This and that

My old gardener returned today after more than a year's absence. He told me he had given 'retirement' some serious thought and realised he was stupid not to work if someone was prepared to employ him. So my garden is looking very neat after Robert did all the heavy work of pruning and sawing and Daniel raked and packed. We'll get this garden into shape if it kills us. Or at the very least, need a chiropractor.
In the meantime, Cleo continues to eat all sorts of things in the garden and has been ill for a couple of days. On investigation of what plants are poisonous to dogs, it transpires that it's surprising it's taken so long for her to become ill. We have tomato plants, begonias and parsley on the balcony where she cut her teeth, so to speak, and in the main garden is the umbrella plant, aloes and worst of all, the oleander. I doubt if she has discovered that yet, otherwise she might not be with us still, and a further garden cleanse will happen this week to ensure danger areas are fenced off.
A way of curbing her appetite for vegetation is apparently to feed her vegetables, and so I have decided to change the dogs' diet to chicken/mince and vegetables with only a few kibbles each day. I am told this is much better for them and judging by the way they vacuumed up today's supper, they are going to think they have died and gone to heaven. After all, Monty and Susie between them must have about 10 teeth and a soft diet in the autumn of their life is probably appreciated.
After a lovely warm day, a heavy fog bank has materialised along the coastline and the sun is a silver disc in the sky, peering down in a futile attempt to dry it up. This must be the harbinger of tomorrow's cold front - rumoured to be a big one with very strong winds. Tomorrow will tell.