At the end of another month!

Time does seem to fly by,  we've had at least a month of glorious weather and the toe-dipping in the pool that I was doing last time became a proper swim session over the Easter weekend. 

Just after Easter, on the 20th April,  at 2.30pm, smoke started billowing from behind the hill that comes out of Yator and runs up parallel to us.  Our land goes down to a stream,  then the hill rises up from there and this is not the first time that there has been a fire the other side of it,  no doubt it won't be the last time either.  After about half an hour of smoke,  we heard the fire engines coming into Yator.  Another half  hour,  and a helicopter came and dropped off guys above the fire line,  then it went off with its water bucket collecting and dropping load after load of water.  We watched 20 or more trips,  some from the village water deposit, but most from further down the valley in the direction of Ugijar where there are vegetable growing tents and larger water deposits. 

hovering over Yator's water deposit

lifting off, turning round ready to drop water

the fire is close to the village

taken from our side garden....

By 5pm the smoke had almost gone and the helicopter stopped dropping water.  Until next time......

The wild flowers are in full bloom - there is a lot of colour at the side of the road at the moment - poppies are the most obvious as they're so bright, but so many other flowers too.

The most spectacular of all at the moment are not wild flowers but the ice plants in the garden.  They adore sunshine,  they are just wonderful....

Carpobrotus edulis and C.chilensis (yellow and dark pink)

Otherwise known as..... the Hottentot fig,  the highway ice plant or pig face! 

Tomorrow,  in common with many countries,  is a holiday.  Fiesta del Trabajo.  Labour day.  Workers day.  However you call it,  it's a day off work.  We have noticed more people passing by today,  walking, cycling,  and  enjoying the long weekend.