fallen leaves, a determined
Martin persisted in his task of weeding muddied gravel paths and cutting back plants thriving on our warm, wet, weather, clearly succeeding in replacing the next car load of bags of garden refuse that Jackie and I, driving through an even more waterlogged Christchurch Road, took to the dump after she had enjoyed Ellie playtime during which our great granddaughter
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led Granny on a walk,
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then read a book and practiced pointing to facial features contained therein.
When not keeping Martin fuelled with teas and coffees, I read more of Priestley.
This evening we all dined on oven fish and chips, mushy peas, pickled onions and gherkins, with which Jackie drank Peroni and I finished the Australian Shiraz.
Wonderful photos of Martin, Jackie, and Ella at work!
Thank you very much, Liz
You’re welcome, Derrick.
Summer seems reluctant to leave. Bravo to the stalwart Martin and precocious Miss Ellie.
Thank you very much, Pat
I can’t comment on your blog in the ‘reader’ but have to click a few times to actually now make it to your blog. Is that something you changed on purpose, or did WordPress did it?
All the other blogs are accessibly in the reader (comment wise).
It is a WP blip. Hopefully it will resolve itself – it has happened before. Thank you for persevering, Bridget
Martin is definitely braver than this old plumber Derrick …
Thanks a lot, Ivor
That looks like heroic gardening.
Thanks very much, Tootlepedal
Martin is a good sport – even in the rain!
The pictures of Jackie and Ellie are so precious. Ellie has Jackie’s total focus and that’s so good for her. And her dress is adorable!
Thank you so much, Jodie
Superb photos of Martin, Ellie, and Jackie! All busy working! Doing important work! 🙂
Love Ellie’s dress! 🙂
(((HUGS))) ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Thank you so much, Carolyn. It was Ella’s once
Inquiring minds want to know: did you happen to wander by and suggest, “It’s elemental, my dear Martin!”
🙂 I didn’t think of that. Thanks very much, Linda
Martin is a real trooper, Derrick! Good man. Dinner sounds delicious, Jackie, yummy! Stay dry, guys. I am in my home state of Michigan for two weeks to help my aging dad while my sister gets a very welcome several days off. The weather here is so rotten here, 30s and 40s in the F scale, windy and gray. Yuck, I’m glad that I live in Nevada with it’s 300+ days per year of sunshine and mild climate.
Thanks very much from each of us, John
❤️❤️❤️
Sorry for Martin, though he seems to take it with a smile.
That little baby is adorable… Compliments to all.
Thank you very much, Brian
This “playtime” shared by Jackie and Ellie is so valuable! I’m happy for both of them, and you. I also love Ellie’s garden dress and Martin’s protective clothing.
Thank you very much, JoAnna
It is a delight to see Ellie in action 🙂
Thank you very much, Anne
Nothing can stop Martin, nor Ellie 🙂
Thank you so much, Ribana
A lovely picture of great grandmother and great granddaughter playing “Find that nose”.
Thanks very much, John
Martin is such a grafter!
The images of Jackie and Ellie are so lovely.
I’ve just realised we haven’t seen Ella for a while, I hope you have another visit soon.
Yes – we have put in an order. Ellie is wearing one of Ella’s dress in these pictures. Our great-niece is at school now. Thanks very much, Sue
Ah, I wonder if the dress brought her to my mind. Oh, at school already? Where has the time gone?
Quite. Thanks again
PS. I struggled today to leave a comment. I tried visiting your site, tried Jetpack but none would allow the option of commenting. I eventually opened a small window via the WP notifications and was finally allowed to comment!
There is a spate of this today – including another blogger’s on which I could neither like nor comment. Thanks very much, Sue
At least I know what to do next time. ????
Wonderful photos of Martin who looks as cheerful as ever. I like his red accent gloves against the green. The photos of Jackie and Ella are definite “keepers.” It’s so wonderful they have that time together.
Thank you iso much, Merril
Beautiful photos of Martin, Ellie, and Jackie. Ellie aways steals the show and I love her dress.
Thanks very much, Eugi
Most welcome, Derrick.
Martin is brave. I would have decided for an indoor day.
Thank you very much, Andy
You’re welcome.
Martin is a cutie ????
Always good to see Jackie and Ellie
Thank you very much, Mimi
Martin is definitely a keeper 🙂 No gardening in the rain for me.
hanks very much, Rosaliene
That’s a hardy handyman!
He sure is. Thanks very much, Catherine
A day well spent, by the look of it.
Thanks very much, Quercus
Martin deserves kudos for his heroic efforts, and Ellie is adorable in a dress.
Thank you so much, Dolly
My pleasure, Derrick.
Precious moments together with Ellie. Lovely.
Thank you very much, Lakshmi
Are you getting hammered by those storms wending their wicked way up from parts south?
We are, Widders. Thank you very much
You’re so lucky to have someone like Martin!
We are. 10 years ago we did it all ourselves – but no longer 🙂 Thanks very much, Sheree
Martin’s rain suit looks excellent for the weather. We are always taken by surprise when it gets around to raining here and no umbrellas or other rain paraphernalia are ever to be found. Ellie’s dress is adorable.
Thank you so much, Robbie. The dress was once Ella’s
That is lovely ????
Martin is appropriately dressed for work in the garden! I am glad you and Jackie have help with all that work.
Little Ellie is growing so fast! Such a beautiful child with a very expressive face that her great grandfather has captured so well in these photographs.
Thank you very much for your sensitive observation, Lavinia. Ellie’s personality is so evident
Tropical weather, it’s good for our constitution apparently.
Thanks very much, Gary
Ellie is so cute. You can see her great nanny loves her so much. Martin is very brave to continue with the task in that weather. I only have a balcony and have a hard time tending to the plants when there is a storm or when it is just raining
Thank you very much, Geetha
Nanny and Ellie reading together is priceless. My heart!
Thank you so much, Alys