Hot

The new year has kicked off with a small heatwave. 40ºC this morning at 9am! This makes it thoroughly unpleasant to be doing anything. Even swimming is dodgy as evidenced by one of the lads at work being taken out by a swarm of bluebottles in Gordons Bay on Monday. The school holidays means you can't find a free grain of sand down at the beach anyway.

Red Wattlebird

Seems it's best to just sit it out and wait for things to ease off. At least Emily's tomatoes are doing very well outside the back door in the current conditions. No need for a greenhouse here!

Tomato

I've also discovered my new favourite bee. The native Blue-banded Bee which is not only a pretty bee but, according to Wikipedia, is apparently an exponent of 'buzz pollination' which is very good for agriculture in Australia. As well as lavender it especially likes the tomato flowers too. 

 Blue-banded Bee