Soldiering On In Spite Of The Rain

Another deluge, this time accompanied by gale force winds. Mish and I had to wait for the rain to stop before inspecting the ivy bush this morning. It was all but deserted apart from this soldier fly covered with droplets.

When we checked later I found the bedraggled bee in extras. This afternoon I spotted an insect that I have never seen before. It's a common black spider wasp, so called because the females hunt spiders, often much bigger than they are. She will sting her prey to paralyse it then drag it to her nest where she will lay an egg in it whilst it is still alive. I'm fascinated by their curly antennae.

I got a fillip this afternoon as I was leaving for my weekly shop. A large, flash BMW pulled up, blocking my exit from the drive and holding up all the traffic on the road behind it. The cool young driver gestured that he wanted to speak to me. We both wound down our windows. He told me that he loves my (Honda S2000) car and asked if I would sell it to him. No deal of course. :) In the meantime the drivers in the jam behind him were fuming. He drove off and someone let me out. He doubled back at the roundabout and we exchanged extravagant waves and flashing of lights. Made my day. :)