For the sake of the chronologically ahead, here's the new daily thread. A new theme will be posted when I've thought of one.

The July thread will stay open for another day for those of us who are a bit behind...

It is already over 12 hours into August here but just in case there is a challenge I am preparing my legal defence to take to the Dunedin law courts.

About a week ago I was getting off my bike but something had ahold of my shorts in the middle area. The bike jumped over on top of me, knocking me down! I discovered that the thick plastic of the saddle had split front to back about half the length of the seat. Before I replace the saddle on my 10-speed, I thought I might try to make some improvements to the basic form. I slipped this triangular piece of plastic through the split. My thought was if it was properly positioned, it would help hold me in place. My first trial was disastrous, causing a huge laceration to my nether region. Too high maybe? I cleaned the blood off well. Flowers can be sent to the hospital.
You can see my red tail light, security chain and the red, hand-painted brake cable (because they only come in black and I have a modicum of taste). The photo was taken in my Secret Laboratory with my Nikon L30 zoomed 10% and flash on.

Yes, well, thank you for that graphic image mehaul, and I don't mean the photograph!

I've posted a pic of my tomatoes before - or what my niece refers to as the 'market garden' - so I thought I'd bore you all with another one. In the lower right quarter of the image you can see the very dark heritage tomatoes; I now appreciate why 17th century Europeans thought that tomatoes were poisonous, because they do look very much like a large deadly nightshade. Let's hope they don't have the same effect when I get to eat them!

And in the foreground, another nightshade variety, this time potatoes.

Flopsy, Nice tomatoes and loaded! Mmmmm have you ever had Fried Green Tomatoes? I'm so hungry now!

I can't say I have had fried green tomatoes, though I've seen the movie. If mine don't ripen soon I may fry some anyway. The tradition here is to make chutney from green tomatoes left over at the end of summer - I may end up using every pan in the house.

They would never DARE not to ripen, Flopsy. Of course they will. Have faith.

While in the Northern Territory recently, we went on a cruise on the crocodile-infested Adelaide River. The staff on the cruise dangle meat from the boat and the crocs jump for it. This is one of the jumping crocs.

YIKES, Mothergoose!!!

Who can tell me what is in this photograph (no, not the mussels, limpets or sea snails), the speckled orange-brown thingie. I came across it in a rock pool this afternoon. It's about the size of a table-tennis ball, perhaps slightly larger, but not as big as a tennis ball:



I'm thinking sea urchin, only it's smooth not bumpy at all. Then I thought an obese sea slug, but there were no horns that I could see and it would have been the fattest slug I ever saw, perhaps some sort of anemone, sea cucumber, sea squirt, or ...???

Did you lift it up? I'm just wondering what sort of legs it had, if any, or what the underside was like.

Nil Desperandum Flopsy, my tomatoes are the same, absolutely loaded but not ripening. I've taken out the growing tips to make them put their energy into what is there and I've been told that putting a banana skin with them makes them ripen, which I shall try tomorrow.

Ooh, you're putting a banana skin with them while they're still on the vine? I know that works when they're already picked - pop them in a paper bag with a banana and they ripen, like most fruits. I found this earlier, which summarises most of the things I've read about it. But this week... temperatures will be in the required range with little wind, and they will ripen. They will. I'm with Ren, how dare they do otherwise?

A letterbox in Frimley



I've seen one of those orange things before in a book, I can't remember what they're called but the slug is closest, otherwise it's a shell with the snail that lives on the outside like a large cowrie.

I am not sure, but I suspect it is likely to be a mollusc and the speckled orange-brown thingie is its mantle. If you had lifted it up, there probably would have been a shell underneath, most likely a cowrie, going by the shape and size.

Thanks for that, MG, you might just be right! There does seem to be a shell underneath.

This year will be the last chance we get to see this aircraft - the Avro Vulcan - in flight as it
has reached the end of its serviceable life & this is the only flying one remaining. Part of the
United Kingdom's V-force - the nuclear deterrent - its distinctive delta wing has graced the
skies since it first entered service nearly 60 years ago. A shame the photo doesn't come with
sound. When the pilot opens the throttles, the noise sends a chill down the spine. It does mine
anyway.

I just googled for "cowrie snail orange brown" and then for "tiger cowrie"... there are loads and some are not far from what you found. Do let us know if you can identify it, I love mysteries.

I'm with you on the Vulcan Martin. The noise seems to go right through you, wonderful sound

Had some pretty dianthus in the garden this year

Lovely pics so far.
Flopsy , not that it is anything to do with it, but we always put the avocados in the rice bucket to ripen. weird isn't it.

How can I fit all those tomatoes in a rice bucket?

Very nice dianthus, Chris very pretty. I had six carnation plants (two lots of "buy two get one free") - I knew they won't grow round here, soil's too heavy, but I thought I'd put them in a tub. Hmm, only five would fit in so the sixth went in a tall pot by itself as I was feeling artistic. The five are doing well. The loner's gone and died on me.

I went to an air show once. I really needed to go to the loo and started to make my way across the tarmac when I was stopped by a large policeman. "You'll have to wait love" he said, holding his arms wide as a Vulcan bomber came down the runway at full throttle. So now, whenever I see one I want to... excuse me, must dash.

Love will find a way.

College Farm in Finchley, one of a few remaining in north London

Prague Castle, St Vitus Cathedral & Vltava River from Charles Bridge.

This little fellow is a "gracile velvet gecko". They are only found in the very north of Western Australia. They love to hide in rock crevices. Gracile means "of slender build".