It's Kate's birthday today (26th) and she would have been celebrating her 49th.  
It's Dad's birthday tomorrow (27th).

As a family we have always had a penchant for  holding birthdays, celebrations, significant occasions, insignificant occasions, any-old-excuse-catch-ups at our favourite place - The River Avon Chinese Restaurant in Evesham (left).

I miss Kate terribly.  Lots of love. xx

" Patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel" said Dr Samuel Johnson, and I thought this was rather apt in light of the recent events over the Pond!

Dr Samuel Johnson (1709 – 84) was an English author, poet, moralist and literary critic.  He made a living writing for the Gentleman’s Magazine – a report on Parliament, and The Idler (103 essays) published in the London weekly the Universal Chronicle between 1758 and 1760.   
 
He was rather an influential journalist and ‘thinker’ - other significant publications included The Plays of William Shakespeare, Lives of the Most Eminent English Poets (1779–81) and The Dictionary of the English Language (1747).

Food for thought.

The Proof is in the Pudding.
This expression was first used in early 14th century, but over time it has been edited from the full phrase “the proof of the pudding is in the eating”. Either which way, it means that the best way to find out if something is good or successful is to test it yourself.
​
Hence, today, I actually followed some of my own advice regarding Jobs to do in January.   I even washed down some of the greenhouse windows (in very cold water from the water butt) to rid them of a green sheen of mould or mildew that has appeared recently.  This in itself seems little odd as apparently the fungal spores become more prolific in humid conditions and well, it hasn’t been particularly warm in this neck of the woods recently!  However, a number of my plants do seem to exhibit signs of powdery mildew – particularly the geraniums – and by recollection has been apparent on other plants in the past growing season. 

So, I shall have to do some more research but initially cleaning the greenhouse is key, along with maintaining the moisture level, without raising the humidity around the plants too high and to allow ample air circulation around the plants.

Easy as….!?

There seemed to be a theme to many of the gifts I received at Christmas, including bamboo plant markers, a personalised greenhouse sign, a Grow Your Own Mushrooms kit, a waxed gardening apron and, of course, the Posh Wellies (both modelled here!).

​In order to be a good citizen by following the rules of Tier 4 - that is, stay at home and avoid people - I have found it to be a perfect opportunity to don my new posh wellies and throw myself energetically into all of those specific gardening jobs for January...

​Well, "energetically" is a bit of a reach, but you get the general gist!