Yawn Yawn Wakey Wakey 2025

Good morning all.
We arrived at our friends near Devizes yesterday afternoon. On the way we visited a charming garden, now owned by the NT, Tintinhull. It was once owned by Penelope Hobhouse, a garden writer.
About 12C and cloudy here at the moment.

 

The Bread and Butter Pudding was delicious, enjoyed by all after a Chicken and Chick Pea curry, Potato and Cauliflower Curry and sides.
My son and daughter-in-law have had a wonderful trip around England, glorious weather and they met up with family and friends all over the country, as well as went back to Swansea University, the Mumbles etc., where they met and fell in Lurv! Hiring a camper van worked really well as they were able to spend overnights in it, parked on friend's driveways instead of imposing on them, they also found some lovely campsites.
I am a bit fed up as I arranged for a home visit eye test and spectacles repair job. I have had so many excited e-mails telling me I had been allotted a date, then a telephone call to tell me they are coming this afternoon some time between 12.00 and 5.00pm. I would get a phone call 1 hr. prior to their arrival. Now I have just found a message saying they are coming this morning!
My son is coming to help me wash down the greenhouse and prep. the runnerbean wigwam. Not so hot this morning so should be pleasant working outside.

 

Hope all goes well at the dentist, @Ladybird4

 

Admin day so far for patchwork then oven cleaning and carrot soup making.

After several weeks of social activities disrupting my diet programme I'm having my first proper thin day for over a month so fat free carrot and lentil soup for lunch.

Currently sorting seeds to sow. had to come and look some up to find height and colour and some are trees and shrubs and don't beong in my flower seeds box but i'll sow them anyway.

Hope everyone is enjoying their day.

 

Hello everyone, we've been in Scotland for a long weekend, and birthday celebrations of a couple of ex work colleagues. We went up Friday and got back last night. We stopped at Ecclefechin overnight on the Friday, on the Saturday we visited The Hill house, Helensburgh nr Greenock. It was designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh for the Blackie (book publishers) family. Sorry no pictures , but if you are in the area house and tho not large garden , well worth a visit. We stayed nights in Carnoustie, about a mile away from our friends house near Barry Mill. There was a group of his other friends from years back also, so a good time was had.
On our way back we stopped at the Japanese garden at Cowden. It is still being restored but is much more advanced than when we first visited.
I will post more on the garden visit thread but here is a start.

 

Afternoon folks. I’ve just finished a bit of weeding before the rain comes (is that thunder??…)
I’ve given up on trying to dig out the Spanish bluebells, so it’s an annual pull of all the foliage as it just basically slug hotels.

I love a Japanese garden @Allotment Boy. Loving all the pictures of trips and visits folks.

I hope everyone is doing ok.

 

Not sure how I posted duplicates, sorry.

 

No worries @Allotment Boy.

@AuntyRach we have a narrow bed round a defunct well in the middle of our drive and last year I dug the whole thing out to remove an invasion of Spanish bluebells and a trumpet vine planted in completely the wrong place. Then I chucked in lots of garden and commercial planting compost and replanted the autumn and spring daffs, a few alliums and tulips and then some euphorbia, dianthus, saxifrage and sempervivums that all cope with dry conditions.

Everything has done very well including a whoe mess of Spanish bluebells especially at one end. Humph. Will just have to do it all again.

 

Oh wow @Allotment Boy the pictures are stunning. Thank you for sharing them.You can delete your duplicates.
@AuntyRach and @Obelix-Vendée my front garden is plagued with Spanish bluebells. I have been trying for years to remove them.

 

All went well at the Dentist's today. X-rays, scale and polish and second mortgage taken out on house! I am signing out for this evening so I wish you all pleasant hours before you retire to your beds.

​

 

p.s. your pictures are stunning too @Busy-Lizzie.

 

We've had rain - at last! For about an hour as well so I feel excused from watering tonight although I am well aware it won't have percolated very far. At least it's freshened up the plants and in the back garden has washed off the sawdust that got everywhere whilst the tree surgeons were cutting down the tree.

I spent most of the day digging out my Potting Table area to lower the ground level so I can't see over the fence just there. Worked very cautiously and slowly in order to avoid any back problems and will finish it off tomorrow.

We were also having a 'thin' day @Obelix-Vendée but just as we finished our dinner of scrambled egg with smoked salmon on toast, we heard an icecream seller - unheard of for many years in this area. OH looked at me hopefully, saw me nodding my head enthusiastically and ran up the road - result, two Cornetto's. Also lots of calories! It was a chappie with an electric tricycle who'd been to a children's party nearby and was seeking more trade. Made our day.

Sounds a lovely trip away @Allotment Boy - did you eat Ecclefechin tarts in Ecclefechin? They're gorgeous.
Love the photos.

 

We had a thunderstorm with heavy rain in Wiltshire this afternoon. I wish it had happened in Norfolk too. Glad we went to Chalfield Manor this morning, not this afternoon. It was a gorgeous house and was used for Cromwell's country house in Wolf Hall.

 

Lovely photos again @Busy-Lizzie
Thank you.

Good morning all. It looks calm and bright outside. But yes, it's too dry! Quite a cool breeze in the garden yesterday evening. Praying for rain, to save me the job of watering. Those plants under cover need a drink still
Good morning @Ladybird4
I know you are an early riser.

 

@Fourmerkland - have you been peeking? More magical pictures @Busy-Lizzie!

​