Went in search of ’Queen of the Night’ tulips for a client. Found them on a stall in Columbia Road market. They will spring up very erect and non-frilly early next year, an iridecsent black, making a real impact after a long cold winter. Funny to be thinking ahead to winter on a lovely summery day in August, but that’s the nature of gardening, just like fashion. Tucked the bulbs away in a dark drawer and pedalled off to do Cat Nanny duties for an enormous white moggy who never leaves the house. He’s supposed to be on a diet, but I feel sorry for him all alone and I figure reverse psychology should work if I leave a big bowl of food down, he’ll not feel like scoffing the lot because he’ll be secure about having plenty. Hmm. He was certainly glad to see me and enjoyed being groomed with a wooden nail brush – there isn’t a cat brush anywhere to be found in the house.