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Digging in the Dirt

24/9/2023

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Above:  A squash or possibly a pumpkin!
These cucurbit seem to morph into each other. Cucurbits include courgettes, melons and cucumbers.  I've never grown these before, nor cooked any but welcomed the seedling originally proffered by a neighbour.
It has been a horrible three weeks.  I have been incredibly stressed and generally wound-up and unhappy.  This is predominantly because of my main job.  I shan’t write any details because it would not be professional or diplomatic, but needless to say, and with an eye on keeping my sanity as much as my general health in the mid-term, I have even approached people about citing them as referees if I should come across any vacancies that I feel might be sufferable…(!).  BUT, that’s the thing, I don’t seem to be particularly enamoured with anything! Or is it a case of I really can’t be bothered?  Perhaps this is the problem? It is somewhat a vicious circle (grrr…) feeling unhappy and disillusioned creates an apathy, which in turn creates dissatisfaction and lack of enthusiasm, which in turn…. Ad finitum.
It makes me smile when I hear people say that they would be bored if they had to retire; I have PLENTY to keep me occupied and cannot wait to finish work so I can get on to do the things that  enjoy. Whilst my job is certainly not dull or very demanding, working absolutely gets in the way of those things that are preferable!

Actually, I haven’t heard many people say they don’t want to retire, it’s more that to afford to do so would be unviable and then one couldn’t do a number of those things we dream about anyway. Hey ho.  So, it’s down to balancing it all out, isn’t it?
​
On a practical and logistic note, there have also been a catalogue of irritations – and mainly expensive ones recently too.  First off there has been the cracked-tooth-looks-like-a-witch scenario- which is now fixed (as of Thursday) at the cost of just under £1000 . Gulp! On top of that, both of our cars had MOTs… and the extra ‘bits’ like windscreen-wipers, tyre treads, balancing-whatchamacallits and a standard service (on my car) costing an additional £500 or thereabouts.  And on top of that, last weekend whilst at the supermarket, a car backed into mine…. and then drove off!!  Initially it seemed to be a small bump but on getting home  and opening the boot it transpired that the latch has been damaged and subsequently doesn’t do its job (i.e. latch).  Because the car is quite old the garage cannot source a new lock mechanism and that means we will have to see if there is anything available via ebay or second-hand websites.  It’s not a difficult job – says Paul because he will do it, not me! (ha! can you imagine!?) – but it is an irritation.  Also, it’s so disappointing that the person just drove off and couldn’t ‘own up’.  This is half of the problem with work to be honest, in the past year or so I just don’t want to deal much with ‘other people’…. and that’s not really a very good outlook on life, is it?

Oh – and on top of that, I had a puncture yesterday too…. in a different car-park!  You couldn’t make it up could you?

It's a good thing, therefore, after an expensive few weeks that this little household doesn’t particularly focus on having ‘stuff’ (there’s nowhere to put it anyway!) and as we usually lurch from one month to another, we are not overly panicked. It’ll all come out in the wash, as they say.

Who are ‘they’ though?

Also, where have all these references to “back in the day” come from?  It appears to be “phrase du jour”  - repeated on the radio, TV, social media, general conversations…
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Maybe people always said these phrases  - or is it that I am only hearing them now that I’m officially middle-aged?  It’s all very disconcerting.
So having waffled on far too much already, you’ll be pleased to hear that as often as possible, it has been a case of “When the going gets tough, the tough go to the garden”[anon] and it is there that I have sought therapeutic solace!

It’s been a weird month or so though, hasn’t it?  Three weeks ago it was 30+ degrees, followed by torrential rain and wind and then, over the past few days, autumn is bedding in.  I’m generally confused, and so are my plants!

I continue to have success with produce from the veg patch and in greenhouse No2, but some plants just couldn’t cope with the cold snap in the Spring and then the very hot period in June. Blossom was devastated on the apple trees, for example, as we have had hardly any fruit this year.  The peas were disappointing (and I love fresh peas from the pod) and even some of the herbs (parsley, coriander, basil) have either bolted or have been somewhat ‘reticent’.  Whilst I also sowed carrots and various green-leaf vegetables, the weird up-and-down weather wasn’t helpful and very few seedlings survived. 
However, let’s focus on the abundance that has been harvested…. Here goes:
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  • Tomatoes: fabulous – two varieties and akin to picking sweets off a vine,
  • Cucumbers: two or three varieties, with some cucumbers so well hidden behind their wide, rough and scratchy leaves, that they grew to be rather large as well as prolific – but good for gazpacho and smoothies),
  • French beans: these were incredibly prolific and very crunchy, perfect in stir-fries or raw in salads, but done and dusted by mid-July,
  • Beetroot: pretty good roasted, pickled, souped…. Lots about!
  • Runner beans:  still growing, still tender and still particularly tasty,
  • Sweetcorn: as above.  Even better when picked and cooked within half-an-hour because (apparently) the sugars have not yet had chance to turn into starch,
  • Peppers: as above, and for the first time ever, there are plenty on each plant and some of them are even ripening to red!  
Remember: 
"You can bury a lot of troubles digging in the dirt.” (Anon)
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Bill Bailey and Winston's Wish

13/9/2023

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Of course, we haven't been anywhere or done anything for weeks and then the last ten days have been full-on!  So, on Wednesday Paul and I saw the comedian [and musician] Bill Bailey at The Centaur at Cheltenham Racecourse.  It was a charity gig for Winston'ss Wish which is based in Cheltenham:"Winston’s Wish is a charity that helps children, teenagers and young adults find their feet when their worlds are turned upside down by grief".
We have seen BB live twice before (in Oz) and he is excellent - very funny and very clever!

This is from the charity's website:

We are delighted that beloved British comedian, actor, writer and Strictly icon Bill Bailey will be performing exclusively for Winston’s Wish.
  
 
 Bringing his musical virtuosity, surreal tangents and trademark intelligence, Bill will perform at The Centaur, Cheltenham on Wednesday 13th September with the aim of raising funds to help us ensure no child or young person has to face the devastation of grief alone.  

 Paul Moore, Director of Fundraising & Marketing for Winston’s Wish said: “We are delighted that Bill has chosen to continue his support in such an incredible way, not only raising vital funds but also helping us to raise awareness of our work so that we have an even greater chance of reaching the thousands of grieving children and young people who are still sadly unaware of the support available to them from Winston’s Wish. 
​

Mr Moore added “Thanks to Bill’s generosity, we have an opportunity to raise awareness while he brings laughter and joy to his audience. So many young grieving people feel like they’re never going to smile, let alone laugh again. This is an important reminder that even in the darkest of moments, there is hope and we’re incredibly grateful to get to work alongside him and his team on this special event.” 
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Very Local Cotswold Attractions

10/9/2023

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See:

​www.northcotswoldsteamshow.co.uk/
This morning, we enjoyed a couple of hours wandering around The North Cotswold Steam and Vintage Show at the Notgrove estate on the way to Bourton-on-the-Water.  A perfection landscape for such an event. 

​Paul reminisced about the annual shows he used to attend with his Dad in Hampshire in the '70s... and we treated ourselves to freshly cooked ring-donuts too.  Very retro.

​What's not to like?!

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Cycling - Tour of Britain

10/9/2023

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Yesterday the Tour of Britain passed through Winchcombe as part of stage seven, Tewkesbury - Gloucester (see:  Race of Britain ).  It was incredibly hot and the majority of us were struggling with heat of 30+ degrees and high humidity....  surely not suitable weather for lycra-clad men on bikes - but hey!?  Still the occasion did register and I staggered down from the shade in the garden to take a couple of  photos as they whizzed past.... it was over and done with in seconds - literally!

Mum was able to get a bird's eye view from her new home as the cyclists started from Church Street and The Cross (photo left) in Tewkesbury.  
Leaving Winchcombe the cyclists rode up what the BBC and other websites called Winchcombe Hill but is an actual fact called Sudeley Hill (get it right!) and this is a Category 2 climb.

​There are five grades of category climbs in cycling, but there are no hard and fast rules defining them. The easiest category is 5 and gets tougher until reaching number one.  Apparently, races like the Tour de France have King of the Mountain points linked to different category grades.  As you can tell, I’m not particularly bothered about the nuts and bolts of it all!  However, having said that, Sudeley Hill is Category 2 and according to an cycling enthusiast’s website:

“Category 2 climbs will get you seriously out of puff.  They’re usually among the biggest climbs outside of the mountainous terrain of the Alps of the Pyrenees – though you’ll find plenty of Category 2 climbs there as well. A short Category 2 climb could be 5 km at 8%, while a longer one could average 4% for 15 km or more”. 

OR “A category 2 hill in cycling is a climb that is usually longer than 5 km and has a gradient of around 5% to 7%”.
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Yep… a good indication that Winchcombe is definitely nestled in a valley within the Cotswold Hills!!

See the BBC link for an excellent picture of Winchcombe's Gloucester Street:


www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-gloucestershire-66764741


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The view from the steps of the cottage.
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The leaders after cycling down Cleeve Hill and entering Winchcombe.
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Pizza Night

10/9/2023

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It might have been 30 degrees and humid but that wasn't as hot as a neighbour's new pizza-oven that we christened yesterday! 

Fun and games as three of us took instruction from a YouTube video on how to prepare the dough ball into a thin pizza base - following four stages entitled:  Finger Press, The DJ Deck, The Steering Wheel and The Parachute.
See: 
Top 10 Tips for the Perfect Pizza Launch Into Your Pizza Oven - Bing video

Lots of toppings - homegrown tomato paste, artichoke hearts, spring onion, bacon, ham, mozzarella, truffle and artichoke condiment-oil (whatever - posh though!), peppers, mushrooms, parmesan,...and more that I cannot recall! 

We struggled with getting a very thin and crispy base and were uncertain of the temperature of the oven itself - but for a first attempt the five pizzas created were absolutely YUMMY!!
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Hectic!

8/9/2023

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Maureen and I by the river in Stratford-upon-Avon (see down the page for details)
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Well, it has been a bit manic over the past fortnight  and, in actual fact, I'll need another holiday to recover after the upcoming week too!
These are some of the activities that have been going on:
  • House(s) Move
  • School Move – new building for classrooms and Office (ongoing)
  • Start of new academic year (nightmare)
  • Emergency / aka expensive,  dental treatment(s)
But some nice stuff too….
  • Wedding attendance
  • Meeting up with friends – local and international
It’s that adage, isn’t it?  Everything happens at once and ‘ask a busy person’….!
​So, it’s all very complicated and I can’t remember who I have told but, suffice to say, my Mum has sold her house and she and my nieces have moved into another place in Tewkesbury. It is only about 500 yards down the road, and it is VERY old – parts of it are grade 1 listed and I think the whole house is grade 2 listed.  The house is listed on the web and is fairly significant in the history of Tewkesbury and a number of local movers-and-shakers – including a chap called Thomas Collins, who was one of our distant relatives and was also mayor of Tewkesbury at some point – but I need to check about putting more details on this Blog because there is a consideration of a certain amount of personal privacy.  

Anyway, it is absolutely ancient and enormously enormous.... I call it Hogwarts!

​It has that many staircases and I think there are five floors – including the attic.  I’m not sure, but there could be nine potential bedrooms and various ‘lounges’.  GULP!  The purchase was more complicated than usual insofar as the ground floor and cellar were purchased by A N OTHER as they are retail premises – so some of the legal paperwork had to be amended from commercial to domestic usage and vice versa.  

The move had been happening over a few weeks but the final push was a fairly intensive two days, and then I was involved in a unexpected move at work as well!  The new school building was [mainly] finished ahead of time and it was agreed that to get the two new classrooms set up for start of term on Tuesday 5th September – much more beneficial for the new starters in Reception class and the other young year groups (1,2 and 3).  So all staff (and family members and friends) turned up over the days prior to the first week of term and moved  in and set-up as much as possible.  It is an ongoing project (and has been, as you know, since December 2022).  My new office is also in the new building and I found out a day or so ago that the electricity will be cut off to my shed this week, so I have to move too!  Short notice, naturally, and of course the IT guys are not available for at least another week.  I also have to purchase a new desk and various items of furniture… or nothing will be happening!  Hmm… not that it isn’t busy and stressful enough at the moment with the hysteria of a new academic year…. But hey!|?

I am trying to convince and remind myself at regular intervals that there is only so much I can do and ultimately, I have limited authority and am employed on a part-time (30 hours per week) contract, and paid accordingly. 

The next point:  The beginning of the academic year…. well, that is so horrendous that I shan’t say anymore! And the emergency dental treatment involves cast and caps and a couple of appointments over the next month and is costing £900 – but that is much better that the potential £2-3K that was originally mooted.  Oh well, it’s only money. 
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Lou and I glammed up for our old school friend's wedding
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Helping with the flowers!
However, on the nice side of busyness….
I helped (using the term loosely) in the preparation of table flowers vases and flowers ‘swags’ for a friend’s wedding, and obviously attended too.  It was a beautiful occasion and not a bad location too! (see photos).
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I also met up with an Australian friend from Adelaide.   In actual fact, Maureen was the HR manager at an not-for-profit organisation in the city and she gave me my first job in Australia!  It was lovely to catch up with her, her partner and {British] cousin and his son.  We met in Stratford-upon-Avon as they were doing a combination of Cotswolds towns and sights, and really enjoyed seeing each other and catching-up with all the news and events of the past few years!

It has also been nice to meet up with local friends too…. I don’t understand why it takes weeks and weeks sometimes when we only live within a few miles of each other!  This evening a few of immediate neighbours are meeting to try out a neighbour/friend’s new outside pizza oven.  Should be interesting - and hopefully tasty too!
On another plus side Waitrose has had a really brilliant offer on whereby when buying six bottles of wine  there is a 25% discount  - what a bonus! So, we naturally purchased a few of our favourite wines – from Australia –  including two varieties from Tempus Two. Check it out – it is lovely wine and has certainly helped over recent weeks!
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The Fleece Inn (a National Trust property) - and wedding venue.
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The Barn - at The Fleece.
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Wonky Toms

19/8/2023

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According to the RHS website “Tomato blight is a disease that attacks the foliage and fruit of tomatoes, causing rotting. It is most common in warm, wet weather, causing collapse and decay”.

I think that some of my tomato plants have suffered with blight.  I have three different varieties in GH2 and it is “the wonky ones” that have been affected thus far.  The other varieties (Gardener's Delight and A N OTHER)  are healthy and ripening in abundance – and taste marvellously sweet and succulently earthy.


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Summer?

14/8/2023

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So, what has happened to the summer?

​Obviously being fortunate enough to visit Greece we were lulled into a sense of false security.  Therefore, I have not been impressed with having to put on woolly socks a couple of evenings recently… and then the next day it is 25 degrees.  The whole world is going mad and out-of-control.


Actually, whilst away, although I did look at the news headline and the weather reports, it was noticeable how the incessant updates create – for me – a real feeling of doom-and-gloom.  Whilst it is probably best to have some idea of what is going on in the world, I think I am going to avoid it as much as possible! 

​On the day we returned from Kefalonia I attended an online ‘counselling’ session run by the NHS.  My doctor directed me to the service because the last few months, as you know, have proven to be rather “challenging”.  There are various easy-to-use, standard questionnaires / assessments that can be used as a springboard for treatment:
  • Patient Health Questionnaires PHQ-9  measures response to treatment and the severity of DEPRESSION [result = moderately severe symptoms]
  • Generalised Anxiety Disorders GAD-7 measures levels of ANXIETY. [result = severe symptoms]
I also did a WSAS assessment – which is a Work and Social Adjustment Scale which indicated “significant functional impairment but less severe clinical symptomatology”. Basically, implying that work has been making me feel rather unwell!

The weekly sessions that I am attending are via Let's Talk 2gether. (click on the link) but funnily enough - there is no talking from the patients whatsoever!  The professionals present different topics and practices as well as exercises and homework, and then all other communication is via the bubble-chat [type] options.  I just think that it's quite funny to call it 'Let's Talk'.

Hmmm… but food for thought nevertheless!

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Gnawing

13/8/2023

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It all happens at once, doesn’t it?   

So twice this week I ended up having emergency visits to a local dentist – made more complicated because my regular surgery is currently closed because of bureaucratic issues with registration but thankfully emergency rates had been negotiated for visiting patients! 

​Phew. 
 

Anyway, the big tooth at the front on the left (central anterior / incisor) basically started wobbling after I bit into a bread roll!  I could feel it crack or 'shear' and, after panicking, immediately made an appointment.  It was enough to make me very concerned especially as just two days later I was going to a wedding and really didn't want to look like the Wicked Witch off the West!
 
So, the dentist
 
  • Inspected tooth,
  • Removed the sheared off tooth (it was the whole square bit!) - which also had come away from the gum, and talked about the buccle and occlusal elements…
  • Suggested that it had been a hairline crack. 
  • Took an x-ray.
  • Cemented the tooth back on as a temporary measure - but emphasised it might only last days or weeks - or if lucky - a month or so.

It was suggested  that I might have to have:
  • an implant and crown, or
  • a bridge, or
  • a false tooth
Hmm - none of which is going to cheap – quotes online range from £1400 to £3600.  I am with a private practice anyway (as are most of us nowadays in the UK) but fortunately they are realistic as to financial restraints! 

Update (24/08/23): I have a THIRD 'rescue' appointment tomorrow... and it seems that any proper or permanent treatment cannot even commence until mid-October.  This is interesting, is it not, when this is a private i.e. paid for service, and there is still a long waiting game.  And there is such hoo-ha about any NHS waiting times?

Good grief!!  
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Retrospectively

12/8/2023

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I tried to update the website whilst on holiday but it proved to be far too frustrating with slow WiFi, using Apps and my general impatience and incompetence.  As it was, there wasn't much to report as we literally didn't do anything!  It was very hot and therefore even venturing out was to be avoided at certain times of the day - we only made it "up the hill" to the village shop once!  So it was a true holiday for reading, dozing, eating and drinking.

Whilst away we realised that it was our twenty-year anniversary of being together as a couple (29th July) and we therefore treated ourselves to a night out at "the posh restaurant" and even to a good bottle of local wine.  Fabulous!

Have a look at the website:  Kefalonia Restaurants | Lorraines Magic Hill Lourdas Restaurant Kefalonia (lorrainesrestaurant.gr)
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Kefalonia - July 23rd, 2023

26/7/2023

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​Now that I've worked out (vaguely) how to edit via an App on the Kindle, I thought a brief retrospective look at the past few months might explain recent reticence!
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Since the last proper update most of June and into July was quite a trial. To say that work / school was particularly busy and stressful is to be generous and on more than a couple of occasions I seriously considered alternative plans.  However, I'm not going to dredge all of that up because it's been and gone, and I can't be bothered.

​Moreover, most of June I felt absolutely dreadful, health wise. If you remember, we enjoyed a good run of decent weather and the temperatures did get high (for the UK)?
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Paul always says that I'm  'solar powered' and certainly I do enjoy the summer. However, the quick change in the mercury readings had an enormous  impact on me insofar as all my blood sugar readings were out of control and I experienced a number of hypos.  This was a new experience - and not a good one!  I learned that the 'alarm' BGL reading for diabetics is 4 and that's when it's time to immediately eat sugars and / or carbohydrates. Unfortunately I experienced a few readings of 2.8 (!) and there abouts and felt really unwell. It was actually very scary.... especially the first time as I'd never experienced it before. It is not a pleasant sensation that's for sure. 

Subsequently, I had numerous medica! appointments with both my doctor and Diabetic nurse; both face-to-face and phone slots. Actually, the week that I'm back from holiday I think there are two more appointments already set up.  However, I will be able report a steady and controlled set of readings  - due to the fact that I have to reduce the daily insulin  injection to counter balance, main!y, against any increase in the heat and risk of dehydration.  It all seems to be a bit random, in truth, but must be working (by lowering the insulin dosages by between 10 and 12 units over the past month or so) as things appear to be levelled out and I've not suffered that terrible BGL drop since.  

I know realise how important it is to ensure at least a small portion of carbohydrates at regular intervals as well as having emergency glucose to hand. Who'd 've thought 'eh?!
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Colours of Kefalonia

24/7/2023

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We are sitting in the shade of the  apartment terrace listening to noisy cicadas, the humming of air conditioning units and the gentle lap of the waves in the distance. It's all terribly hard work when it's already 33 degrees at 10.30am! As the temperatures are very high and I've already read two books in as many days I've given in and fired up the Kindle and this Weebly site (for editing). It's not the best or most intuitive App so I'm not holding my breath. Bear with....
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Various Colours of Hollyhocks

2/7/2023

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Colours!

17/6/2023

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Portrait Feature

11/6/2023

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Some may think that I am sadly inept with the various features of my phone (whereas I don't want my life ruled by it) but recently I was suitably impressed to stumble across a 'portrait' feature in the camera which automatically created some nicely differently focussed images.  I am sure I will have a better 'play' over the next few weeks.  What's not to like?!
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Anniversary - 18th

4/6/2023

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Showing Off! Lupin-tastic!!

4/6/2023

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Below - for comparison - this was what we came home to in 2017:
Did you know....

Anthophilous derives from the Greek word anthos, which means “flower” and as an adjective refers to “feeding upon or living among flowers”.  Thus, a  lover of flowers is called an Anthophile.


To repeat myself,  I wander ‘the grounds’ several times a day exclaiming at the vision of particular plants and congratulating vegetables on their progress! The problem is as soon as I plant it in the ground I always forget what they are!  I do label them and make notes but nothing sticks!

It is looking particularly fabulous at the moment –and here are a few images of all my hard work!
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Showborough House & Garden Sculpture Exhibition

1/6/2023

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“Showborough House has hosted an Affordable Garden Art Exhibition since 2008. It is a non-profit venture that aims to make garden sculpture as accessible and affordable as possible to visitors, and to offer an opportunity to exhibit to artists of all backgrounds.”

See: Showborough House
 
Sculptural works are in a range of media, including stone, wood, metal, glass, bronze, resin, ceramic and reclaimed materials.  The pieces are exhibited within a 1½ acre garden of a traditional English style, on a domestic scale with ‘interconnecting rooms’.
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Seeds to Sow Now!

30/5/2023

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Vegetables:
Beans (all types)
Beetroot
Chinese Cabbage (Pak Choi)
Carrot
Cauliflower
Chard (Swiss Chard)
Cucumber
Kohl Rabi
Lettuce
Peas
Pumpkin
Radish
Rocket (Arugula)
Spinach
Spring Onion
Swede
Flowers:
Candytuft
Canterbury Bells
Carnation
Catmint
Clarkia
Cleome
Coleus
Cornflower
Cosmos
Delphinium
Digitalis
Forget Me Not
Fox Glove
Larkspur
Limnanthes (Poached Egg)
Linaria

​EXCELLENT COMPANION PLANTS:

​Dwarf Marigolds make good edging plants that may deter rabbits and some varieties are known for their ability to starve out root-knot nematodes when planted the year before and macerated and then ploughed into the soil where the chemicals that affect the nematodes are then released.  Nasturtiums sprawl out over the ground, so they suppress weeds and shade the soil when grown near tall plants like sweet corn, tomatoes or sunflowers.  Zinnia are tall, single-flowered varieties which attract butterflies look nice grown with dill, fennel and cosmos. Bergamot, Hyssop, Catnip, Lemon Balm, Lavender, Marjoram (Oregano), Mint, Salvia, Savoury, Thyme… are all part of the Lamiaceae family and have a flower structure that can be accessed by a wide range of insects, including small bees. Insects need only a short tongue to reach the nectar and pollen hidden inside the two-lipped blossoms. 

Feverfew repels insects of all nature, so it is a good plant to grow near entryways – and anywhere really!


Opposite:  Our Adoptive Cat[mint] - Colin!
​Lupin
Mirabilis
Nasturtium
Nemesia
Nicotiana
Nigella (Love In A Mist)
Pansy
Pansy
Poppy
Salvia
Stocks
Sunflowers
Viola
Wallflower
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CHARINGWORTH COURT, Winchcombe

28/5/2023

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Part of the NGS Open Garden Scheme and open to the public on certain weekends during spring and summer 2023. 

Artistically and lovingly created 1½ acre garden surrounding a restored Georgian / Tudor house.  Relaxed country style with Japanese influences, large pond, sculpture and walled vegetable/flower garden, created over 25 years from a blank canvas. Mature copper beech trees, Cedar of Lebanon and Wellingtonia”.

​Heritage Category: Grade: II Listed Building.  Large, detached house. c.1820 but with 16th / 17th century rear wing and 19th and 20th century alterations and additions.​
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Motoring...

14/5/2023

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Prescott Speed Hill Climb is apparently the place to be for motorsport in the Cotswolds and is just a few miles from Winchcombe.  As such, then, it is embarrassing that it took the imminent arrival of friends visiting from Germany for Paul and I to organise tickets to eventually attend an event there! 

See:  Prescott Speed Hill Climb 

Prescott Hill Climb is the home of the Bugatti Owners Club and was established in 1938 –“the Bugatti Owner’s Club was already running hill climbs on various dusty loose-surfaced courses in the south of England since 1931. It was about 1936 when it was agreed that the Club really needed to have its own course.”  Prescott was the first purpose-built speed event venue to come on stream since the sport on public roads was outlawed some fourteen years before.

Classics at Prescott, Sun, 15 May:  Classic Car enthusiasts displayed their vehicles in ”the Orchard” and “Paddocks” and, in addition, there was also the opportunity for these drivers to take part in a “gentle Cavalcade …. up the Hill allowing the public to see the display of Classic Cars in motion”.

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Wild Gardening (1)

7/5/2023

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And in reality, there are lots of weeds in my garden too!  
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Kings, Crowns and Degrees of Separation

6/5/2023

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The children at school created portrait bunting for their Coronation Picnic
Hopefully you will find this amusing as well as topical.  Today is the Coronation of King Charles III - not that anyone in the world could avoid this momentous events - and unsurprisingly the school where I work has been preparing with great excitement for a few weeks. 

However, a week ago we received the dreaded OFSTED phone call and hysteria kicked in and the dust was cloud-like!

As part of the tick-box process the Governors are invited to attend, and some interviewed, by the inspectors.  As I am also Clerk to the Governors, I received the following response to this request which just made me smile!

"I am so sorry to miss this. I have to be at the Palace tomorrow afternoon to swear in the new Lord Chancellor."

See
:  List of Business
That 's Buckingham Palace he is referring to - because one of 'my' governors is Clerk to the Privy Council and is a big-cheese with all of the comings and goings of royalty and parliamentary protocol.  He is the person who officially announced, to the world, the new King when Queen Elizabeth passed away - before Rt Hon Penny Mordaunt read the official  wording.

Have a look at:  Cabinet Office
He is the most unassuming man and must find my questions and  enthusiasm quite irritating!  However, I did find out that today he has to be part of the proceedings from 7.30am and cannot leave until 1.30pm and "that's a long time to wait if you need to go for a wee".  He only has to wear a morning suit and not all the regalia (cloaks and funny hats and suchlike) but does have to wear his gong" (the Order or Medal of CVO - Commander of the Victoria Order).

Suffice to say, I think I was more excited about it than he was!  
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Magical Harry Potter

22/4/2023

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Ford Anglia 105E ‘Flying Car’
Celebrating Lou's birthday we booked a tour at the Warner Brothers Studio  (Leavesden) to experience Harry Potter World. I loved it!!

Lou and I have been visiting places and doing things together [some a bit mad and not to be dwelled upon] for 42 years. That's a scary number isn't it?  However, I like to think that we are still enjoying these events and "creating memories" as much as when we were eleven years old!

Certainly, Lou's daughter (our
 trip organiser and chauffeur for the  day) was very patient waiting for us to have our turn in the Flying Car!
​In real life, the National Motor Museum reports:  "Ford’s new Anglia model was overshadowed by the Mini when it was launched at the 1959 Motor Show but went on to be a sales success with over a million of the 105E and more powerful 123E being built before production ended in 1967. In 1963 the production line was moved from Dagenham to a new factory at Halewood on Merseyside.
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This Anglia was used during the filming of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. It was stolen in 2005 but was later recovered after being dumped by the thieves probably due to the media interest surrounding the car."
Hot Cars
​
​National Motor Museum
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Capability Brown on the Door-Step

14/4/2023

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CROOME COURT (Croome D’Abitot) is a National Trust property in Worcestershire.  Paul and I visited in mid-April  - not the most cheerful of days weatherwise, but the mansion and grounds are stunning.  We probably did justice to only about a half of it and intend to return  - especially to explore the walled garden which although privately owned and therefore demands a separate entrance fee, is a key part of Croome’s landscape designed by ‘Capability’ Brown. 

Embarrassingly, as I was brought up in Worcestershire, my knowledge of local history is rather scant so it was a surprise to learn that Croome had such an important and distinctive impact
 
Earls are third highest rank within the UK’s  (convoluted) peerage system– after Duke and Marquess. However, Earl is the oldest title and was the highest until the dukedom was first created in 1337, with Scandinavian origins and first appearing in England during the reign of Canute (1016–35).

A brief background is that the current earldom of Coventry was created in 1697, in favour of Thomas Coventry, 5th Baron Coventry.  The Coventry family descends from John Coventry who served as Lord Mayor of London in 1426. His descendant Sir Thomas Coventry (born 1547)  was a noted early 17th-century lawyer and politician. He purchased Croome D'Abitôt in 1592. 
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He served as Solicitor General, as Attorney General and as Lord Keeper of the Great Seal. In 1628 he was raised to the Peerage of England as Baron Coventry, of Aylesborough in the County of Worcester. He was succeeded by his son from his first marriage, the second Baron. He represented Droitwich and Worcester in the House of Commons.


Check out the history of Croome and particularly that of the 6th Earl of Coventry; he was a flamboyant and forward-thinking character - "an 18th century trend setter and big spender” - for example,  the equivalent of £35 million was spent transforming Croome! 

SEE:  Overview of Croome | Worcestershire | National Trust

So, in 1751, George William Coventry, the 6th Earl of Coventry, inherited the Croome estate and commissioned Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown, to redesign the house and its parkland. Croome was ‘Capability’ Brown’s first large-scale commission and is often described as his 'first and favourite child'. 

Brown remodelled Croome Court into the fashionable Palladian style, and the formal gardens were dug up and, in their place, the creation of a natural looking parkland.  “Brown created elaborate illusions in his new landscape – the river was designed to appear as if it drifted off into the distance around a corner, but in fact abruptly came to an end behind some cleverly planted trees and shrubs”.

Capability Brown and the Earl became firm friends and there is a memorial to Brown after his death in 1793 which reads: “To the Memory of Lancelot Brown - Who by the powers of his inimitable and creative genius formed this garden scene out of a morass”.
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