Hellebores Sprout Flowers

I must apologise but it almost seems a distant memory the last time I wrote a post on this blog. The end of January and we are already in the third week of February.

My schedule is at the point now that I will probably have to reduce my posts to twice a month because I am just not around enough.

In January with the dark mornings and the short days, if I miss most of the weekend due to the rain I don’t actually see the garden or wildlife, apart from a haze of dampness outside. As that is really supposed to be the focus of this blog, it rather works against me somewhat.

Anyway enough of the excuses, this week we actually had a day at the weekend that was pleasant.

Blue skies, cold and very exhilarating. We decided to venture out to the Bishops Palace gardens in Wells. It is a favourite spot full of every type of plant. It is fantastic to see plants that have really been looked after properly.

Rows of neat pruned bushes with buds bursting to taste the sweetness of Spring.

I even had some pictures to go along with the experience. Views from all angles of the garden that will soon become overgrown once more, feeding on the nectar that the sun provides in a nice sheltered environment.

But that was before disaster struck.

Today I stepped out of a taxi in London, paid the driver and then watched him drive away with my phone on the back seat. I realised just about the time that his number plate was just out of my vision. I dashed after him but couldn’t catch him.

As all the cabs are black in London and I paid in cash I had no idea who he was.

He was pleasant and courteous and so I am sure he would hand my phone in if he saw it, but it has not turned up.

It is amazing how you feel when this happens. It is almost like you have lost a limb. Suddenly I was searching for a public phone. They no longer exist in London I can tell you. But everyone remembers the public phone that has actually now been demolished so I was directed on various wild goose chases until finally I admitted defeat.

However, what really did impress me were the people who would help me that I had never met. I went into the Royal Exchange Building and the doorman offered me his phone immediately. I went into a restaurant and the same thing happened with the chef.

Each time I phoned my number and it rang but with no answer.

Finally, I found an Argos store. In the city an Argos store is a door, a desk and a catalogue book – nothing more. But amazingly I could buy a phone for £12 and a sim card for £1 and then I was back on-line. All I needed now was the numbers of those who I needed to call.

An iPad is a wonderful thing. Especially when it has synced with your phone. I didn’t really appreciate this enough until today.

All my numbers were there. So, I managed to do the telephone conferences I had set-up and still made the meeting I had planned.

But sadly, for this blog – the pictures did not sync. They were supposed to, but they need to be accessed after they have been taken to trigger them to do so, and they obviously haven’t been so the collection of Spring plants has gone – for now.

Unfortunately, someone has turned my phone off so I cannot track it. I have probably seen the last of it. I am sure they could get £30 for it second hand from some unscrupulous dealer or other. It is insured, but I now have to go through the pain of trying to claim.

Sedums Pop Up

Thankfully, I did manage to get a couple of photos last weekend in our garden.

The buds are poking up through the debris on the soil and some of the irises are even out in full flower – thank you Janet. (Those pictures were lost too - but more next week).

It is reassuring to see so many of the bulbs launching themselves towards the sky. Year after year they come back and delight us with their dazzling colours.

The appearance of the bulbs is an instant reminder that we should have done so much more in the garden than we have this winter. My better half has tried manfully or should that be womanfully, but the weather has been rather **it recently.

The lesson we learned from the Bishops Palace Gardens is be tough. Don’t just cut things back, cut them back hard. We don’t get the sun they get, but it is incredible how low they cut the shrubs and yet they are all 7ft high in three months’ time.

This Mahonia is only a few years old

This week had two special days in succession.

Shrove Tuesday was followed by Valentine’s day.

For the second time in our married life we made pancakes. Not just any pancakes. Nutella and banana pancakes with cream.

I am not supposed to eat Nutella, but the sight of many people fighting over it recently when there was a discount to be had reminded me that it existed.

And it is the best thing to put on pancakes. Chocolate and sugar combined in a way to make me forget all about being diabetic and throw caution to the wind!

The next night was Valentine’s day evening.

You can’t be in a relationship for 30 years and not be expected to perform on Valentine’s day. In our house, our latest craze is darts. Valentine’s day evening and darts do not really go together but we managed.

My recent urge to create a pub in one of our rooms is still with us and we now have a settee to enjoy in there too. But the dart board has taken a bit of a battering as we have both found a game that we can be equally crap at and still enjoy.

Like My Radio This Sort of Works!

The radio has broken in the car this week – (it has not been a good week). The digital DAB has regressed back to FM, and for some reason the FM has decided to play silly **ggers.

But in driving backwards and forwards to Coventry I have heard some good songs.

I was particularly impressed with the 4-45 am slot on Radio 2 which was playing a good collection of rock songs. Probably rather wasted at that time of the morning, but I enjoyed it.

Firstly, something very current with a sound just like Tears for Fears.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNqADIBkovA

And then something that is apparently the first thing you learn on the guitar after house of the rising sun!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0J2QdDbelmY

Finally, one of the classic rock songs of all time and one that everyone wishes they could play!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQmmM_qwG4k

Have a great weekend!

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