Kilted in SOUTHERN Arizona

[Hamish]

Ron, what a joy seeing you so comfortably dressed in your USA Kilts kilts - they are perfect for the temperatures you must be enjoying over there just now. I am intensly jealous of your warm sunshine! We have reverted, after a week of unseasonably warm conditions, to winds, rain and hail storms and daytime temps levelling out at about 52ºF with no prospect of any change. This is absolutely no good to a sun-worshipper like me and I may have to consider a move to Arizona!!

Also, I just love the Sagura cactii in your photos. On my first visit to Palm Springs six years ago, I picked up some Sagura seeds and here's how they are doing now on my kitchen window-sill (the only place warm enough for them to germinate). I know they are slow-growing and can take up to 50 years before producing a 'branch', which I'll certainly not see, but they are fun to grow although I have no-where to keep them if ever they get to more than 12" or so in my lifetime!!



I agree with David, you are far too young to retire but, when you do, I am sure you will enjoy it - retiring 14 years ago was the best thing I ever did.

Keep up the good work, my friend, and

Take care,
Ham.

[English Bloke]

I admire your sturdy resilience Ron to handle such high temps. I'd melt away like the puny Englishman I am if faced with the furnace heat of Southern Arizona. I've been there once and loved it, but must admit I was glad to climb back in the freezer. I have to agree with Hamish though, I am fed up with the howling winds and rains in UK right now. It seems like it's been pouring down non stop since before Christmas with only half a dozen days of respite in the between. We had three seasons outside my house yesterday with 10 minutes of sunshine followed by rain, sleet and hail for the rest of the day.

It does gaul me that I live in a country that generates £2bn profit for it's water companies annually yet imposes Parliamentary sanctioned hosepipe bans and other restrictions on water use due to short supply... In England and Wales there are 3.5 billion litres of water lost per day due to broken and leaky pipes. Where are the 'profits' going? (daft question). Not on fixing the flippin' pipes obviously.

Hosepipe Ban? Don't make me laugh, my garden is perpetually drowned. I'd love a bit of sunshine right now...

Good luck with your retirement. After working for 58 years, you certainly deserve it.