Vermilion Sands
An occasional journal
Spring
Apr 11th 2020
Check out our flowers. Left to right: pyracantha, forsythia, camellia, maple, magnolia, skimmia, pear and plum, with lilacs about to bloom behind. Today was an even warmer day: 25.8 °C.
Admin2 is reading Quicksilver by Neal Stephenson. In one chapter, a character walks through a plague-ridden London with a scarf wrapped round his face, observing the empty streets and the writing on the walls; strangely resonant these days. We listened to Sleep in our dreams.
Sunshine
Apr 8th 2020
A somewhat inaccurate rainbow on the road. The temperature reached 25.0 °C today.
Admin1 is reading The Prefect by Alastair Reynolds.
Flower of the Day: Camellia
Apr 7th 2020
And another battle-scarred peacock.
Today was the warmest day this year: 22.7 °C. It was also the sunniest: 9.12 kWh.
Admin2 is reading The Amber Spyglass by Philip Pullman.
Digging for Victory Week 2
Apr 5th 2020
We have planted cauliflower seedlings, carrots, onions and (allegedly) snail-repelling flowers, greased the edges of the raised beds and covered the soil with wire and nets. Take that snails! Our tomato seeds are germinating and courgettes and chives are lurking underground. Thanks to the bloke up the road for the lovely paving stones. Neighbours are really pulling together around here.
We scored 12 on the GWQ; thanks remote helpers!
First Peacock of Spring
Apr 3rd 2020
Aglais Io on a forsythia.
Admin1 is reading Elysium Fire by Alastair Reynolds. Admin2 is reading The Subtle Knife by Philip Pullman.
Happy Birthday Gez
Mar 31st 2020
Thanks to the next doors for transportation to the isolation celebration.
Admin2 is reading Northern Lights by Philip Pullman.
Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep
Mar 29th 2020
A red red robin singing in the holly tree; what could be more Christmassy? We even had a minuscule sprinkling of snow (graupel, really) and many people have a long, long holiday but not the poor old emergency services, maintenance crews and shopworkers (and us).
Admin1 is reading Pushing Ice by Alastair Reynolds.
We had a family gathering around our screens and scored 9 on the GWQ.
Somewhere Over the Rainbow Bluebirds Fly
Mar 26th 2020
Rainbows in windows is the latest meme to give community spirit to a nation of shut-ins. Tonight millions of people gathered at doors and windows to applaud the NHS. People have never been so united while avoiding each other like the…
Today was the sunniest day this year (and our fourth sunniest March day ever): 7.928kWh.
First Butterfly of Spring
Mar 24th 2020
A comma on a skimmia on our warmest day this year: 21.0°C. We are digging for victory in the garden. Admin2 is reading The American Boy by Andrew Taylor and we are watching Better Call Saul, season 2.
Lieutenant Pigeon
Mar 21st 2020
A bird of military bearing perching indignantly above our empty bird feeder. Sorry mate; you’ll have to make do with mouldy old dough.
We videoconferenced the GWQ and had a lot of virtual fun but scored only 8.
Admin1 is rereading Century Rain by Alastair Reynolds.
All Ears
Mar 19th 2020
These jolly jews’ ears have suddenly appeared in our garden. Apparently they are edible. It may come to that.
Admin2 is reading Cocaine Nights by JG Ballard.
Self Isolation
Mar 18th 2020
The big fish has been stuck in the small pond for years. Admins 1 and 2, stuck at home for 3 days, have to learn from it.
Admin2 is reading The Sleeping Policeman by Andrew Taylor; completely different from his historical books, more like Patrick Hamilton.
We are watching Fortitude season 2.
Pie Day
Mar 14th 2020
Shepherd’s π.
Admin1 is reading The American Boy by Andrew Taylor … readable, but a bit of a slog. Admin2 is reading The Runaway by Ali Harper.
We scored 8 on the GWQ.
International Womens Day
Mar 8th 2020
Women are not to be trifled with.
Admin1 is reading The Runaway by Ali Harper.
We scored 11.5 on the GWQ.
Things You Don’t Often See
Mar 7th 2020
A bomb disposal car with a wolf in the passenger seat. I thought there was a model soldier on the dashboard but looking closer it’s probably the driver in the distance, dashing into Greggs for some ammunition.
Admin2 is reading Raven Black by Anne Cleeves.
Red Cloud
Mar 3rd 2020
Admin1 is reading Good Bait by John Harvey and Admin2 is rereading Gods without Men by Hari Kunzru. We are watching Spiral saison 7.