Right, the final link in the perfect birthday ...

... I've arranged for Mr Brown to present me with 2 new Vigna caracalla syn. Phaseolus caracalla to replace the 2 I accidentally murdered (by way of over-zealous pruning) recently, along with a promise that he will never, ever mention this lapse in plant husbandry again.
I've also asked him to build me (& Mr Possum) some possum houses, but I suspect the actual building of them may take some time.