In preparing to travel to California alone I'm searching around for all sorts of bits and pieces. Last time I did this I didn't, we did it or more likely Jane did it. Today I was sorting through a drawer and came across a mass of Jane's colourful shoelaces, she loved to be funky and striped shoe laces were one of her things - I sat and wept over her shoe laces. Who would have thought?

Today has been one of those days when the seas have been rough and the high waves have been coming in from all angles. I'm learning the best way of coping with this is to get out into the garden and do some weeding. I want to get things as straight as possible before heading off. The vegetable plot is looking tidy. I repotted the cucumbers and home-grown tomatoes. I also planted out some more cucumbers and courgettes. I'm not sure the cucumbers will produce anything outside and I'll have too many courgettes but I shall follow Jane's example and share them with the community.

[gallery type="rectangular" link="file" ids="3448,3449,3450"]

There is a huge difference between the two varieties of runner beans - the Scarlet Lady are at the top of the poles but the Purple Emperor are barely out of the ground even the ones I grew in the potting shed. As for the french climbing bean (Sultana) they are really struggling. It will be interesting to see how things develop over the next three weeks.