Just as I stepped up to take some photos of Dwayne's sunflowers with that stormy sky behind, a finch landed on some of them (just to the left of the top bunch on the right). In my world, finches are associated with my father. Likely he appeared to tell me to stop screwing around taking pictures and get back to editing my book.

The osprey, on the other hand, were quite happy to circle overhead and have their picture taken (award-winning birds that they are) but to do them justice, I really need to buy a better zoom lense.

Despite the colour of the sky and the gasps of ground desperate for moisture, we did not get the rain it looked like was coming. A few huge drops pelted down but that was the extent of what these dark clouds produced. Apparently, it poured in Oxford. That's how it goes with micro-climates. Now the sky is blue and cloudless and the drying wind continues to blow.
Maybe we'll have a thunderstorm tonight.