O To be in England.....

I felt it was time we back home in England made a stand!    Such glorious pictures of sunshine in Sydney whilst we could only produce snow and overcoats.

Well, we might have to wait for it - but when spring comes, who would want to be anywhere else?  It is one of those fabulous days today when the sky is all-over blue, everywhere is lusciously green, and the sun is actually WARM!      I couldn't resist getting out in the garden with my trusty little camera, and taking a few photos to make the Ozzie contingent drool for a change.

Summer is a'comin in .........

***** CELEBRATIONS *****

What a super week we have just enjoyed! Our ‘middle’ daughter’s birthday, our 49th Wedding Anniversary, and Mothers’ Day. All celebrated in the glorious sunshine which has blessed us down here for days.

The birthday trip coincided with our first visit to Kerry’s new home near The Mumbles. She has a lovely flat with a view from her bay windown down to the sea shimmering below. Just a hundred yards down the road is a delightful sandy, rocky cove, and we were able to walk from there around Langland Bay and beyond. I had never imagined it would be so beautiful – in my wildest dreams I couldn’t have imagined anywhere more perfect for her. We can’t live other’s lives for them, so cannot know what problems might lurk in the future, but for now Kerry seems happy, and certainly enjoyed her birthday very much indeed, as did we!

Our Anniversary, a few days later, was spent at our favourite hidey-hole down near South Molton.   We played golf, we swam, we bubbled in the jacuzzi, we ate and drank too much fine food and wine, and revelled in having been upgraded to one of the Hotel's superior bedrooms.   Had anyone told me on our Wedding Day, that 49 years hence we would be fit enough to stride the Devon hills following a small white ball, and would still be taking great pleasure in each other's company, I surely would not have believed them.                                                                                                                                                      

Certainly all those years ago I couldn’t have imagined being the mother of five unbelievably wonderful adults, who send lovely cards and presents on Mothers’ Day …… and best of all, however far away, they get in touch so that on one special day I get to catch up with each of them. Truly, this is what life is all about.

O-My-Godspell

We had a truly exhilerating evening on Saturday when Kim and Martin so kindly treated us all to a family outing to see Encore Youth Theatre's production of 'Godspell' at the Theatre Royal in Winchester.

Right from the very start the packed audience were totally revved up to enjoy every moment.  It being the Last Night, the theatre was filled to capacity with what must surely have been schoolfriends, parents, and grandparents, who had all come to cheer on their friends and relatives.  After every number there was ear-splitting applause, whistling, and yelling.  The whole atmosphere was at such high voltage it was impossible not to get caught up in all the excitement, and be really amazed by the astonishingly talented and energetic teenagers.

Of course for us, and I'm sure many others, Vicki was the real star of the show.  She can sing, dance, and act with such flair - she gave us such a great evening!  Well done Vicki - you warmed the cockles of your Grandparents' hearts.

I'm sure Martin will be producing great photos of this super occasion - the only ones we have of a very happy and memorable weekend were taken next day during a most enjoyable meander through Winschester's history, with dear Rosie as our very capable and imaginative guide.

Thank you ALL for everything! xxxxx

Be My Valentine .......

Valentines Day started brightly , even though we hadn’t got to bed till after 2a.m. having had Mum here for a visit to the garden centre, her favourite meal, and cards till after midnight (oh that I might be as hale and enthusiastic as she at 93!). We had planned a breakfast of scrambled eggs and smoked salmon (an 80p pack of trimmings) with Bucks Fizz (on offer from Tesco), and just before I served this great luxury, I popped down the garden to my studio to pick up my Valentine card and present for John.


To my utter dismay, as I reached the studio verandah I saw old Butch, my dear old horsey buddy, lying down in the paddock just a little way along from my window, his tired body resting on bales of hay, with a young woman tenderly stroking him. It seems he collapsed yesterday, and as it was impossible to move him, he was visited by the vet, given painkillers, and remained there all night. We of course offered help, but could see that Butch’s very distressed owner wanted to spend a quiet time with him, and give comfort to her beloved friend while she still could.

We left her to it, and returned to our celebration breakfast much subdued. We could see various comings and goings from our window as we ate, though Butch himself was just out of sight beyond the studio. Father walked past a couple of times, mother too – then we saw mother pacing the paddock with a mobile to her ear, and wondered if she was calling in the vet …. We didn’t want to intrude on their sadness, so we decided a long walk to the next village and back to collect our Sunday papers would raise our spirits a little.

The winter sunshine kept us from feeling chilly , and we got to thinking what a lovely way for Bruce’s life to ebb away , nestled in the warmth of both the sun and this young woman’s love. We had discovered only recently that he was in fact 35 years old, which is extremely aged for a horse yet, like my mother, he enjoyed his declining years to the full. Only yesterday morning when I looked out from the house I saw Butch lingering by the window of my studio (where I had left the curtains open), obviously curious to see if I was around. Sadly I was too busy to pop down the garden then, so I missed one last ‘conversation’ with him, but over the past week I have enjoyed his company several times as he’s gazed at me rattling away on my computer.

When we arrived back from our long walk, I scurried down the garden to slip into the small gap between my studio window and the paddock fence, to see only a few sad mounds of abandoned hay. Magpies were fluttering about on the grass, a heron landed clumsily on the banks of the rhyne, and the sun continued to shine. Life goes on ……. who would have guessed that so sorrowful a happening had taken place in these beautiful surroundings. Many a tear will have been shed, not least by me, but Butch’s owners will be comforted by the knowledge that he was dearly loved and cared for.

As the sun is beginning now to set, I’m gazing dolefully out across the dejectedly vacant paddock. You will be missed so much my dear old friend.    R.I.P

SUCH IS LIFE.

'GRANDMOTHER'  from 'Mother & Home Magazine.
5th February 1910.

Another new gown, as I declare!
How many more is it going to be?
And your forehead is all hid in a cloud of hair -
'Tis nothing but folly, that I can see.
The maidens of nowadays make too free;
To right and to left the money is flung:
WE used to dress as became our degree -
But things have altered since I was young.

'Stuff' in my time was made to wear,
Gowns we had never but two or three:
Did we fancy them spoilt if they chanced to tear?
And shrink from a patch or a darn? not we!
For pleasure, a gossiping dish of tea,
Or a mushroom hunt, while the dew yet hung,
And no need next day for the doctor's fee -
But things have altered since I was young.

A yellow gig, and a drive to the fair,
A keepsake bought in a booth on the lea:
A sixpence perhaps to break and share -
That's how your grandfather courted me.
Did your grandmother blush, do you think.. not she
When he found her, the churn and the pails among?
Or your grandfather like her the less?  not he
But things have altered since I was young.

Child, you pout, and you urge your plea -
Better it were that you held your tongue!
Maids should learn at their elders' knee -
But things have altered since I was young.
     ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... .....

THAT Grandparent must have been born circa 1840 or so ...... 
Some things never change!

'L'Homme Qui Marche' .... keep on walking!

Why would I need to fritter £65,000,000 on a Giacometti sculpture when I already have a FAR better  though very similar figure made for me as a birthday present by our clever grandson, Max!

My work of art has the lovely title 'Big Hug', and since it took up residence in my kitchen a few months ago, has been much praised by all who have been lucky enough to view it. 

(It looks even more impressive out of doors!)

Max - to me it is priceless!

SPRING IN JANUARY.

We two have just returned from a walk around and about the village posting the Agendas for next week's Memorial Hall Meeting to 10 Committee members.     Down here in Somerset we have been enjoying sunshine all day (unlike most of the rest of the country apparently - and in fact Jenny told me this morning that it was even raining in Sydney today though with a 25 degree temperature), so although a trifle chilly, it was perfect walking weather.

I returned eager to do a quick blog because I was keen to pass on to others our excitement at the unexpected  signs of spring we found,  even though we are right in the middle of winter.   We were really delighted to come across a cheery cluster of primroses flowering beneath a tree, and daffodils in bud - last year at this time daffodils were blooming in profusion everywhere - we had seen the first ones before the old year ended, but this year we have only recently  seen small shoots emerging from the ground.      And many of the trees and bushes, on closer inspection, are beginning to bud.

Once back home I took my camera out into our own garden to see if there were any signs of life, and was so pleased for find  a few shoots of forsythia, the odd blue vinca flower, and several bright yellow spikes of mahonia nestling under the magnolia tree.  Also the standard rosemary bush, a Mothers Day gift 5 years ago, had little blue flowers emerging along its stems (but I made a mess of that photo!). Best of all, a little pot of four snowdrop bulbs which my Mum had planted for me have come into bloom and provide such an uplifting sight just outside our bedroom window (it's at last light enough to see them by 7.30a.m.!).  Once their flowers are over Mum wants us to plant them in the garden whilst still 'in the green', so they should provide a winter treat for years to come.

It may be January, but spring definitely seems to be in the air - as we ate an orange and banana each on getting back indoors (we'd usually opt for the cake tin, but are trying, spasmodically to cut down a little after our Christmas excesses) - we were intrigued to watch two squirrels playing along the length of fence separating the paddock from the rhyne.     They appeared to be courting, one of them cavorting along for a distance, waiting for the other to catch up, and then playfully springing off again - though never moving very far out of reach.   We were very aware of much birdsong today too, as if the sunshine and blue skies after all the winter's snow are already turning their fancy to thoughts of love.

I do hope this 'Rustle of Spring' provides a little bit of hope to set against all the dreary news in our Sunday papers today.