tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-67141324421806923552024-03-14T03:59:15.543+00:00Cottage in the LaneA blog about things I enjoy - my family, my garden, photography and, of course, crochetGwenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03981282868499246298noreply@blogger.comBlogger67125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714132442180692355.post-48271537053286691662014-02-08T14:45:00.003+00:002014-02-08T14:45:33.118+00:00Keeping dry and a visit to Wisley Gardens<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">What a very
wet and windy January we have had - and February looks like being the same.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">The side and
end of the garden has been under water for most of the time, although when we
have had a couple of rain-free days it has drained away fairly quickly. But the ground is very very wet, and not
good to work on. I did get out last
Sunday and cut back a few shrubs, but other jobs will need to wait until the ground
is less sodden. We are so glad the
Council cleared out the land drain outside our property two years ago. Goodness knows what things would have been
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The path to the garage and vegetable garden is also flooded, as is the small sitting area beside one of the greenhouses. Water has also gone into the greenhouse, which makes for very damp conditions inside. I do have the door open each and every day, even if only for an hour or so, which helps to move the air around.<br />
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The hose you can see beside the wet path is from a pump which we have in our small pond. For the past several years it has overflowed each winter when it rains and has to be pumped to keep the water level down and the fish inside. We have decided, very reluctantly, that next summer we will have to fill in the pond and give our fish away. It is such a shame as we love our pond and the fish, but it is becoming a constant battle now to keep the pump on each winter to keep the fish from swimming away.<br />
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Despite the wind and rain, there are signs of spring. These snowdrops have been out for about ten days, and there are also daffodils peeping through. <br />
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A couple of weeks ago, on a calm and sunny day, Brian and I decided on a whim to visit Wisley Gardens. We are only about a twenty minute drive away. Brian wanted to try out his new camera and I wanted to take pictures of trees, my project for the U3A Camera Group.<br />
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<o:p></o:p>Gwenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03981282868499246298noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714132442180692355.post-39062741672751459672014-01-12T19:30:00.000+00:002014-01-12T19:32:18.558+00:00Christmas over<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It's been a while, I know, since I was last here but over Christmas life just go so busy and a bit complicated.<br />
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I went to stay with a cousin for a few days following her hip replacement, which meant I had to be super efficient (!) and get everything ready for Christmas that needed to be got ready. Cards were written, envelopes labelled and stamped and then posted, together with the gifts that needed to be posted. <br />
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Brian and I went away to a hotel for Christmas - the first time we have done this. The drive down to Bournemouth, on the south coast, was a bit scary. The rain was so heavy and the wind was blowing the car sideways, but we got there in one piece. The hotel was nice, and they did their very best to instil a sense of festivity, but it was not the same for me. I enjoyed the walks along the front, and it all made a great change. I missed the children and grandchildren, although we did make up for it the following weekend when we went for lunch with them and exchanged our gifts then. This all made for a long Christmas.<br />
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Since New Year, I have been very busy with memberships coming in for the Society that I am membership Secretary of (<a href="http://www.thepags.org.u/">www.thepags.org.u</a>k). A lot of memberships are paid by PayPal, but a lot by cheques in the post. And now we are using Direct Debits, so that is another thing I have had to learn and administer. <br />
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Yesterday I drove to the other side of London to visit an old school friend of mine - we have known each other since we were six years old. She is not well now, suffers with MS and has just had a mastectomy. ut I found her cheerful and getting on with life. She had her sewing machine out and had been altering her bedspread to fit her new bed. She is an inspiration..<br />
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<br />Gwenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03981282868499246298noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714132442180692355.post-74438087883077993772013-12-14T21:10:00.002+00:002013-12-14T21:10:48.771+00:00An unexpected visit to the Theatre.I am not now going to stay with my cousin following her hip replacement. She had longer in hospital than anticipated, and is doing really well. As it is so near to the weekend she has her daughter visiting. I am going up next Tuesday to stay a couple of nights.<br />
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Brian had spotted that our local amateur theatre in Guildford - The Electric Theatre - has an intriguingly titled play on this week - The Locked Room. Hearing I was not going to be away this week he promptly got us tickets and off we went on Friday evening. The play was very well acted and we enjoyed it immensely. <br />
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Written by a local lady, this was her first full length play. The story was about an ageing actress from Cornwall, and took place in the 1950's and the 1970's. The actress had had an illegitimate baby which was adopted at birth. Her young wardrobe lady was also from Cornwall, the same age as the illegitimate baby was, and thought that she was the actresses long lost daughter. The story ends with the actress in a nursing home, when 'all is revealed'. It certainly had me guessing and surprised.</div>
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Why is the theatre named 'Th Electric Theatre'? It has been built from part of the old local Electric Company site.</div>
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Gwenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03981282868499246298noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714132442180692355.post-55160661324565097112013-12-11T21:41:00.001+00:002013-12-14T20:41:41.222+00:00Surely it's not December?Is it really December - and the 11th already? Where has this month gone? <br />
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The soup maker that Brian bought and I wrote about last is a huge success. I can really recommend anyone to get one. In go the ingredients with cold stock (or cold water and a stock cube) and 20 to 25 minutes later - voilà - hot creamy smooth soup. If you want chunky - no problem. Just set to the chunky setting and when finished purée until your desired consistency is reached. Nothing could be simpler. So far we have had the leek and potato soup, tomato and pepper, and this week broccoli and blue cheese. We find that each recipe makes enough to last the two of use for three days.<br />
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I went to Wisley for the day last week with a friend - we had a lovely walk round the gardens. The gardens, as usual looked lovely with the trees changing colour. <br />
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It was very windy, as you can see from the grasses blowing sideways, and it was a relief to spend quite a time in the new glasshouse. The staff were putting up Christmas Decoration s, so some parts were 'out of bounds' . We were very impressed with the poinsettia Christmas Trees<br />
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Because I am waiting to go up and stay with my cousin for a few days when she comes out of hospital after her hip replacement last Friday, I have been trying to get ahead with my Christmas preparations. Not that I have many because we are going to stay at an hotel for the festivities, but we have cards to write and post, and presents to buy and wrap. I am still trying to decide whether to put up our small artificial Christmas Tree or not. I probably will, as it won't seem like Christmas without the tree twinkling in the window.Gwenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03981282868499246298noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714132442180692355.post-49307695160568021522013-11-27T21:28:00.000+00:002013-11-28T09:42:00.495+00:00Tomato soupLast weekend Brian came home with a bag of ripe tomatoes, a large bag of ripe tomatoes. Can you make soup with them? he asked. Well, I told him, I can, but it's a very fiddly job. At which he got all huffy, and said, don't bother then. So, to prove how fiddly I set to on Monday morning. First I had to blanch the tomatoes and remove the skins. Then cut the tomatoes in half and remove the pips. I did a couple, but was just too fiddly so left them in, but did cut the fruit into halves.<br />
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An onion was chopped and gently fried in a large pan, the tomatoes added, and all cooked together until soft. Stock was added and all cooked until soft. Cooled slightly and then put into my new food processor and processed. To remove the seeds I put the soup through a fine sieve (which took an age to do) and put the resulting liquid back into the pan and added tomato purée and sugar. I heated it all through again to make sure the sugar and tomato purée were incorporated. </div>
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Two hours later I had finished the washing up and we had soup for six. </div>
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Brian had to agree, it is a fiddly and time consuming task making tomato soup, but we both agreed it was very very good.</div>
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But, because of the time taken, not forgetting the fuel consumption, Brian decided we need a soup maker and set off for town to buy one - he had a store voucher, and it was on offer in a pre-Christmas sale, so it was a bargain.</div>
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We have yet to use it, since we only finished the soup today. Hopefully I will make some tomorrow and I will let you know how I get on. </div>
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Gwenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03981282868499246298noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714132442180692355.post-40197892169225527352013-11-25T14:29:00.000+00:002013-11-25T14:29:29.148+00:00Last Year's Christmas presentLast Christmas our eldest son and his partner gave us a gift voucher for tickets to a play at our local Yvonne Arnaud Theatre - our choice of whatever we wanted. As we did in a previous year, we dillied and dallied, or were too busy to book anything up. But we decided we really must use up the voucher so a month ago we booked to see September in the Rain. Mind you driving there in really heavy rain we wondered if the name would be changed to November in the Rain.<br />
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September in the Rain is a comedy which relates the story of a Yorkshire couples marriage spanning 40 years through their annual holiday each year in Blackpool each September where it invariably rained.Just two characters in the play which took place on the front at Blackpool. It was both poignant and funny, and the two actors (Claire Sweeney and John Thompson) brought back memories of holidays at the seaside in years gone by. Very cleverly acted. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The above photographs by Robert Day and from the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre website</td></tr>
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The Blue jug is just about being filled with flowers from the garden - for the last two weeks, Fuchsia Genii flowering in a sheltered spot by one of the greenhouses and a yellow Buddleia. We have night frosts forecast, so I'm not sure there will be many more flowers.<br />
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Gwenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03981282868499246298noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714132442180692355.post-56859541195679971292013-11-17T21:05:00.000+00:002013-11-17T21:05:36.488+00:00Birthday bakingWe have a lot of birthdays in the family this month. Three in Brian's brothers family and three in ours, plus my friend has a birthday today.<br />
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Granddaughter Emily starts the birthday season on the 11th, her father and our oldest son, Matthew,has a birthday on the 19th and his oldest daughter Jessica is on the 24th<br />
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To celebrate the birthdays I made a cake because I knew they would be calling this afternoon. A carrot cake was requested by Brian. </div>
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Going back three months to the end of August and my birthday, I was delighted to receive a new Kenwood food processor to replace the very old Braun I had owned for about twenty five years. There was no cookery book with the processor, so I searched Amazon for a basic book. I came across one by the well known Mary Berry, which was highly recommended. It's out of print now, and a hardback copy will set you back £190! But there was a used paperback edition for sale at a very reasonable £3 odd, and I ordered it straight way. It arrived within a day or so, and I have to say, it is just what I wanted. Basic simple recipes.<br />
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The carrot cake recipe came from this book. It was a doddle to prepare in the processor, as was the topping. </div>
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The cake was huge success with everyone, and will certainly be one I will make again. Sorry no picture of the cake before it was cut, but you can see there is not much left.</div>
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Gwenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03981282868499246298noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714132442180692355.post-30700530505557784272013-11-16T15:53:00.000+00:002013-11-16T15:53:06.835+00:00Crochet update<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This autumn has been quite mild so far, although fairly damp and very windy. The sort of weather that makes us want to close the curtains, put on the fire, and have supper on our laps in front of the TV. Then I take up my hook and start to crochet. I know ... I've been neglecting the crochet blanket all summer, but now I am back to hooking. I think the main problem is the muted colours, also the wool is an Aran type and quite hard to work. But I am persevering and hope to finish it in time for Christmas. I'm till not sure if it will be a gift or not. Anyway, here is an up to date photograph of progress. <br />
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Did I mention how cross I am that the quantity of yarn specified in the Pattern book (Patons) is totally wrong? There are five colours and pattern states need 1x 100gram ball of each colour. Who checks these patterns? Fortunately it does not matter that the dye is very slightly different - no one will notice, but I know! I've bought an extra 100 grams of four of the colours and 2 x 100 grams of the granny square borders. I have decided that I will go as far as I can and then finish.<br />
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Gwenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03981282868499246298noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714132442180692355.post-18942076930192776262013-11-10T09:33:00.001+00:002013-11-11T08:49:45.959+00:00Never Forget with Poppy trees<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-3an7qScvR_A/Un9S44k33LI/AAAAAAAAFKY/l0zo503HpDc/s640/blogger-image--403302382.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-3an7qScvR_A/Un9S44k33LI/AAAAAAAAFKY/l0zo503HpDc/s640/blogger-image--403302382.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Brian and I often pop over to Aldershot, a local Military town. The last time we were there we were pleasantly surprised to see these poppy trees. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-OqT_xfidZjI/Un_j8FE7PYI/AAAAAAAAFKo/QBr2XZz87Qg/s640/blogger-image--1642695519.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-OqT_xfidZjI/Un_j8FE7PYI/AAAAAAAAFKo/QBr2XZz87Qg/s640/blogger-image--1642695519.jpg"></a></div></div>Gwenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03981282868499246298noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714132442180692355.post-49131760554507837452013-11-09T10:55:00.001+00:002013-11-09T10:58:13.222+00:00Blue jug update<div>I was not expecting an flowers in the garden when I returned from my trip to Australia. I was surprised, therefore, to see there were still some of the Bishop of Llandaff and David Howard dahlias. I picked them all, and here is the jug on 28th October<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-fJBg2RAEt6E/Un4Ult_ZuyI/AAAAAAAAFKA/sCs6u8pRog0/s640/blogger-image-210065960.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-fJBg2RAEt6E/Un4Ult_ZuyI/AAAAAAAAFKA/sCs6u8pRog0/s640/blogger-image-210065960.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Last week I found these few dahlias flowering by my greenhouse. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-DetiZjw7jww/Un4VQ0826fI/AAAAAAAAFKI/GNKjK1EKSII/s640/blogger-image--677105416.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-DetiZjw7jww/Un4VQ0826fI/AAAAAAAAFKI/GNKjK1EKSII/s640/blogger-image--677105416.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I will have to search hard for more flowers in the garden. We are due to have a frost tonight which I am sure will cut most of the plants back.</div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div></div>Gwenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03981282868499246298noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714132442180692355.post-82632279287340984762013-11-08T21:07:00.000+00:002013-11-08T21:07:12.881+00:00Saying goodbyeYesterday was a sad day for us. Our very dear friend and ex neighbour, Roy, was laid to rest. He was 91. On my return from holiday in Australia, my husband broke the sad news to me that Roy had had an accident at home, and after a brief illness, had passed away. His wife Jean, had passed away about two years ago and Roy had lived on his own for that time, mostly fending for himself, with lots of help from his family, and carers a couple of days a week. Jean and Roy were the best neighbours one could ever wish for. Both were happy to help out in an emergency. Nothing was ever too much trouble, despite the fact they had five children of their own. Roy grew vegetables in the back garden, they hardly ever bought them. Also wonderful dahlias in a corner of the garden. Jean cooked pies and cakes and made bread by hand, but eventually in the bread machine the family bought her. They were devoted to one another and were very content with their lives. My two boys grew up loving their auntie Jean and uncle Roy. It was a sad day when Jean and Roy decided to move to a small bungalow when their children had left home. Fortunately not far as they moved to a bungalow in the village. We were still able to visit often, but I missed popping round 'next door' for a coffee (it was always coffee). Now they are both gone but I have some lovely memories of them.Gwenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03981282868499246298noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714132442180692355.post-77862441313699286842013-11-07T15:55:00.000+00:002013-11-07T15:55:09.150+00:00Memory Butterflies<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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My sister is,and has been for many years, a devoted member of Sands South Australia, and also Sands
Australia. When I was visiting recently, Sands South Australia organised a Walkathon for parents to walk in remembrance
of their child. It was held in a park
in Adelaide and there were, perhaps about a hundred people there. Pauline had organised a raffle with some
lovely prizes to help raise funds for the Group. There was Face Painting and balloon animals
and, of course, the walk. Not a very
long walk because, of course, many of the parents had brought small children
along, it was probably about half an hour around the parklands. There was also that great Australian
tradition – the sausage sizzle to warm the walkers and helpers – it was a very
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Pauline had also organised
the purchase of butterflies for parents to release in memory of their child,
and about forty butterflies were released.
I think they were the Wanderer butterfly, and my sister had obtained
them from Queensland. She collected
them from the airport the previous evening and kept them in a coolbox (Esky)
over night. They were all individually packed lightly into envelopes which were closed with a ribbon and easily opened. Very neat. It was a very moving moment when the butterflies were released by the parents.</div>
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Well done Pauline for all
your efforts for that Society. A worthy cause
and I am very proud of all that she has done for them.</div>
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Gwenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03981282868499246298noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714132442180692355.post-48213854809195085362013-10-31T16:09:00.004+00:002013-11-05T10:01:31.131+00:00Home with lovely memories<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
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In my last post I wrote about the wonderful memorable day
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I also wrote that a new grandchild for my sister and her husband
was due. Archer Wayde duly arrived the
following evening and very early the next morning we went to the hospital to
meet the newest member of the family and congratulate the proud and very
excited new parents. A joyous time. </div>
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As well as the new baby, I met two more members of the
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I visited my eldest sister and her husband who live just
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Another trip made was to Sydney to meet up with our
younger sister who made the trip into the city from near Newcastle. Oh my, the three of us did have a fun time. We walked and walked, chatted and laughed
as if we had not been apart for seven years.
I hope it is not as long before we can get together again.</div>
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Emma had to leave early on our last day in Sydney, so after
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Our flight back to Adelaide did not leave until the evening, but we got to the airport early having decided that we would have a meal there instead of in the city. We had heard of the fires in the Blue Mountains but were shocked to see the smoke beginning to appear over the city.<br />
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More about my last weekend in my next post.</div>
Gwenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03981282868499246298noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714132442180692355.post-11468675508617380502013-10-07T23:41:00.001+01:002013-10-08T00:56:14.345+01:00ArrivedI've been here a week now and just loving being with my sister Pauline and her family. The journey was not too bad and as I 'don't do jetlag'l I immediately fell into family life here. My sister has four children, all married, and they and their families have either visited or we've visited them. Another grandchild is due imminently, and we are anxiously awaiting news of its arrival.<div><br></div><div>We've also visited a member of The South Australian Pelargonium Club, Roger and his wife Jenny, who grow pelargoniums. We had a nice morning browsing all the plants they grow.</div><div><br></div><div>Yesterday we went to the Barrossa Valley, the wine growing region. Needless to say, we tasted a few wines at various wineries. We went with the two friends of my sister who I met in Ireland last year when they were on their European trip. From L to R: Carolyn, Pauline, me, Anne Marie</div><div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-zVrIhKqJ3do/UlNIVUaiyII/AAAAAAAAFEw/1TxLMewuhQ4/s640/blogger-image--91801676.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-zVrIhKqJ3do/UlNIVUaiyII/AAAAAAAAFEw/1TxLMewuhQ4/s640/blogger-image--91801676.jpg"></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We went for lunch at Maggie Beers farmhouse restaurant. Maggie Beers is a well known Australian tv chef, and has written many cookery books. Lunch was really good in a wonderful location overlooking a small lake.<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-2eLybt_MYlc/UlNKC2YmvNI/AAAAAAAAFE8/50rRggDquN8/s640/blogger-image-1619182119.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-2eLybt_MYlc/UlNKC2YmvNI/AAAAAAAAFE8/50rRggDquN8/s640/blogger-image-1619182119.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-BqIwjiFtHQw/UlNKG42UW1I/AAAAAAAAFFE/-mohhY9QutI/s640/blogger-image--1419928571.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-BqIwjiFtHQw/UlNKG42UW1I/AAAAAAAAFFE/-mohhY9QutI/s640/blogger-image--1419928571.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We're having a quiet day at home today, but off to Victor Harbour tomorrow to visit friends.</div></div>Gwenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03981282868499246298noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714132442180692355.post-67437242692144034942013-09-28T16:38:00.001+01:002013-10-07T23:37:56.192+01:00Late post<div>I forgot to upload the following post. I've been here a week now. But since it is written, here it is:-</div><div><br></div>I can't believe that on Monday I leave for my trip to Adelaide to visit my sisters - well two of them anyway. One lives north of Sydney and we will be visiting her for a couple of days. I know those three weeks will just fly by - as the time before I leave early on Monday morning is dragging now! I am so looking forward to seeing all my Australian family again.<br>
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I've packed my case today and tomorrow will tidy up the greenhouses for the last time and water the plants. I think the dahlias in the garden will be over when I get back. I love this time of year for filling my blue jug with red dahlias. This year I've added orange David Howard and Pooh in with them and I think they look very good together.<br>
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Gwenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03981282868499246298noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714132442180692355.post-21148806144503175992013-09-16T16:34:00.000+01:002013-09-16T21:40:49.829+01:00Back from one trip and getting ready for anotherWe had a really quiet time in France. One of our best holidays there I think. We just relaxed and enjoyed the atmosphere of living in another house in another country . I am sure I've explained that the house we stay in belongs to Brian's cousins family. It is in a very small and quiet village in Normandy. They have had the house for several years now and we are so lucky that we are invited to join cousin Sue and her husband Malcolm when they stay there. We enjoy their company very much. <br />
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One place we did visit was a nursery and garden run by an English lady, <a href="http://www.alisonsykes.com/">Alison Sykes</a>. Alison herself showed us around her garden which was lovely and autumny. It was hard to imagine that just five years ago it was a field. Unfortunately the nursery was closed the day we visited, but we hope to visit again.<br />
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We also visited a market and saw these ducklings and chicks for sale. Something we don't see in our markets any more.</div>
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I am now getting ready for a trip to Adelaide in South Australia to visit my family. I have two sisters and various nieces and nephews who live there, and another sister who lives near Sydney. I can't wait to see them all again.<br />
<br />Gwenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03981282868499246298noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714132442180692355.post-18996047274470700122013-08-25T14:52:00.001+01:002013-08-28T09:46:04.445+01:00The village Garden Club ShowI realise that I have not written about the Village Garden Club Annual Show which was held at the beginning of this month. I am Show Secretary and this was our fourth show. There are three of us on the show committee and there is a lot of work involved in putting on a show. Having done four shows now, it's a well oiled machine and each of us knows our own particular job. This is good because it cuts down the number of meetings we need to have. Apart from a post show meeting and a meeting early in the year to decide on the classes for the show schedule, we just need to be in email contact.<br />
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The exhibits in this years show were up to our usual high standard, but we wish more of our member would exhibit. Still,the show looked good and we were pleased we had good weather on the day as we hold the show in the garden of one of our members.<br />
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Gwenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03981282868499246298noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714132442180692355.post-67879997224082069952013-08-18T21:56:00.001+01:002013-08-18T21:56:11.383+01:00Fuchsias galore!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Those of you who know me will know that I am not a fan of fuchsias. I do grow the odd plant and have three or four hardy fuchsias in the garden, but I find them fiddley to grow, and they need lots of watering - and their flowers drop! So, friends and family were surprised, to say the least, when I announced I was off to see a fuchsia show last Sunday. Not the Farnborough Fuchsia and Pelargonium Society fuchsia show, of which I am a member, but the British Fuchsia Society London National Fuchsia Show no less. Fortunately I did not have to travel to London because the show was held in a village close by.<br />
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My real reason for visiting this Show was to take a look at the hall to see if it would be suitable as a venue for The Pelargonium and Geranium Society National Show when it is next held in the South East of the country. I was, however, amazed at the quality of the fuchsia exhibits. The hall was filled with plants - three tables down the centre of the hall with exhibits on each side of the tables. Tables around all the edges, plus on the front of the stage and on the floor in front of the stage.</div>
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There was a smaller hall within the building and here one could buy a cup of tea ad cake. Salad lunches had been served at lunchtime. This being the 75th anniversary of the B.F.S. there was a large wall display of their events over the years. There had been a tombola in here as well, obviously well supported as it was over when I arrived early afternoon.</div>
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It was a pleasant afternoon and I met several friends there as well.<br />
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My Blue Jug is filled with White and Purple Phlox<br />
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Gwenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03981282868499246298noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714132442180692355.post-18175200596126512013-08-16T12:12:00.000+01:002013-08-16T12:15:07.311+01:00It's been a while .....<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It’s been a little while since I was last here. We have celebrated another birthday, had a
trip away for the weekend, and a day out to a National Trust property.</div>
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The birthday was my younger son, Daniel’s 40<sup>th</sup>
birthday. I can hardly believe that he is now 40. Despite two serious
illnesses in his life, one being cancer, he has overcome them and we are very
proud of him. He did not want a large
celebration, but just a meal out with his wife Lisa, his brother Matthew and
his girlfriend, and us. He chose an Indian restaurant close to where they
live. We had a really super evening out
just the six of us.</div>
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The next weekend Brian and I went to Eastbourne for a
weekend. This was actually my birthday
gift to him last January, but this was the first opportunity I have had to book
something up for us. We had good
weather and enjoyed our two days there. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our hotel was opposite the pier</td></tr>
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We also had a day out at Hinton Ampner, a National Trust
property near Winchester in Hampshire. </div>
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On our way to the property we planned to call in at New Arlesford
for coffee. We have often stopped here
for coffee or afternoon tea.
Unfortunately on this occasion we found we were not able to park – so we
turned round and went to a place we had spotted on the way in. What a find this place has turned out to be. It is called Long Barn Lavender Farm. It was a really delightful place to stop for
coffee on a warm early August morning.
We sat outside and were served a really good cup of ‘real’ coffee. I cannot describe the scent of lavender in
the air – it was quite soporific and we could have stopped there for far
longer. However, the lure of the small
plant nursery nearby was too much for me, and I eventually ventured forth! The plants there were really good value, and
very well grown. However, the only thing
that I eventually bought was six small broccoli plants for my vegetable
garden. I have been looking for some for
a while now as my own seeds did not germinate at all. I also had a look round the lavender plant
nursery on the other side of the barn.
There was a lady demonstrating how to make lavender wreaths and I wished
I could have joined in. It seems they
take bookings for classes of this type.
This is a stop we will make again for sure.</div>
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We have been to Hinton Ampner before, and I enjoy the quietness of
this garden. It is not flamboyant with
flowers, just a really pleasant homely garden.
We also went round the house and again, this is a house that I felt we
could live in, despite there being many rooms, they were not overly large and
the place has a definitely ‘homely’ feel to it. What I really love ‘tho, is the large
vegetable garden. Oh, how I would love a
vegetable plot like the one at Hinton Ampner.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6K2HxqTyFrw/Ug4AKrKZqUI/AAAAAAAAE24/VxW1ibnipn4/s1600/DSC_0007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6K2HxqTyFrw/Ug4AKrKZqUI/AAAAAAAAE24/VxW1ibnipn4/s320/DSC_0007.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hh4arQPRSS4/Ug4AKSq02VI/AAAAAAAAE20/hToQXQt3W4w/s1600/DSC_0008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hh4arQPRSS4/Ug4AKSq02VI/AAAAAAAAE20/hToQXQt3W4w/s320/DSC_0008.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0PPYWnCiAK8/Ug4AM_ZYqwI/AAAAAAAAE3M/3qwCIJXS2Ig/s1600/DSC_0025.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0PPYWnCiAK8/Ug4AM_ZYqwI/AAAAAAAAE3M/3qwCIJXS2Ig/s320/DSC_0025.jpg" width="214" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yKhqigVHG70/Ug4ALjKPMqI/AAAAAAAAE3E/31ibQqLy4wo/s1600/DSC_0017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yKhqigVHG70/Ug4ALjKPMqI/AAAAAAAAE3E/31ibQqLy4wo/s320/DSC_0017.jpg" width="214" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Guarding the vegetables</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ez8hzgslzaM/Ug4AJ3g-X8I/AAAAAAAAE2s/pd0g9GhQST8/s1600/DSC_0014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ez8hzgslzaM/Ug4AJ3g-X8I/AAAAAAAAE2s/pd0g9GhQST8/s320/DSC_0014.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gaI78Sfcwgs/Ug4AOXfElCI/AAAAAAAAE3U/7nySMnMI-js/s1600/DSC_0029.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gaI78Sfcwgs/Ug4AOXfElCI/AAAAAAAAE3U/7nySMnMI-js/s320/DSC_0029.jpg" width="214" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZTn8ycmgKfA/Ug4APgaWppI/AAAAAAAAE3g/HyPDSfRPoZw/s1600/DSC_0035.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZTn8ycmgKfA/Ug4APgaWppI/AAAAAAAAE3g/HyPDSfRPoZw/s320/DSC_0035.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Runner bean arch</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BG42yb9-ZeE/Ug4APEJU0DI/AAAAAAAAE3c/_Z07SC4I4M0/s1600/DSC_0038.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BG42yb9-ZeE/Ug4APEJU0DI/AAAAAAAAE3c/_Z07SC4I4M0/s320/DSC_0038.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Can you spot the pumpkins?</td></tr>
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Finally an update on the blue jug. I have been putting these cheerfully yellow Alstromeria's in it for the past couple of weeks.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VutlA07fYI8/Ug4Is1lpmWI/AAAAAAAAE4c/nrLSUVyHbNw/s1600/blue+jug.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VutlA07fYI8/Ug4Is1lpmWI/AAAAAAAAE4c/nrLSUVyHbNw/s200/blue+jug.jpg" width="149" /></a></div>
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More soon, I hope!</div>
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Gwenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03981282868499246298noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714132442180692355.post-78268773086189161832013-07-22T22:06:00.002+01:002013-07-22T22:06:21.129+01:00A birthday and two outings<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It’s been HOT! Too
hot to do very much at all, apart from early morning and early evenings. But I love it. Our weather is far too chilly and damp far
too often to complain when we do get some hot hot weather – don’t you agree?</div>
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So, what have I been up to this month? We have two birthday in our family to
celebrate in July – the first one was our granddaughter Sophie’s 17<sup>th</sup>
birthday. She was going out to celebrate
with friends, and I had my cousins stopping off on their way home. So it was arranged that we would pop over in
the morning to give her her gift and celebrate the occasion. We had
a cake – with one candle on it (I told her she would have to blow it out 17
times, much to her younger brother’s amusement).</div>
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Brian and I took a day trip to Salisbury last week – we often
pop down there to meet up with some friends, but this means we do not get to look
around the town much. Tuesday is market
day, which was the day we chose to go.
It was a great shame that the market was not as good as we
expected. The town square was being
re-paved, so only half of the stalls were there. </div>
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Yesterday we went to Brian’s cousins for a family get-
together. This is always a fun
afternoon. When the guests had gone we
stopped on to chat with Brian’s aunt and uncle who had come down from Norfolk
for the party. The foxes enjoyed the
remains of the party food.</div>
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Gwenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03981282868499246298noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714132442180692355.post-71236670106431728722013-07-08T16:48:00.000+01:002013-07-08T16:48:21.116+01:00Visit to The National Collection of Pelargoniums<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
Last Sunday I was at The National Collection of Pelargoniums at Fibrex Nursery, Nr. Stratford-upon-Avon. I had an awesome day. I travelled up with a friend and we met up with another friend. If you are able to I would recommend a visit - especially at this time of year. The plants looked stunning. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Pelargonium Species</td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ddIsV_aB4Cg/UdCBGK0zYoI/AAAAAAAAEic/_-K7dCUapeM/s800/DSC_0056.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ddIsV_aB4Cg/UdCBGK0zYoI/AAAAAAAAEic/_-K7dCUapeM/s320/DSC_0056.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Pelargonium Species</td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KUk38_boUiY/UdCBEC9QhcI/AAAAAAAAEiM/m8IxARkXUTc/s800/DSC_0109.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KUk38_boUiY/UdCBEC9QhcI/AAAAAAAAEiM/m8IxARkXUTc/s320/DSC_0109.jpg" width="214" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Zonal pelargoniums</td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4tm6wGc2OVE/UdCB4gXM7oI/AAAAAAAAEjA/F1zdugeKlGQ/s800/DSC_0146.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4tm6wGc2OVE/UdCB4gXM7oI/AAAAAAAAEjA/F1zdugeKlGQ/s320/DSC_0146.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Regal pelargoniums</td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PamEvtJzHjg/UdCBFm_g2bI/AAAAAAAAEiU/Emfy1TVHUlA/s800/DSC_0110.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PamEvtJzHjg/UdCBFm_g2bI/AAAAAAAAEiU/Emfy1TVHUlA/s320/DSC_0110.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Zonal pelargoniums</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-I4gwpP6vekw/UdCBHaV6yaI/AAAAAAAAEik/y5uTv6TqIdE/s800/DSC_0216.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-I4gwpP6vekw/UdCBHaV6yaI/AAAAAAAAEik/y5uTv6TqIdE/s320/DSC_0216.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Zonal pelargoniums</td></tr>
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I know, I've not been keeping up with posting pictures of my Blue Jug. My aim this year is to keep it filled with flowers or foliage from the garden. So, here are the latest pictures. <br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GwYU6pXQIto/UdreUKBPTlI/AAAAAAAAEn8/w3zwDlI8nlw/s1600/DSCN1999.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GwYU6pXQIto/UdreUKBPTlI/AAAAAAAAEn8/w3zwDlI8nlw/s320/DSCN1999.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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I hope all of you here in the UK are enjoying our summer which has arrived at last.<br />
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Gwenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03981282868499246298noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714132442180692355.post-8751366495074466342013-07-01T11:15:00.002+01:002013-07-01T17:08:09.279+01:00National Pelargonium Show and Cats June is always a busy month for me with shows and my own greenhouse plants, and the garden.<br />
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The following week after the show at Farnborough I went to Capel Manor, in Enfield, Middlesex (North London) to Steward at the National Pelargonium Show. I love this show, and I really enjoy Stewarding. I always learn something new from the Judge I am accompanying. It was not a large show, unfortunately. The weather had taken its toll and many exhibitors just did not have their plants ready to bring along. However, what was there was good and I had a very enjoyable day. <br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-u8d7d96hkxQ/UdB_4BgBmxI/AAAAAAAAEhg/tLOnG9xI5bk/s800/DSC_0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-u8d7d96hkxQ/UdB_4BgBmxI/AAAAAAAAEhg/tLOnG9xI5bk/s320/DSC_0001.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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We watched the two BBC programmes on the Secret Life of Cats. It was filmed in our village and I was a bit worried that my vegetable garden would be shown. We had been asked to sign an agreement that it could be shown. My vegetable garden, in particular, is visited by the local cats who think my raised bed are very large litter trays. So much so that when I have nothing planted and growing well, very bit of vacant soil is covered with something to prevent the cats gaining access. So, my vegetable garden never ever looks like the vegetable garden one sees in books and magazines. However, I need not have worried - my garden was not filmed, or if it was, the footage was not used. They did show a clip of a pheasant by my front gate post!<br />
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On Saturday we were invited to celebrate the 40th wedding anniversary of some friends. It was a lovely day for a celebration. We had a surprise visit by 'Elvis' who entertained us for an hour.<br />
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Gwenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03981282868499246298noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714132442180692355.post-70662808254772883762013-06-13T18:24:00.001+01:002013-06-13T18:25:22.912+01:00A brief trip away, and cats on TV<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
We had a lovely restful time last week when we went to
Folkestone. From my pictures you would
not have believed where we were – it looks very Mediterranean. This is a coast walk between Folkestone and
Sandgate and then on to Hythe. We have
not yet ventured beyond Sandgate. It is
a lovely place for a walk and there are several adventure type places for
children to climb and crawl and slide.
Also some well kept gardens and pleasant sea views. We also took our usual walk around the
harbour – always a nice place to visit.</div>
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Home by Friday lunchtime and I spent the afternoon
grooming pelargoniums to take to the Farnborough Fuchsia & Pelargonium,
Society Pelargonium Show. I was up early
and quickly packed the car with all my plants and set off to put them on the
show benches. I was home again by 11
am to collect a tray of plants for the plant sale, which I was in charge
of. A short stop for lunch and then back
to the hall to see how my plants had done in the show and then set up the plant
sale. I was thrilled to find I had two
1sts, two 2nds, and four 3rds. One of
the 1sts was in the photographic class.</div>
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My Blue jug has been filled with pink flowers after the
three weeks of bluebells. The Aquilegias
are out now and have been looking very good in my Blue Jug. For more information about Aquilegais, see
the Blog I write for my local Gardening Club <a href="http://shamley-green-gardeningclub.blogspot.co.uk/">here</a>.</div>
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Speaking of local – those of you in the UK will have seen
the programme adverts for Horizon tonight on BBC2. The programme is “The Secret World of Cats”
and was filmed in Shamley Green, which
is where I live. We had to sign a
consent form that the BBC could use footage of our garden if the cats came in. Unfortunately I have to go out tonight so we
will watch the programme on iPlayer tomorrow.
My garden will be the one that looks like Steptoe’s Yard (giving my age
away here) in my attempt to deter the cats from using my raised vegetable beds
as a huge luxurious cat litter tray, No
matter how much I lay down to keep the cats off, they will find a small patch
of earth to us, and have even ‘gone’ over the side! Nasty!
I do actually like cats, and we have owned several over the years, I
just don’t like them using my garden.Gwenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03981282868499246298noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714132442180692355.post-86050270546360480052013-06-03T21:06:00.002+01:002013-06-03T21:43:40.677+01:00Blue Jug, the seaside and a plate.I keep forgetting to post pictures of my Blue Jug. Those of you who have read my blog in the past will know that I am attempting to keep this blue jug, inherited from my late mother in-law, filled with flowers/foliage from the garden throughout this year. <br />
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When I got back from my trip to Belgium I found that the bluebells were out. We have loads in the garden and in fact I have in the past thrown bucket loads away. Now they are more manageable, but no doubt will increase again. So, since then the jug has been filled with bluebells. I picked the last lot yesterday - they are nearly finished but I managed to find some in the very shadiest part of the garden. Notice there are white ones as well - and I even spotted a pink one in the front garden, but left that to see if it will increase. So the jug has looked pretty much the same for the last few weeks. The scent in the dining room when I replace the flowers is incredible - wish I could share it with you.<br />
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We are going away tomorrow for a few days, and when I come back I will have to look for something else flowering in the garden.<br />
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We popped down to Bognor Regis on Saturday - the beach was practically deserted. Just the odd dog walker. The tide was way out, and it was nearly mid-day when I took this photo. We took a picnic and sat on the promenade to eat our lunch. It was beautifully warm. <br />
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As a collector of pelargoniums, I also collect items depicting pelargoniums. I spotted this plate on eBay a couple of weeks ago and was so lucky to win it. Isn't it stunning?<br />
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More when I get back from our few days away.<br />
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Gwenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03981282868499246298noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714132442180692355.post-37564881068490242352013-05-31T20:38:00.000+01:002013-05-31T20:38:49.276+01:00A Working day at WisleyA couple of Saturdays ago, just after my friend Sandy returned home to California, I spent a day in the Glasshouse at RHS Wisley with other committee members of The Pelargonium & Geranium Society. Wisley had their annual display of pelargoniums in the Glasshouse and they had invited us along to promote our Society.<br />
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So 8.30 am on the Saturday morning saw seven of us driving our cars along the back road into Wisley to park behind the glasshouse. We had three trestle tables which we covered with a black cloth and three members had brought their own plants along to display. We decided that as the Wisley display was mainly zonals, regals, angels and scenteds, we would show some of the species types.<br />
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We did not join any new members, but we had a lot of interest shown in our plants and in the Society. <br />
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We plan to be more organised next year with the RHS giving us a bit more notice and we will hope to put on some demonstrations of taking cuttings and caring for the plants.<br />
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If you can, do visit Wisley in the next couple of weeks and pop into the Glasshouse to see the display. It should be looking very good just now.<br />
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I did have time to have a look at the rest of the glass house and saw the Jade Vine flower - the first time it had flowered at Wisley. The Jade Vine is native to The Philippines and it really is this colour!<br />
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<br />Gwenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03981282868499246298noreply@blogger.com1