Took the above three photos just to prove there's quite a lot of colour still in the garden. The top picture shows a clump of lobelia, which has surprised us with the depth of  its colour. I always think of  lobelia as little border plants with lovely blue flowers, but I am assured  that this handsome, tall, red flowered plant is a lobelia. Must get a few more of them.
The middle photo shows roses, which are still colourful, and better still, full of buds.
The picture above shows (right to left) pansies, Michaelmas daisies, fuchsia, and hibiscus.

The above picture shows my anvils outside the forge/ workshop.  Earlier in the week Ann had decided to paint the forge, using some special paint for the purpose that sister-in-law Judy had given us. I said to Ann:-  "When you want to paint behind the anvil give me a call. I'll take the smaller one off, and then I think the two of us just might be able to move the heavy one forward, so as to paint behind it. PLEASE don't try and move it on your own".   A while later Ann called down to my cellar to come and look at the forge. All had been completed and she'd made a lovely job of it.   "How did you paint behind the anvil ?" I asked her.
"Oh, I moved it forward on my own."
"Did you take the smaller anvil out first?" I asked.
"No. I forgot".
Women...........are remarkable, aren't they?