Springing into Life.

   We have always maintained that conditions in Deux Sèvres are extraordinarily favourable to life. Weeds, for example flourish like --well, weeds, and even cherished crops do quite well. A few years ago, Kim wanted some stakes for her tomatoes and I cut some straight twigs from a hazel in the orchard. Well, within a week, the poles had sprouted tufts of green leaves and Kim would have had a nut-grove if we had not discouraged them!

   This phenomenon was demonstrated once again, when we returned from ten days in the mountains. The grass in the cour was ankle-deep, so that I feared our small motor mower would not cope and I would have to strim first (fears unfounded, it cut the jungle without a qualm.)  But a more surprising proof of fertility was in the fish-tank. We had bought two corydoras to keep the bottom of the tank clean, which they did well, growing into handsome fish with green flanks, showing they are Corydoras Aeneas, or Bronze Catfish. One grew slightly larger than the other. The larger one is, in fact, the female, not as you might think, the male.

   After we had been back a couple of days, I noticed a small fish swimming near the bottom of the tank, and realised there were three baby corydoras in residence. Tropicals are not usually that easy to breed and I Googled Corydoras to see if they were live-bearers, which would explain the relatively large size of the babies. Well, they are NOT live-bearers but as this is a family blog I won`t elaborate on their method of multiplication, Google it for yourself if you dare! There has subsequently been another litter, so we will shortly be faced with a Corydoras over-population problem. Perhaps I can sell them back to the pet-shop?
   To avoid any feline increase, we have just had Storm, the grey kitten, sterilised. However, I am pleased to say that Kim measured herself this morning as she is on a diet, and her waist measurement has fallen.....

    Bye for now, going to bang on the glass of the aquarium!

Junior about to hide behind his rock.