tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-65926196804025938602024-03-21T03:39:20.806+00:00Heavenly Healer Glamorous GardenerScarlett Cannon's LifeBlogAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11830511823393150090noreply@blogger.comBlogger531125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6592619680402593860.post-73017610780476915142016-05-06T17:46:00.000+01:002016-05-06T17:46:32.535+01:00Canine & Companions<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Maude and I were absolutely
delighted to be among the subjects of a recent photographic exhibition.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://alldogsmatter.co.uk/canine-companions-exhibition/" target="_blank">‘Canine & Companions - Women and their Dogs’</a>, a collection of beautiful images by dog-whispering photographer
<a href="http://andrewlambphoto.com/" target="_blank">Andrew Lamb</a> was held at Gallery Different in Fitzrovia, but sadly only for three
days at the end of April and all proceeds from sales of prints going to my
favourite charity from where I re-homed Maude, <a href="http://alldogsmatter.co.uk/" target="_blank">All Dogs Matter</a>.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk5FzOLJeX7WLaBlDp4XIa7PmPSIFKynrucqZIgcYdC_xhLWhKtt2zvlYtuzWc_iqpTKKAo5lokUFcy-PlwcuUNzmOGevSASk8SnJr0fc496UCatIREytQ7HLBhLtgQPW_dy7uGZh_qAU/s1600/Andrew+Lamb+and+Maude.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk5FzOLJeX7WLaBlDp4XIa7PmPSIFKynrucqZIgcYdC_xhLWhKtt2zvlYtuzWc_iqpTKKAo5lokUFcy-PlwcuUNzmOGevSASk8SnJr0fc496UCatIREytQ7HLBhLtgQPW_dy7uGZh_qAU/s320/Andrew+Lamb+and+Maude.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Maude with the dog-whisperer Andrew Lamb</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLOnuIDGWr-6AFKb2HnFVRuBEsYOPme-4KgG4JF4yRmTP5u9CrQlX3BIFM1PxloNvzMzLhsxpo1I49r-87wBxBjKObHxuZ5_-Ogk7-J3cbARaDUuBvwURInArI-BEThhWYGANlwEf_KS8/s1600/Jesscia+Bonarius+Pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLOnuIDGWr-6AFKb2HnFVRuBEsYOPme-4KgG4JF4yRmTP5u9CrQlX3BIFM1PxloNvzMzLhsxpo1I49r-87wBxBjKObHxuZ5_-Ogk7-J3cbARaDUuBvwURInArI-BEThhWYGANlwEf_KS8/s640/Jesscia+Bonarius+Pic.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Pic: Jessica Bonarius</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We LOVE our new photographic
portrait. This is a lovely picture of our picture by my young friend Jessica
Bonarius.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And here's one taken
at the private view by new dog-loving pal Amy Hanson, proud dog mother of
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/ernesttheimportanceofbeing/?hl=en" target="_blank">Ernest</a>.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguOdDsMqSHNZxCcQAp7B1nBilahjWcnHOLidWs-EZSHDqYt-y037O1VJXFro0fGJZKVCLDdFLxNjGQO-Ks9GS1pcT6fqVvIt_3D__i5uj8Evwj6p0hfcEH5B3Got2W8CVIMuQaaAlbZ5I/s1600/Amy+Hanson+Pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguOdDsMqSHNZxCcQAp7B1nBilahjWcnHOLidWs-EZSHDqYt-y037O1VJXFro0fGJZKVCLDdFLxNjGQO-Ks9GS1pcT6fqVvIt_3D__i5uj8Evwj6p0hfcEH5B3Got2W8CVIMuQaaAlbZ5I/s400/Amy+Hanson+Pic.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Pic: Amy Hanson</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We hope they sell loads!!</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Love Dogs</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Love Life</span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">XXX</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11830511823393150090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6592619680402593860.post-30976554274573938242016-03-28T17:10:00.000+01:002016-04-15T14:08:19.238+01:00Best In Show<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">You will know from previous
posts how much I love a dog show, especially if it's a charity event. I'm so
proud of my little Maude and how well she has come on over the last 16 months
or so that I want to shout it from the rooftops and a dog show is a rather fun
way of letting everybody else knows how fabulous she is.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN07h7ZyAXzvcdYOadCCgPnmLHCUYHG7DcRXpA9H4pwqlThh1fwQuoemrFnyD_5n2e4cBgnsDcmYOZiSfJ0kfulTTsnSzKQ8CalmGegNYEYStBdct1pigyN-uwrUT9sqEifKYmT6tu4P0/s1600/Maude+Best+in+Show.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN07h7ZyAXzvcdYOadCCgPnmLHCUYHG7DcRXpA9H4pwqlThh1fwQuoemrFnyD_5n2e4cBgnsDcmYOZiSfJ0kfulTTsnSzKQ8CalmGegNYEYStBdct1pigyN-uwrUT9sqEifKYmT6tu4P0/s640/Maude+Best+in+Show.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Maude - fabulous</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I haven't written here for a
while but there is a reason for this. My
laptop may be up and running again though slowly, but sadly I can't say the
same for my body which is letting me down badly, only semi-up and running and
extremely painful and slow. Fibromyalgia
is tedious and in many ways I have had to become the detective of my own health. For a
couple of months not a week went by when I didn't have one medical appointment
or another, all of which would make for rather boring reading. And what am I going
to write? "I'm in pain all the time and it moves
around. Today the pain is in my knees and left torso"... "Today the
pain in my knees has lessened but my feet and hands are killing me"...
"I'm trying to manage horribly painful severe Raynauds which came on suddenly and is doing my head in". Better to stay silent and write nothing. It's all rather grim and I'm still trying to
get my head round my frustration. I continue to be the detective of my own
health. I have to find a way to make things
work.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So it's rather nice to have
something lovely to write about now, and as rather lovely things often do, it
involves my Maude who I entered into <a href="http://www.bargehouse.co.uk/" target="_blank">The Barge House</a> dog show, aptly entitled
<a href="http://www.bargehouse.co.uk/whatson" target="_blank">Best In Show</a> and a charity fundraiser for <a href="http://www.battersea.org.uk/" target="_blank">Battersea Dogs Home</a>, on Easter
Saturday.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Dell had invited us a few weeks
ago as she knows how I like a dog-friendly event with decent music and as she
was DJ for the afternoon I knew we'd get that. I registered Maude online
immediately.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It was a reasonable day for me, which means I
didn't have too much trouble moving first thing in the morning though I did
have to take a Tramadol before we left home.
I liked The Barge House very much and will go again. Situated right on
the canal at <a href="https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/Haggerston,+London+E2/@51.5330311,-0.0881996,14z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0x48761cbf7c2ec08b:0x7df896f43d498072" target="_blank">Haggerston</a> it’s a great venue, with good food and very decent coffee,
and an overall easy-going, laid-back cool vibe. My kind of place.</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg06LB5HNbgpYIgNIzLpoS3ESOP5aJkiwM-g98MME65XiIfOkGj8Q_9AQDUCXzgICcWPLdkX8zgIGX_Ei3ZoGN0jkNyFp5FUcNjtWPoXZuhnqGcqFr-bnbbCPAYCL_Lt1Qt-1sgarCLa4/s1600/Dell+DJ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg06LB5HNbgpYIgNIzLpoS3ESOP5aJkiwM-g98MME65XiIfOkGj8Q_9AQDUCXzgICcWPLdkX8zgIGX_Ei3ZoGN0jkNyFp5FUcNjtWPoXZuhnqGcqFr-bnbbCPAYCL_Lt1Qt-1sgarCLa4/s400/Dell+DJ.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">DJ Dell, lost in music</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The dog show was a laugh and a
half. My friend <a href="http://www.yolandareeves.org/" target="_blank">Yolanda</a> pitched up with her young lurcher Delta who won first
prize for Best Grin, and I was happy to see Kurt and Lottie again, Dell and Jon’s
lovely dogs. I have a soft spot for Kurt.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I entered Maude into Canine
Couture but only because I desperately wanted to win the prize of a bespoke coat
for her. She's between sizes so her coats are all slightly short on her body but
fit round her neck, whereas the next size up which fits her body perfectly is
far too big around her neck. I could do with a bespoke coat that actually fits
perfectly. She came second and won a blue rosette. She's been in a few dog
shows now, mostly charity events for <a href="http://alldogsmatter.co.uk/" target="_blank">All Dogs Matter</a>, but she's never even been
placed. So I was thrilled!</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I also entered her into Most
Wonderful Woofer, which in fact was Best in Show. For me she will always be the
best anyway.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">She won!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUQLLqJtqvHCyyPDFprUhwilf_QZ-Ye90po0I6eg7xfKnop4fWeGEFu1tV1yq3cHlgEWZW9DE3axGTglOFkdTgsHN_7bL_AlILyTUKnT3YyB0cyGVwKNRDwAux-BEEZV-tlHTvKUtWcb8/s1600/Receiving+the+cup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUQLLqJtqvHCyyPDFprUhwilf_QZ-Ye90po0I6eg7xfKnop4fWeGEFu1tV1yq3cHlgEWZW9DE3axGTglOFkdTgsHN_7bL_AlILyTUKnT3YyB0cyGVwKNRDwAux-BEEZV-tlHTvKUtWcb8/s400/Receiving+the+cup.jpg" width="293" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">First prize! Best in Show!</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">She won a full shampoo and groom
which of course I'm absolutely delighted with. I've only recently given her a
fairly short trim so her next groom will be something luxurious to look forward
to. For me anyway, I'm not sure how she will react at the groomers... I think
her only experience of it was when she came out of the dog pound and into the
care of <a href="http://alldogsmatter.co.uk/" target="_blank">ADM</a>... Hmmm, that's something I need to think about. But we have time.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">She also won the cup and a red
rosette. After receiving them and posing for the photographers Maude seemed
more interested in the poodle next to us.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNm1W4SKWdDdxQiEPjQVkfdnWX2fUWit6GWD-X2wH4tr0DILgGWY5-_cameRrddvGtNFKU5s6In_0OagHOXGvEUTIxPj0T9JwNB6ufSr3RxNZZyJVqmp4n0AgcH1C2WKocLYnhd5avukc/s1600/Maude+and+Poodle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNm1W4SKWdDdxQiEPjQVkfdnWX2fUWit6GWD-X2wH4tr0DILgGWY5-_cameRrddvGtNFKU5s6In_0OagHOXGvEUTIxPj0T9JwNB6ufSr3RxNZZyJVqmp4n0AgcH1C2WKocLYnhd5avukc/s400/Maude+and+Poodle.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And when it was all over she
just wanted an after-show cuddle...</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhluohIs5xeKun-V92S6qUqlLLtvW6DfAS1Xyeam5a8-BjHukAzpEZrBB8Ui4mWsFVK_nZdTAoDdg847oL926ZbxYVSohM7GMyQprli5z-qhYC8iwWxHhgaKGbrC8hl036Qs_ZDEeh8PeY/s1600/Aftershow+cuddle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhluohIs5xeKun-V92S6qUqlLLtvW6DfAS1Xyeam5a8-BjHukAzpEZrBB8Ui4mWsFVK_nZdTAoDdg847oL926ZbxYVSohM7GMyQprli5z-qhYC8iwWxHhgaKGbrC8hl036Qs_ZDEeh8PeY/s400/Aftershow+cuddle.jpg" width="258" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4IjKE9gRLreAVSqUYP4YHmt_rK2ASjM_ndGXA-swSIojLIUdWTVby5Ac-7fUojgsoQL-wJ0YEEkLCEQwHTbZEJayLAlKdFzMFkqfLwknTaXEMN5oSRC_r_fJWNe-Y65XOv3pQ15i3jdU/s1600/Aftershow+cuddle+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4IjKE9gRLreAVSqUYP4YHmt_rK2ASjM_ndGXA-swSIojLIUdWTVby5Ac-7fUojgsoQL-wJ0YEEkLCEQwHTbZEJayLAlKdFzMFkqfLwknTaXEMN5oSRC_r_fJWNe-Y65XOv3pQ15i3jdU/s400/Aftershow+cuddle+2.jpg" width="353" /></a></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">...or two.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">All photographs on this post: Dell & Jon</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Love a Dog Show</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Love Life</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">XXX</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11830511823393150090noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6592619680402593860.post-89510692413125236482016-01-28T15:31:00.001+00:002016-01-28T15:31:18.023+00:00Alive Laptop!<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So my laptop is back and working again, though slowly. I won't heap praise on the nice boys who got it going or give them any free advertising because whilst I am fine with the work, and they were nice boys, the customer service was dreadful!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It took almost 4 weeks for them to complete a self-confessed four hours work. I wouldn't have minded if they'd told me when I took it in that they were very busy and it might take almost a month. But because I was told I could probably have it back within a week it was very disappointing to have to wait so long, during which time they didn't call me to let me know what was going on. They couldn't recover my data yet still expected me to pay the top end of their estimate, which was for Data Recovery! This figure had to be negotiated down, given the amount of time it had taken, the lack of telephone communication, the original estimate and, to top it all, that my laptop wasn't ready when I went in to pick it up at the agreed date and time (and yet again no telephone call to let me know this).</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"Can you wait a couple of hours?" was the casual response to my understandable frustration at having dragged myself into the West End on a heaving tube train only having to return again in the even more heaving rush-hour for nothing.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I decided to return the next day instead. Thankfully I telephoned before I left home because my laptop STILL wasn't ready. Lucky for me that I didn't wait a couple of hours the day before then!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Insisting that I take my disks in and load my programs with them before bringing my laptop home, "in case something isn't working", it was further disappointing that the 'low RAM' warning was ignored when loading the voice recognition program, even after I'd pointed it out and asked what it meant, leaving me with a perfectly good laptop that runs very slowly because it needs more RAM.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I telephoned the next day. "Oh" he said, "I thought that might happen".</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You couldn't make it up.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'll sort this out elsewhere, where my time isn't taken for granted and I won't be overcharged.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But the good news is there will be more posts on their way soon!!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Love a Working Laptop</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Love Life</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">XXX</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11830511823393150090noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6592619680402593860.post-65255802913857599902015-12-29T16:13:00.002+00:002015-12-29T16:13:54.963+00:00Dead Laptop<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My laptop crashed and died a few weeks ago. If the nice boys in the computer centre can get it going again I'll heap praise on them here and wherever I can forever more.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Bear with....</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'll be back sometime, hopefully soon.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Love Technology (when it works)</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hate Technology (when it doesn't)</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Love Life</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">XXX</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11830511823393150090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6592619680402593860.post-54731673671284995192015-12-11T19:32:00.001+00:002015-12-11T19:34:24.207+00:00Santa Paws Christmas Fair<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A daytime social whirling date
I'm hoping to keep this weekend is the <a href="http://alldogsmatter.co.uk/" target="_blank">All Dogs Matter</a> Christmas Fair in
Hampstead on Sunday.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9VsdM3n2zx1DOeygRqpqO85daXrgjUXgMkryWdBlOJ6YPAn9c3qJ_zwzWCx1-TolVuOhpeKP6dmGSyj0_zqgv0uev7Z9hBW7VQPrZgbDI1Bs89y9XbKnbtHspe-gfOwSpmZEhX3-c6Cw/s1600/ADM+Christmas+Fair.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9VsdM3n2zx1DOeygRqpqO85daXrgjUXgMkryWdBlOJ6YPAn9c3qJ_zwzWCx1-TolVuOhpeKP6dmGSyj0_zqgv0uev7Z9hBW7VQPrZgbDI1Bs89y9XbKnbtHspe-gfOwSpmZEhX3-c6Cw/s640/ADM+Christmas+Fair.png" width="474" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I will always support this
wonderful charity though my primary reason for going along this weekend is to
buy some ADM 2016 calendars, featuring my Maude in July!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMFwFVqnTg5xoz2_RynrwHzuHyfClkRwJoxWJaKkS3x7JNkgCH2PW4MsZwfifyMGH6I2QSkHswHOGwtAE_hUneN_WHDA6o60llQHKp-LFMtjtv5-KUHhlPVfLORy-uRQBFafaOsC-qzxA/s1600/ADM+Calendar+July+2016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMFwFVqnTg5xoz2_RynrwHzuHyfClkRwJoxWJaKkS3x7JNkgCH2PW4MsZwfifyMGH6I2QSkHswHOGwtAE_hUneN_WHDA6o60llQHKp-LFMtjtv5-KUHhlPVfLORy-uRQBFafaOsC-qzxA/s640/ADM+Calendar+July+2016.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The calendar features recently
rescued and re-homed dogs or those that regularly support the charity. There are some proper bonny beauties in it,
not least the black-and-white staffie in August (if you buy the calendar you'll
find out exactly what I mean). Of course
I note the details; including that my Maude's picture is the largest on the July
page, not that I'm competitive or anything!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The calendar costs £5 and profits
go directly to helping ADM rescue and re-home more dogs like my Maude. If you can't get there on Sunday you can buy
the calendar online <a href="http://alldogsmatter.co.uk/product/all-dogs-matter-2016-calendar/" target="_blank">here</a>, where you can also see each of the monthly pages.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">For more information about
re-homing, fostering or other ways of supporting go to <a href="http://alldogsmatter.co.uk/" target="_blank">All Dogs Matter website</a>.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Love Dogs</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Love Life</span></div>
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">XXX</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11830511823393150090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6592619680402593860.post-21547386289489854822015-12-11T18:48:00.001+00:002015-12-11T18:49:12.355+00:00Why Everything Hurts<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I can't believe it's been over
a month since I last posted on here. Time
flies when you're not having a great deal of fun. It's been a rough few weeks for me and Maude,
kicking off with me being confined to my bed for two days with a doozy of a
cold, more likely a mild ‘flu though I use the term sparingly having suffered
from real, full-on influenza twice in my life, both times thinking I might just
die. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As I struggled to get better
Maude pulled two of her claws out in a freak accident with a rug in the living
room. It was all quite repulsive and
upsetting, too revolting to describe in detail, suffice to say she is a tough
girl and by day three was walking normally on all four paws again. A return trip to the vet a couple of weeks
later confirmed her good recovery. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">With the remnants of my cold
still hanging around my <a href="http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Fibromyalgia/pages/introduction.aspx" target="_blank">fibromyalgia</a> kicked in hard. A working diagnosis from the Pain Management
Clinic in September, it goes some way to explain why everything hurts. On top of all this I suddenly find myself
with <a href="http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Raynauds-phenomenon/Pages/Introduction.aspx" target="_blank">Raynaud's</a> in my hands and feet which is unbelievably painful. It happened suddenly, just over a fortnight
ago, out of the blue, out of nowhere. Terribly
shocking. Right now the palms of my
hands and the soles of my feet feel like their bruised. Tomorrow they might feel a bit better but then
there's the pain in my shoulders, my feet, my legs.... It's very tedious.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">All this is in hand with appointments
set up and further investigations underway but it's become so severe so
suddenly that it's a bit of a shock and a lot to take in. I have to get on top of it. I'm far too young for all this.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It's boring too. I've had to cancel social whirling twice this
week because by early evening my feet hurt so badly I could barely walk. It's become necessary to save my walking
energy and pain levels to do the things that I <i>have</i> to do which unfortunately
right now means sometimes having to give up the things that I <i>want</i> to do. As I said, it's very tedious.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">But it can only get better.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Thank the gods of technology
for the voice recognition programme!
Whilst it can be painful just to sit upright on a chair facing a
computer for more than a few minutes at the time, if I didn't have this I
wouldn't be able to write anything at all.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Better news coming next time I
hope.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Loathe Pain</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Love Health</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Love Life</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">XXX</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11830511823393150090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6592619680402593860.post-89438245379229582632015-11-09T18:53:00.000+00:002015-11-09T19:16:16.353+00:00The Anniversary<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOGLhRnuBBfxnoLjxuVEVDPQWw7osC51m0T-gFDRDl2ZMpBPAq_WPD1bPeEhIBH8dy6_tx3Qw_hG4lyVUD9Yk8UBGPB2BJrgHYBnzEkk0qUgqgJmjR547ImIEaC0sr6yX_LmztqGNXwEA/s1600/Scarlett+and+Lady+Maude+small+version.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOGLhRnuBBfxnoLjxuVEVDPQWw7osC51m0T-gFDRDl2ZMpBPAq_WPD1bPeEhIBH8dy6_tx3Qw_hG4lyVUD9Yk8UBGPB2BJrgHYBnzEkk0qUgqgJmjR547ImIEaC0sr6yX_LmztqGNXwEA/s640/Scarlett+and+Lady+Maude+small+version.jpg" width="420" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">pic: Jonathan Faiers</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">No, not the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7YcuFUJYVeQ" target="_blank">Bette Davis film by the same name</a> but an anniversary even more fabulous for today Maude and I mark our
first anniversary together. How amazing to
think that a full year has passed since my girl came to live with me. Even more amazing is the difference a year
has made for this now confident and loving little one is unrecognisable from
the scrawny, scared and very nervous dog who first arrived, having been found on the
streets by the dog warden in a bit of a state, unclaimed by her original owners
(let's not forget she was chipped and the owners contacted though they chose
not to come forward to collect her), and passed from pillar to post before settling
in with me thanks to wonderful rescue and rehoming charity <a href="http://alldogsmatter.co.uk/" target="_blank">All Dogs Matter</a>.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRUoTiKObNaqZh_QmA3cJ1G5kD9y_X9oTMWKbYKq2J8lM7pcixeDYOwGxV3fsL5x220psexwQKFZTBX8j6zNmO9x-EOWnW4Z7BDGb0mPpSeOjhQSQ-u8nZStvnTcgXoDQDdHUh26uukH8/s1600/Autumn+Maude.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRUoTiKObNaqZh_QmA3cJ1G5kD9y_X9oTMWKbYKq2J8lM7pcixeDYOwGxV3fsL5x220psexwQKFZTBX8j6zNmO9x-EOWnW4Z7BDGb0mPpSeOjhQSQ-u8nZStvnTcgXoDQDdHUh26uukH8/s400/Autumn+Maude.jpg" width="300" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It's been an interesting and
enlightening experience, watching her grow in confidence little by little, marking
small milestones, figuring out the things that made her extremely fearful and seeing
her overcome the nervous aggression she displayed towards almost all men.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Attacking at ankle height, grabbing and
pulling at trouser legs and shoes, is now a thing of the past.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">There are still occasional moments when I
have to catch her before she attacks but they are thankfully extremely rare now,
and I have a good sense about when it's likely to happen.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I know the type of men she is frightened of which
means I can act and check her before it actually occurs.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">She's doing really, really well.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/hza1MPwHrrQ/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hza1MPwHrrQ?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">For the first six months or so she barely left my side when out on an off-lead walk.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I'd look around for her in the park or on the Heath, or in our favourite place, the local cemetery, and have a micro-panic when I couldn't see her anywhere only to discover that she was right at my ankle, almost underneath my feet.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Now she runs around and makes some distance between us, confident in herself and safe in the knowledge that I will never be too far behind.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I still lay on my bed at night
looking at her laying in hers and can't quite believe my luck. I may have saved Maude but equally she has definitely
saved me.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Of course there are slightly
<a href="http://heavenlyhealer.blogspot.co.uk/2014/12/lost-and-found.html" target="_blank">bittersweet undertones to this happy tale</a> as long time readers might remember. But life moves forward and we all have no choice
but to carry on.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Love Maude</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Love Life</span></div>
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">XXX</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11830511823393150090noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6592619680402593860.post-55235014405004776472015-11-01T07:00:00.000+00:002015-11-01T07:00:07.747+00:00What About the Wrens?<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Just a quick one today, also following
things up, this time from July and a short <a href="http://heavenlyhealer.blogspot.co.uk/2015/07/a-cosy-home.html" target="_blank">film post</a>.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The wrens who nested outside
my back door continued noisily feeding their chicks for about another 12 days or
so after <a href="http://heavenlyhealer.blogspot.co.uk/2015/07/a-cosy-home.html" target="_blank">I wrote about</a> them during which time I watched them like a hawk (if
you'll excuse the pun) in an attempt to ensure I didn't miss the fledging.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Some things are not meant to
be. It was a Friday and I went out in
the morning, stayed out for most of the day and came home to discover a silent
nest with a big exit hole in the side.
They'd left while I was out!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But they're welcome again any
time.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Love Wrens</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Love Life</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">XXX</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11830511823393150090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6592619680402593860.post-17579866663543543212015-10-30T14:30:00.000+00:002015-10-30T14:30:01.245+00:00Dahlia Dilemma<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I was having a quick look back
through this blog and noticed there are few things where I promise an update
and don't deliver. Some are more important
than others but I do like to follow up on unhappy stories that come good in the
end.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One such tale is that of the
tragic dahlia plant featured in my <a href="http://heavenlyhealer.blogspot.co.uk/2014/12/gardening-review-of-2014.html" target="_blank">Gardening Review of 2014</a>.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It was suggested to me in a
comment that I send the link to my review to the supplier, in this case the
<a href="http://www.national-dahlia-collection.co.uk/en/" target="_blank">National Dahlia Collection</a>, and see if they might now like to get back to me. It was a good idea because they most
certainly did and after an explanation about their email being down when I had written to them in the summer and rather odd commenting about what<i> I </i>might have done to the plant that caused it to die <i>within three days (!!)</i>, they finally offered me three rooted cuttings by way of compensation to be
sent out in the springtime. I chose a
dwarf variety Twynings Revel, and two full-size varieties Happy Single Party
and Happy Single Date. True to their
word the <a href="http://www.national-dahlia-collection.co.uk/en/" target="_blank">NDC</a> sent the tiny plants which arrived well protected in good
condition and which I potted on immediately.
By the end of May they'd doubled in size and looked like this:</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixd1ThZd7_Z1WAzFswbebMsV4qTH0JrTqmWRuRPG61quU1EeLSph73Iph1WUnxzJGYndiWgWkOj7oLSc4UEZak7pQoxRKGLvmk5Gmmx5JsSjAZZuTYkp_fdZc0fhyToK-wSGYMBfROE-E/s1600/Cuttings+growing+on+in+May.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixd1ThZd7_Z1WAzFswbebMsV4qTH0JrTqmWRuRPG61quU1EeLSph73Iph1WUnxzJGYndiWgWkOj7oLSc4UEZak7pQoxRKGLvmk5Gmmx5JsSjAZZuTYkp_fdZc0fhyToK-wSGYMBfROE-E/s400/Cuttings+growing+on+in+May.jpg" width="300" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After ensuring they were fully
hardened off I planted them out, watered, protected from slugs and waited patiently.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The dwarf variety was the
first to flower in June. It sent up two
lovely blooms like this...</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFht-62mti9mPgyjV8e2tZr9uAUQTeoQBavypcgXSEeAjylKHPYyRaMVTn5cZDRMPFG_gEmoOdHR0VbuYy8Zx06i7RkNTA_aeRqq_Q0nJc7P2ectEoln72cCVA2Y-61C-hrqjl4fqANVM/s1600/Twynings+Revel+dwarf+in+June.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFht-62mti9mPgyjV8e2tZr9uAUQTeoQBavypcgXSEeAjylKHPYyRaMVTn5cZDRMPFG_gEmoOdHR0VbuYy8Zx06i7RkNTA_aeRqq_Q0nJc7P2ectEoln72cCVA2Y-61C-hrqjl4fqANVM/s400/Twynings+Revel+dwarf+in+June.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">... but then it curled up and
died. Oh well, I suspect the planting position
might have been too dappled for such a little plant. No matter I thought, there are still two
healthy looking full-size specimens with strong stems putting on plenty of
gorgeous foliage. But no flowers...yet.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Happy Single Date, the pink-orange
variety put out one single solitary flower in August which lingered awhile and
teased me with several small buds offering more of the same in due course. Unfortunately it didn't happen. I can't blame the plant as the weather was
completely bonkers and I'm sure it didn't know if it was coming or going but
the long and short of it is that the flower buds never had enough sunshine and
heat for long enough periods for the flowers to fully ripen and open. Now it's cold and a sorry looking papery
flower of sorts is still trying desperately to force itself open. It won't happen this year.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhynKNBn470w-zGti1cjglzhyphenhyphenx4hosnJ6pSrbwcJR0WBZymxjYhufJbNpJKsWdhqiHP_hjkJZdQkxNvx-DIGmNOmNcauC2vEEoZQQFpOd64ucA5byn47c6j1AnWhSBLoJUBLg13OaT3hV0/s1600/Happy+Single+Date+in+August.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhynKNBn470w-zGti1cjglzhyphenhyphenx4hosnJ6pSrbwcJR0WBZymxjYhufJbNpJKsWdhqiHP_hjkJZdQkxNvx-DIGmNOmNcauC2vEEoZQQFpOd64ucA5byn47c6j1AnWhSBLoJUBLg13OaT3hV0/s640/Happy+Single+Date+in+August.jpg" width="442" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I must be destined not to
enjoy the flowers of Happy Single Party as this was the original purchase which
didn't work the first time around.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I
didn't get one single flower all year.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Once again, I can't blame the plant as it remains tall and strong with
good leaf growth even in the current cold weather.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now I just have to follow the overwintering
instructions and hope for better next year.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As I always say, gardening teaches us patience.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Love Dahlias</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Love Life</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">XXX</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11830511823393150090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6592619680402593860.post-40110695338950423492015-10-27T09:00:00.000+00:002015-10-27T09:00:05.893+00:00Autumn Amber<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5Pjz7dBR8DbWovOCb5qwZFGkfF8OnIhC9EjqLoxXOtQfss6BeO0MYlOeC9pOlhqR-2Pv3q5CUjy0DVr-LMc7FfOOoOQBNYoYXzJJhlpkoIZssRiGMNX3X98ncU5XyVEOYsttg3SOcWEU/s1600/Amber+Flame.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5Pjz7dBR8DbWovOCb5qwZFGkfF8OnIhC9EjqLoxXOtQfss6BeO0MYlOeC9pOlhqR-2Pv3q5CUjy0DVr-LMc7FfOOoOQBNYoYXzJJhlpkoIZssRiGMNX3X98ncU5XyVEOYsttg3SOcWEU/s640/Amber+Flame.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When I was in Wales a few
weeks ago I bought this lovely orange Begonia ‘Amber Flame’ as a little end of summer
treat which is still happily flowering in my back garden, nestled between pink
<a href="http://www.hortweek.com/diascia/retail/article/1314248" target="_blank">Diascia</a> and white <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lobularia_maritima" target="_blank">Sweet Alyssum</a> - both sold to me as annuals but still going strong 3 years later - the strappy black leaves of <a href="http://www.kew.org/science-conservation/plants-fungi/ophiopogon-planiscapus-lilyturf" target="_blank">Ophiopogon</a>, miniature strawberries and
orange-red flowered <a href="https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/details?plantid=1516" target="_blank">Potentilla 'Miss Willmott'</a>. Yummy!!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Love Orange</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Love Life</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">XXX</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11830511823393150090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6592619680402593860.post-66750889778338430392015-10-24T11:00:00.000+01:002015-10-24T11:00:03.247+01:00Magic Winners & Magic Losers<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Harvest Festival was a mixed
bunch up at Magic Plot 7 this year. Mid-September
and my row of ‘Roma’ Italian tomatoes, a Bush variety, looked like a jungle
with plenty of leaf, tons of green fruit waiting to ripen, and a big old
pumpkin plant growing through and over them.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4ymLQIOlYRCmuX2PSaVK6-sraKuwZXS_6Hz82CmrAKYld6Y3LuHheJgzu4z2E2LqfRjBGDpc9rwBWgKtH-p1Si_JjArpj81mHOpInzN-7seknaWCGhwO-UweSru9Cd8W45QZfPDWQY8Q/s1600/Tomato+jungle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="440" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4ymLQIOlYRCmuX2PSaVK6-sraKuwZXS_6Hz82CmrAKYld6Y3LuHheJgzu4z2E2LqfRjBGDpc9rwBWgKtH-p1Si_JjArpj81mHOpInzN-7seknaWCGhwO-UweSru9Cd8W45QZfPDWQY8Q/s640/Tomato+jungle.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Less than a week later and the
dreaded blight had hit.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPZ8Ludvps3VHPGu_FQKaxzseXOaiWigjxqkcawBmB-KwPnBODQWoFzC0t-vg9TusA4y43MvWBuky9dtRHiyzQPKygWUUt2eishGBD7XSCJCchBusiMHA_Bc2rX-cA10rCHzIMda_8khk/s1600/blight+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPZ8Ludvps3VHPGu_FQKaxzseXOaiWigjxqkcawBmB-KwPnBODQWoFzC0t-vg9TusA4y43MvWBuky9dtRHiyzQPKygWUUt2eishGBD7XSCJCchBusiMHA_Bc2rX-cA10rCHzIMda_8khk/s400/blight+1.jpg" width="300" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Li1QrkUQ7iXpKXGpKGVkdi33lCIxueDITETUZ23824o7hiJWAteFOkKuCtueEI8GtjVzEYgviEVbX_3X2zjbiybe46ODYSX4vgfzMnl2p3BPq5ChfW62tQhVRXrrT2_GduHbliUMK9c/s1600/blight+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Li1QrkUQ7iXpKXGpKGVkdi33lCIxueDITETUZ23824o7hiJWAteFOkKuCtueEI8GtjVzEYgviEVbX_3X2zjbiybe46ODYSX4vgfzMnl2p3BPq5ChfW62tQhVRXrrT2_GduHbliUMK9c/s640/blight+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I lost the lot.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Devastating - particularly when
you started your tomatoes from seed right at the beginning of the year and
brought them on and through. If I lived
closer to the allotment and could get there every day then perhaps I could have
saved some, most or even all. But I
don't so I couldn't. PAH!!!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Root vegetables and <a href="http://heavenlyhealer.blogspot.co.uk/2015/07/how-to-grow-potatoes.html" target="_blank">potatoes</a> did
very well though. Following the success
of the Linzer Delicatess salad potatoes Pentland Javelin produced the expected
decent crop. Then came the Shetland
Black which were absolutely glorious!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiYSN4qVe_4Mpv3zIp0HA3C6ghWhAp5zzInVyGZMHWyeV_v-ay0XQ4m99fH-7AldDLZRHF8DCSlvqgxBjhQkcGNRlEuif78XSfngfATQGkU4faXokXaD3rYtDJO8aLumGsOx9hdWYlWUI/s1600/Black+Pots%252C+Beets+and+Carrots.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiYSN4qVe_4Mpv3zIp0HA3C6ghWhAp5zzInVyGZMHWyeV_v-ay0XQ4m99fH-7AldDLZRHF8DCSlvqgxBjhQkcGNRlEuif78XSfngfATQGkU4faXokXaD3rYtDJO8aLumGsOx9hdWYlWUI/s400/Black+Pots%252C+Beets+and+Carrots.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXvXob9cfeVkh6M9QcqBzb2OfrY6KaEgNfrCN7Z3ffPvFQuu5QT452UjNRhlmWyNV-XZT7dG686Ea015CaYqcWl44zESqkpWvAJ5H9m9BTiILJAu38ZTav7RtrFWSskTOjWMjTJJ03VeI/s1600/Shetland+Black.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXvXob9cfeVkh6M9QcqBzb2OfrY6KaEgNfrCN7Z3ffPvFQuu5QT452UjNRhlmWyNV-XZT7dG686Ea015CaYqcWl44zESqkpWvAJ5H9m9BTiILJAu38ZTav7RtrFWSskTOjWMjTJJ03VeI/s400/Shetland+Black.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">They were a bit tricky to lift
however.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Being dark and very similar to
the soil colour I kept losing them and had to go over each growing area a few
times.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">They stored well, both indoors
and in the ground; I lifted them out a plant at a time as I ran out of potatoes
at home.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">They tasted amazing!</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There are still a few left.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But only a few.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Next came Apache, a red and
cream skinned variety. They cropped well
and tasted very good indeed. Somehow
they survived the blight which is always worth remembering for future growing.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhocK_zBB8qAkwXN0sh_5X2QNgKnbP8bUhU5X6LK4nkKrodfrgMaeDHKqVX0POceX7r7uAbQm3UDNYNmU2-IXwk_KC-SUU9NoA7lZNL9-hIPLNga2pdOYnaXE-T2b04oCGYjH2TmSwh9jA/s1600/Apache+Potatoes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhocK_zBB8qAkwXN0sh_5X2QNgKnbP8bUhU5X6LK4nkKrodfrgMaeDHKqVX0POceX7r7uAbQm3UDNYNmU2-IXwk_KC-SUU9NoA7lZNL9-hIPLNga2pdOYnaXE-T2b04oCGYjH2TmSwh9jA/s400/Apache+Potatoes.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Beetroot have been enormous
this year, as have carrots in three colours - orange, white and yellow.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Still a few more in the ground but they'll
need to come out soon if I'm going to eat them.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU_x7SNxe_LblRV91Ah_buq4eoCRTjitdW8xCJiXUfvAG1pzMkDWQxYcFX5ALuv4W7aAdIxEb1UfY5SGxnO1bZ2zFwpz6Z-S1HavevZask9esAoW7-Fsv9kGr3ZCqpqUghEuZJsoCLy3s/s1600/Big+beets%252C+carrots.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU_x7SNxe_LblRV91Ah_buq4eoCRTjitdW8xCJiXUfvAG1pzMkDWQxYcFX5ALuv4W7aAdIxEb1UfY5SGxnO1bZ2zFwpz6Z-S1HavevZask9esAoW7-Fsv9kGr3ZCqpqUghEuZJsoCLy3s/s640/Big+beets%252C+carrots.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I did salmon flowered peas this
summer which I grow for the gorgeous flowers as much as the crop itself.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I also grew green beans ‘Neckar’ which
cropped well but got eaten very quickly!</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Purple podded beans have been, and continue to be an excellent source of
fresh veg while I wait for the main bulk of Borlotti beans to ripen properly,
though the few I've had already have been really good to eat.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">No courgettes at all this year!!! That's a first. You win some and you lose some. But when growing food there is more, there’s always
more...</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Love Veg</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hate Blight</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Love Life</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">XXX</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11830511823393150090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6592619680402593860.post-42510693805471254752015-10-22T14:57:00.000+01:002015-10-22T14:57:56.157+01:00Red, Gold & Green (and Blue!)<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The weather’s turned and with
it the colour of the leaves on the trees.
Autumn is properly here though I’m unsure where the last year has gone.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I’ve had to put the <a href="http://www.sad.uk.com/" target="_blank">SAD lamp</a>
on this week. Thick, dark cloud isn't
conducive to well-being. It's not all
doom and gloom though, not all of the time anyway. When the Tupperware skies do manage to clear
and the low sun shines, even if only a little, the autumn leaves look amazing.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqtTycdzHneuatX6PFZ0l0cjvtfH1kK_GrBxwdWAnFM3PhIRGXaGhlQfcBRRzDYXXEFD1yyR401P1y4So2lzCO50_Fmd04t-Ed-4WZXPxX-zTIHgjHhdt6i2XmxLnoy1LeI8noUhfC4kw/s1600/Virginia+Creeper+on+the+turn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqtTycdzHneuatX6PFZ0l0cjvtfH1kK_GrBxwdWAnFM3PhIRGXaGhlQfcBRRzDYXXEFD1yyR401P1y4So2lzCO50_Fmd04t-Ed-4WZXPxX-zTIHgjHhdt6i2XmxLnoy1LeI8noUhfC4kw/s400/Virginia+Creeper+on+the+turn.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This lovely wall of Virginia
Creeper lifts the spirits on our walk to the cemetery.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1naoql2Vjd40oO6cs2G763n-YMbzMiYweEqfR7zExnCLdgTETdRPwF4SQZuJRjLgDHIaXGxhBjTdadZGHv7IhCrHpalVdU9bXGOZ4HvOu_URxBZwKmMiPgnzBjOTS3f9g8_D2yLxemfQ/s1600/Autumn+Red.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1naoql2Vjd40oO6cs2G763n-YMbzMiYweEqfR7zExnCLdgTETdRPwF4SQZuJRjLgDHIaXGxhBjTdadZGHv7IhCrHpalVdU9bXGOZ4HvOu_URxBZwKmMiPgnzBjOTS3f9g8_D2yLxemfQ/s400/Autumn+Red.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Turn a corner and this
knockout red leafed treat grabs your attention.
One of my favourites for spring blossom, after they've fallen it
provides a delightful canopy of mid-green leaves throughout the summer before
turning this marvellous orangey red.
Nature is truly amazing.</span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6O3kvwsM5E0JUgnYW4sUQDaTdBNfbxSquX7wgRmtJhyHK8eA51G_aEL0BQVyLuCQ7hHl5EA1zerFn_MxeQSuSFtg9Zlnd4AdQb_OMzoJ4dRcMG6piBiIqJuGCYQUWUWXWwBzJCLvvoWY/s1600/Autumn+Blue+Crocus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6O3kvwsM5E0JUgnYW4sUQDaTdBNfbxSquX7wgRmtJhyHK8eA51G_aEL0BQVyLuCQ7hHl5EA1zerFn_MxeQSuSFtg9Zlnd4AdQb_OMzoJ4dRcMG6piBiIqJuGCYQUWUWXWwBzJCLvvoWY/s400/Autumn+Blue+Crocus.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And when we get there we now
enjoy all the delights of autumn, from changing leaves to late flowering plants
including these lovely blue crocuses.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIkm1rDV0G5zdaEXBly10N9knkdROcqLOd506VAB7BxM7ygDUPhs8sKJC9W2JMHUnKGVZhA1mhZR8wr-qMNv6qXKoyKK2epPWLJaRlyoxFMv8rvYSHwCOXf1bFkwgGTTn1F_AybZLR40U/s1600/Autumn+Gold.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIkm1rDV0G5zdaEXBly10N9knkdROcqLOd506VAB7BxM7ygDUPhs8sKJC9W2JMHUnKGVZhA1mhZR8wr-qMNv6qXKoyKK2epPWLJaRlyoxFMv8rvYSHwCOXf1bFkwgGTTn1F_AybZLR40U/s640/Autumn+Gold.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The golden leafed trees are
probably my favourite right now. If a shaft of sunlight hits them they are blinding!</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Love Autumn Leaves</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Love Life</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">XXX</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11830511823393150090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6592619680402593860.post-70900382338586509992015-09-15T00:10:00.002+01:002015-09-15T00:12:53.247+01:00Wales Weekend<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's been a few weeks since the last post as I couldn't
write for a while. The horrible
never-ending exhaustion and all-over body pain did me in for a bit so that
everything was difficult. I recharged my
batteries somewhat over the Bank Holiday weekend when Maude and I visited my
friend <a href="http://andrewlogan.com/" target="_blank">Andrew Logan</a> at <a href="http://andrewloganmuseum.org/" target="_blank">his Museum</a> in the picturesque rural village of <a href="http://www.berriew.com/index.html" target="_blank">Berriew</a>
in mid-Wales. Be warned that this post
contains many holiday snaps!</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Over our five-day break the weather changed constantly -
bright and sunny one minute and full on rain the next. It's hard to know what to wear! The beautiful <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berriew" target="_blank">river Rhiw </a>was in full flow
when we arrived on a sunny afternoon.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjylFUYM4dJPvM3iAXbHAF2Pbl4HaSAAmbMgsbz4hZEaHE_bcFPSMDL5rH_cV6E2t2Y_w9cz0m6ceWn3oSr8fTY2_4iVMB73N2hzTWMp7rxK584b1KdiSyld8h5wzqeR1biU6K4N7V1psI/s1600/River+Rhiw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjylFUYM4dJPvM3iAXbHAF2Pbl4HaSAAmbMgsbz4hZEaHE_bcFPSMDL5rH_cV6E2t2Y_w9cz0m6ceWn3oSr8fTY2_4iVMB73N2hzTWMp7rxK584b1KdiSyld8h5wzqeR1biU6K4N7V1psI/s400/River+Rhiw.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzVs0hfwiuoJ5-VGnnIXPkO7neaSJUOCgv7yL4gVe1w0YzngBOWvbDS5ltRNiQcDQ-WQ_6Dlkg5Uq5p1eJ0NsaUbQCGRpnMe2X20qJgMsXaS9NF2uNXbRS2vKM97OdnD_lHSBzdl2VKUk/s1600/Rocks+on+the+Rhiw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzVs0hfwiuoJ5-VGnnIXPkO7neaSJUOCgv7yL4gVe1w0YzngBOWvbDS5ltRNiQcDQ-WQ_6Dlkg5Uq5p1eJ0NsaUbQCGRpnMe2X20qJgMsXaS9NF2uNXbRS2vKM97OdnD_lHSBzdl2VKUk/s400/Rocks+on+the+Rhiw.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I've spent a great deal of time at this place over the
years, but not for many years so this was a real revisiting for me.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I remembered the route of the canal-woods-cowfield-village walk and set off in the sunshine.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Maude liked walking along the canal tow path very much and the viaduct
particularly.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVV78A6AwuNtXBodQ7tOGzrkkGdc6D_s0UL1By-G1A6EZ_J60_O3vaE7CXCPwnGj0GtOpEIKUnqryQsR7H6vJvtS2w_3K8JXJgPOYaZZqbcPbkV-uwel33APh6lynYkpcGcnyhAZB6h8Q/s1600/Maude+on+the+viaduct.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVV78A6AwuNtXBodQ7tOGzrkkGdc6D_s0UL1By-G1A6EZ_J60_O3vaE7CXCPwnGj0GtOpEIKUnqryQsR7H6vJvtS2w_3K8JXJgPOYaZZqbcPbkV-uwel33APh6lynYkpcGcnyhAZB6h8Q/s640/Maude+on+the+viaduct.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW-GV0N_843e_HV0t72vmfAo47tx-eZtwy-mVOxwX2EKabu4yrWRYLHiGdHMElrW_17jhVH3Z4q-Vq34-nk2lRk-XJjO8bGVu0mU3BQZ4Jtu_5BAKvEfdtMbxUs7nHdCXKFC9CqB7p5uA/s1600/In+a+cowfield.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW-GV0N_843e_HV0t72vmfAo47tx-eZtwy-mVOxwX2EKabu4yrWRYLHiGdHMElrW_17jhVH3Z4q-Vq34-nk2lRk-XJjO8bGVu0mU3BQZ4Jtu_5BAKvEfdtMbxUs7nHdCXKFC9CqB7p5uA/s400/In+a+cowfield.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">She wasn't best pleased with the cow field part of our
planned route as there were too many thistles for her liking. She is only little though, so I carried her
out of her discomfort and we resumed our walk back along the towpath where we
saw many, many beautiful reflections in the water.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg77jDwUwElFuZrOKzAlGe7bvH_pZ0-z-4tDfV8JEHgdbmDcuvSpqMROXHYzF4vTdX5Er9Sn6RqflVyRmNF5GxDktDO7YfCEuQvkr86t0K9YC-DWssnqCjdEAgQPNH4C0Bj0M6JubeNiDo/s1600/Canal+reflections.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg77jDwUwElFuZrOKzAlGe7bvH_pZ0-z-4tDfV8JEHgdbmDcuvSpqMROXHYzF4vTdX5Er9Sn6RqflVyRmNF5GxDktDO7YfCEuQvkr86t0K9YC-DWssnqCjdEAgQPNH4C0Bj0M6JubeNiDo/s400/Canal+reflections.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit9tq35UcVc9LPtH2-WNNIdObXZI3cgkPvxzjoriUkgPbeC7QoJAYULQBByhg34b3adpRBq5BWA8vCT93lsC372cVIaHUBMX0Mn0wxU2xQYIuGow0ufoZnTI19MP4vLziABIc71QDDeu8/s1600/Canal+spotlight.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit9tq35UcVc9LPtH2-WNNIdObXZI3cgkPvxzjoriUkgPbeC7QoJAYULQBByhg34b3adpRBq5BWA8vCT93lsC372cVIaHUBMX0Mn0wxU2xQYIuGow0ufoZnTI19MP4vLziABIc71QDDeu8/s400/Canal+spotlight.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2rRHqq6muGdWXYUrBUdqgUVlP4E31uwRYPQAM424Son3MBYwc49cLoXQ-8XwUN_nLtOLIT3qQSg5qwfuIxAGFA67QaIZOEvPJZUhZSbqxebeG354rbv7oi2gHvjJT5NzP2rvHQuDeArA/s1600/3+canoes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2rRHqq6muGdWXYUrBUdqgUVlP4E31uwRYPQAM424Son3MBYwc49cLoXQ-8XwUN_nLtOLIT3qQSg5qwfuIxAGFA67QaIZOEvPJZUhZSbqxebeG354rbv7oi2gHvjJT5NzP2rvHQuDeArA/s640/3+canoes.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Not least these canoe-like sculptures.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Maybe they are canoes or boats of some sort,
or maybe just sculptural structures to enhance the experience for walkers.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I thought they were wonderful anyway.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Part of my reason for visiting on that weekend was to
enjoy the village show. Each year <a href="http://andrewloganmuseum.org/" target="_blank">The Andrew Logan Museum of Sculpture</a> is tasked with decorating the float for
crowning the village queen so we were up and about early on a grey, wet and
windy morning with lengths of fabric and frilly umbrellas and bunting and rope
and all.</span></div>
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</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3imoMosOC2UU6_xUAqBJnlHB6T9IBCnI5ruTBKxF8ss1ZAkAWe1DM9BW1RdCAP8VRXsTD4Zo8XywomMX3iMUpAVJGJo_izY6MvirR3UJ_ccmej6u2OMZkhMjeQH3Zt0v5ogkxSjDsvOE/s1600/Float+setting+off+AL+pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3imoMosOC2UU6_xUAqBJnlHB6T9IBCnI5ruTBKxF8ss1ZAkAWe1DM9BW1RdCAP8VRXsTD4Zo8XywomMX3iMUpAVJGJo_izY6MvirR3UJ_ccmej6u2OMZkhMjeQH3Zt0v5ogkxSjDsvOE/s400/Float+setting+off+AL+pic.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">pic: Andrew Logan</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A couple of local fellows in their tractor came along and
hooked it up and drove it off to the field where the annual show is held.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Back in the 90s we all used to travel on the
float through the roads, with music and dancing all the way but these days
Health and Safety say nobody is allowed on board.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Talk about spoiling the fun!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB2n4Kb_nMinteVwfzcRfqiKn-LwsqHZD3ZBb8yArgQJwEabQcp47GxkdnsBbEFeuXSZkG4DquleqGurSVJMvwBB3OekzMdZQniH0Hv_0ITHE3Ovngx5_zCzG6VU61BC-pb8Az98aNwPI/s1600/Decorated+float.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB2n4Kb_nMinteVwfzcRfqiKn-LwsqHZD3ZBb8yArgQJwEabQcp47GxkdnsBbEFeuXSZkG4DquleqGurSVJMvwBB3OekzMdZQniH0Hv_0ITHE3Ovngx5_zCzG6VU61BC-pb8Az98aNwPI/s400/Decorated+float.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">By the time Miss Berriew was crowned the weather had
brightened again and everybody seemed to enjoy the festivities, not least Ruby
who won this year's title, and consorts Lily and Charlie.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZebvKxVaXgo6RY95toyU6xP-pCYJamQtRw1q8bDVreddPsEfVcvPVTujtM7jNKacJkLKm-MIiSy4x80FFBEy-wkGiGVCiOgwbL6it16qFg_I2ZKi6msWX0PoqdXdTQs7dBuc7F46ZUPo/s1600/Miss+Berriew.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZebvKxVaXgo6RY95toyU6xP-pCYJamQtRw1q8bDVreddPsEfVcvPVTujtM7jNKacJkLKm-MIiSy4x80FFBEy-wkGiGVCiOgwbL6it16qFg_I2ZKi6msWX0PoqdXdTQs7dBuc7F46ZUPo/s400/Miss+Berriew.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I entered my Maude in the ‘prettiest bitch’ category of
the dog show.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I liked the title, it
sounded very Jackie Collins!</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have to
say the judging was all taken very seriously and it took hours to get around to
Maude's moment of glory in the ring.</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih2orWa177hhC1p2XhmBndZPZMQarCpzYIz0ouE93pH03dy3fYbox9Ssx06NLq-8cxvOtUrN5wbMBnCd_aDPPHmk0MdGTdds39CBz82IoNYQCYSdBTcKiDOyhIX4zC4cMgwkGTtbvRSBI/s1600/Maude+in+dogshow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih2orWa177hhC1p2XhmBndZPZMQarCpzYIz0ouE93pH03dy3fYbox9Ssx06NLq-8cxvOtUrN5wbMBnCd_aDPPHmk0MdGTdds39CBz82IoNYQCYSdBTcKiDOyhIX4zC4cMgwkGTtbvRSBI/s640/Maude+in+dogshow.jpg" width="472" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Me and Maude in the dog ring. Tooooooo glamorous!</span><br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;">pic: Andrew Logan</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Of course she didn't win.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Although the judge looked at Maude several times, I'm told by my friends
who were onlooking that lady judge took one look at me and moved on.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Whilst I consider myself quite outdoorsy in
my way it seems our combined glamour was a little too much for this country
show.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Oh well, I’m not a Glamorous
Gardener for nothing!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I, of course, enjoyed the largest onion, longest carrot,
best tomatoes and all that malarkey in the exhibition tent.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It wasn't all plain sailing. Over the weekend I learned that Maude is
absolutely terrified of fire. She
started looking uncomfortable when I was preparing the wood burner but when the
fire was lit she ran around shaking and searching for a place to hide. It doesn't bear thinking about what might
have happened to her to make her so afraid.
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A daytrip to visit Diane at Borth in Cardigan Bay was the
highlight of our little break. Her house
backs onto the beach where the tide is extreme, coming up high, sometimes to
the building, and pulling far, far back to reveal an enormous expanse of flat,
wet sand.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh0PF6UsEQWuUStHRQhrvWcqFKky47qF13qwyjtbLRnB92t-w3Y-SA7H7aqXRBnrAsH4smrj142cGK4SruQtun5ipO3YzEESAWDU40klLO1AUiHo6pJKuaMGZcEMTo6cedGoEUXEoelUE/s1600/Maude+on+the+beach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh0PF6UsEQWuUStHRQhrvWcqFKky47qF13qwyjtbLRnB92t-w3Y-SA7H7aqXRBnrAsH4smrj142cGK4SruQtun5ipO3YzEESAWDU40klLO1AUiHo6pJKuaMGZcEMTo6cedGoEUXEoelUE/s400/Maude+on+the+beach.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6FNG6sA8ocH82qYH0YqlZ3R6gvl3UR5saDDxiTyUey26LDCLzfGVjfGP1vaj2wuVTQy4SYuElGuwMh59JtvEHn3W0rEqRo9r-TGzmOx7bA5p3iArLEpgHtKgsgog1V9JG3Q_HZZTlUZE/s1600/loving+borth+beach+AL+pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6FNG6sA8ocH82qYH0YqlZ3R6gvl3UR5saDDxiTyUey26LDCLzfGVjfGP1vaj2wuVTQy4SYuElGuwMh59JtvEHn3W0rEqRo9r-TGzmOx7bA5p3iArLEpgHtKgsgog1V9JG3Q_HZZTlUZE/s640/loving+borth+beach+AL+pic.jpg" width="472" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Loving Borth beach</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">pic: Andrew Logan</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNDowBG3mnQeR8Pkq36yMGbOE5C40hnmbuUihL2-Q9eWMbFeIChCXT4nwYAlfgzjEcCwtS1peGSBPB_TGaZskn9zU9UTLskbs0lOgTFNrJvBcSsBZ9kKoxamcNKkgQ4fWHBMf1R-mnblg/s1600/Malachi+and+Maude.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNDowBG3mnQeR8Pkq36yMGbOE5C40hnmbuUihL2-Q9eWMbFeIChCXT4nwYAlfgzjEcCwtS1peGSBPB_TGaZskn9zU9UTLskbs0lOgTFNrJvBcSsBZ9kKoxamcNKkgQ4fWHBMf1R-mnblg/s400/Malachi+and+Maude.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Malachi and Maude<br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">pic: Andrew Logan</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We loved it.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Maude ran and ran and I almost wept with joy to see her
running. She chased seagulls and golf
balls, the latter easily found along the beach discarded from the golf course
nearby.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwkhNAAOwJIJpqgLiHxEHVNfydaLAT_5K8jR2crOp78BkbMGQyW6NyynvBgyovZ1wIHsOEi5q5Quk-QHDfWdFNV8qJCeeHNlRpCFgyXBgHcyYqAlPETb_o56sS4ChNycSX8Nl34wtO10s/s1600/Maude+chasing+seagulls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwkhNAAOwJIJpqgLiHxEHVNfydaLAT_5K8jR2crOp78BkbMGQyW6NyynvBgyovZ1wIHsOEi5q5Quk-QHDfWdFNV8qJCeeHNlRpCFgyXBgHcyYqAlPETb_o56sS4ChNycSX8Nl34wtO10s/s640/Maude+chasing+seagulls.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Chasing seagulls</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">pic: Andrew Logan</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">New sea defences in recent years means storms have uncovered a <a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/uk-weather-storms-expose-ancient-forests-along-the-coast-of-cornwall-9142719.html" target="_blank">neolithic forest</a> on the beach.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">These <a href="http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/bronze-age-walkway-borth-uncovered-6528481" target="_blank">tree stumps</a> are some 5000 years old!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMPGEm5RgIt27s7dFD8dVgN0a4ADJT4Ssu3DPJBb7uHwi10XmLbR9tZgOuP8BOHRdmfljGh-qHYk5ee5KKZouPWqyxPoX-PWcpY0AMBGe0JvrwXxbh8px3aZ5gsmwo_Jc54cY6GEWpS0k/s1600/Neolithic+tree+roots.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMPGEm5RgIt27s7dFD8dVgN0a4ADJT4Ssu3DPJBb7uHwi10XmLbR9tZgOuP8BOHRdmfljGh-qHYk5ee5KKZouPWqyxPoX-PWcpY0AMBGe0JvrwXxbh8px3aZ5gsmwo_Jc54cY6GEWpS0k/s400/Neolithic+tree+roots.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfwASzz0RKvCYXjGG5SuN432TuU3TegykrxEzT0x6cK6FrZFhgg6bPf7G5VUltSSP1ngyFgxK1uvrK7JMUPvPzrvxpmuzBq01UVvFAHcwgN_7gmeAKIaSCmLbmC3EXQUbrzMX7rH2tzu4/s1600/Neolithic+stump.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfwASzz0RKvCYXjGG5SuN432TuU3TegykrxEzT0x6cK6FrZFhgg6bPf7G5VUltSSP1ngyFgxK1uvrK7JMUPvPzrvxpmuzBq01UVvFAHcwgN_7gmeAKIaSCmLbmC3EXQUbrzMX7rH2tzu4/s400/Neolithic+stump.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sitting outside Diane's house on the beach in the gusty wind
and bright sunshine, exhausted from our beach walk, filled me with a sense of
holiday.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's been a long time coming.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA8eKkxct65NceS4ZTQS3t7nP63iQawHFaPuiSMf-q8OCmNOjcUfuhFakkvz4ezuoXiS2_wwg44T0Mnpu8algIN3xWpcaoXxJJCQADsxpwO8d4h0W9E9vZWwGRoRaB5lE9M8c3lrm5vNs/s1600/Two+tired+girls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA8eKkxct65NceS4ZTQS3t7nP63iQawHFaPuiSMf-q8OCmNOjcUfuhFakkvz4ezuoXiS2_wwg44T0Mnpu8algIN3xWpcaoXxJJCQADsxpwO8d4h0W9E9vZWwGRoRaB5lE9M8c3lrm5vNs/s400/Two+tired+girls.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Then we headed off in the other direction, up the cliff
walk to the top where you can see the whole beach and the sea looks enormous.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Andrew loves a selfie and the top of the
cliff seemed as good a place as any.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2b-1-NFHLoMqAzCxEfT954KLLqoJ5PoTivGjgvRvhsvxV4IoZAesMOIDWW4-OqIujTBgRAmhWSPG3ShuMupEZiynXwSDDfW4XtnuH05EhuyHIB3siyovyhde5rhasokVVFM1JZc2TiEM/s1600/Cliff+selfie+AL+pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2b-1-NFHLoMqAzCxEfT954KLLqoJ5PoTivGjgvRvhsvxV4IoZAesMOIDWW4-OqIujTBgRAmhWSPG3ShuMupEZiynXwSDDfW4XtnuH05EhuyHIB3siyovyhde5rhasokVVFM1JZc2TiEM/s400/Cliff+selfie+AL+pic.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Clifftop selfie!<br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">pic: Andrew Logan</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtEb7XUPza70OgURjJ3wTxQMPE5EOvOusJIhj9gcyrrvoZMzDOy3UL2MrdXX8m0tzSjgJ6yNOd4F6gyBz02boniWnUoyDWFPHAvFnsnpKx8bBJxkKjPKRrzIYguAPzbhArVYbGzGsL5Z0/s1600/Me+and+Maude+at+Diane%2527s+Beach+Window.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtEb7XUPza70OgURjJ3wTxQMPE5EOvOusJIhj9gcyrrvoZMzDOy3UL2MrdXX8m0tzSjgJ6yNOd4F6gyBz02boniWnUoyDWFPHAvFnsnpKx8bBJxkKjPKRrzIYguAPzbhArVYbGzGsL5Z0/s640/Me+and+Maude+at+Diane%2527s+Beach+Window.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Relaxing beach view<br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;">pic: Andrew Logan</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Not a bad way to spend a Bank Holiday Monday!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The next day it was all over and we were waved off and back to London. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWZMKGblRGUu4OfM3PU0tb2Fce2iYNy0Nho1tHq1ioXJJtxKnHMJ5AMjDJnemkW_aGiDqYg7Y8dAQ7R-dTjAjr3Yg2gIuS3zuCiEofJhjbesxVSyklal3jqriiAwdCGw34DWKy6-YX7UE/s1600/Leaving+party+AL+pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWZMKGblRGUu4OfM3PU0tb2Fce2iYNy0Nho1tHq1ioXJJtxKnHMJ5AMjDJnemkW_aGiDqYg7Y8dAQ7R-dTjAjr3Yg2gIuS3zuCiEofJhjbesxVSyklal3jqriiAwdCGw34DWKy6-YX7UE/s400/Leaving+party+AL+pic.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Lovely trip but too
short. And now I need some more seaside...</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Love Wales</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Love Life</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">XXX</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11830511823393150090noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6592619680402593860.post-6020412648355534342015-08-26T18:03:00.001+01:002015-08-26T18:06:28.311+01:00Resting Places<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Maude and I walk in the local cemetery most days. Over the last nine and a half months since
she came to live with me we've seen the seasons change, albeit in unpredictable fashion, and moved from path to grass where I look at the graves, taking note
of some of the more interesting ones.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheRXSYmTu8IG6_hDNBbDjtPXscRvduFzHAe5A5waoRB8EInXwD9Xt4JVugwFi4FxTOZT8tF3kX2RzmBm7sEb-S1MaoGKmM9sq-bkllaPXKppc4tOBGxClxpGGp9YOXjyE6R3kRHkar5wg/s1600/Princess+Grave.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheRXSYmTu8IG6_hDNBbDjtPXscRvduFzHAe5A5waoRB8EInXwD9Xt4JVugwFi4FxTOZT8tF3kX2RzmBm7sEb-S1MaoGKmM9sq-bkllaPXKppc4tOBGxClxpGGp9YOXjyE6R3kRHkar5wg/s400/Princess+Grave.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There is a Princess, the baby niece of the King of Oude.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I was so intrigued that I did some searching
online about Oude and found <a href="https://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1858/05/28.htm" target="_blank">this piece</a> written by Karl Marx in 1858, the same
year the 18-month-old Princess died in England, as well as an overview about the
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oudh_State" target="_blank">Kingdom of Oude in Wikipedia</a>.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJHUmu8BouU5hku0ZCU8a5FY7oGhkRlpHLEXMklf9VcvnOYl24exfNYk9AXHZeG5aGJNhw6wWsC-nALZM0O3QAdMkmFAAZeqpwGlFk_fuvG0dMR7uP2_KNUh9YMg0-q5AOMMp6OIkTqPU/s1600/Composer+Grave.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJHUmu8BouU5hku0ZCU8a5FY7oGhkRlpHLEXMklf9VcvnOYl24exfNYk9AXHZeG5aGJNhw6wWsC-nALZM0O3QAdMkmFAAZeqpwGlFk_fuvG0dMR7uP2_KNUh9YMg0-q5AOMMp6OIkTqPU/s400/Composer+Grave.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There is a composer, </span><a href="http://www.wrightmusic.net/pdfs/algernon-ashton.pdf" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Algernon Bennet Langton Ashton</a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">, who when
not composing was fond of </span><a href="http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Lib/Ashton-Algernon.htm" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">looking for and looking after graves</a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> of distinguished
people.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He was also worth a bit of
research and appeared to be a very interesting man.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiTdcdM5YdCLeXvZv9uZM9AoFlSS_nOXiOqzT04oWiPCaCqgg6LTGRLlWvpOrPqwWCo3RheBt8gYP_pPca2-f71OMWUs-LVpQgwQ-pP1x8z3xfc-5pswnVpVnb0SS3-NjNxoKYg9STb3A/s1600/Composer+Grave+detail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiTdcdM5YdCLeXvZv9uZM9AoFlSS_nOXiOqzT04oWiPCaCqgg6LTGRLlWvpOrPqwWCo3RheBt8gYP_pPca2-f71OMWUs-LVpQgwQ-pP1x8z3xfc-5pswnVpVnb0SS3-NjNxoKYg9STb3A/s400/Composer+Grave+detail.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A detail on his grave is this sonata, one of his own.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If I remember I'll take a cloth over and give
this a bit of a clean so that we can read the music.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This seems fitting and in Algernon Ashton's
style.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGfvttXnzCE-_jEWniOrnEhAlb97YF57GMH6ylKNS6yYwABDPIYtvr1WaYGhTT1Y6p-zlXd5nhP3e79u-mDxXC_3lyse4fOhyGA60_TiZb0gFKWTW85cS1VKWc_36-xZvEqKsz_xGp6Rg/s1600/First+Football+Captain+Grave.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGfvttXnzCE-_jEWniOrnEhAlb97YF57GMH6ylKNS6yYwABDPIYtvr1WaYGhTT1Y6p-zlXd5nhP3e79u-mDxXC_3lyse4fOhyGA60_TiZb0gFKWTW85cS1VKWc_36-xZvEqKsz_xGp6Rg/s400/First+Football+Captain+Grave.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There is the first ever England football captain.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Cuthbert John Ottaway died young, at the age
of 27.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I found some interesting stuff
about him as well including </span><a href="https://londonhistorians.wordpress.com/2012/01/03/remembering-cuthbert-ottaway/" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">this blog piece</a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> written in 2012 and updated in 2013
which shows his grave before this memorial stone was erected.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I was told by regular cemetery users that it
was paid for by the FA but a little research revealed that it was </span><a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/england/10240007/Englands-first-football-captain-Cuthbert-Ottaway-honoured-by-officials-after-grave-is-restored.html" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">a fan who mobilised the campaign</a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> for a fitting headstone.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKavQGhDslzIpP12cyimjECmwu_z9RVLDKS4wAlwzlmkHZGkT4n1ItZM9cowWVcQBpttpni4Z-_38Rs0_WjtCfIOIIg_qyEV_ICTery9umLrbHBy_BD3RNPwTZTNV9qvyr1ZIzFblylp0/s1600/First+Woman+TUC+Member+Grave.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKavQGhDslzIpP12cyimjECmwu_z9RVLDKS4wAlwzlmkHZGkT4n1ItZM9cowWVcQBpttpni4Z-_38Rs0_WjtCfIOIIg_qyEV_ICTery9umLrbHBy_BD3RNPwTZTNV9qvyr1ZIzFblylp0/s400/First+Woman+TUC+Member+Grave.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And my favourite, Emma Paterson, <a href="http://www.unionhistory.info/timeline/Tl_Display.php?Where=Dc1Title+contains+%27Emma+Paterson+(1848-1886)%27+" target="_blank">the first woman TUC member</a>. I did a quick search on her as
well. There are loads of books about her
or books that include her; she worked hard for women's rights. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipjLuV4gHEwaTmn8TFnV9jZH7XEk4m6_gUp6tcGjW6v3gmWP1JU0YD29AOAAYf5imoc3Rwz_n-TB6b6EcSXURc-gJCBPoNP3_iSY5X0fWc09ENTcVDNdCqEMv38TnjP_Yq3roP5ijW328/s1600/moss+grave.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipjLuV4gHEwaTmn8TFnV9jZH7XEk4m6_gUp6tcGjW6v3gmWP1JU0YD29AOAAYf5imoc3Rwz_n-TB6b6EcSXURc-gJCBPoNP3_iSY5X0fWc09ENTcVDNdCqEMv38TnjP_Yq3roP5ijW328/s400/moss+grave.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I like this one too.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It was the moss growing in the lettering that first attracted me.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It seems that </span><a href="http://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Edward_Middleton_Barry" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Edward Middleton Barry</a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> was a </span><a href="http://www.victorianweb.org/art/architecture/barryem/bio.html" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">well-known architect</a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> in Victorian times.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Of course he would have been terribly wealthy hence the size of his
enormous gravestone.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But if it wasn't for the moss he would be anonymous in death by now as most of the other large, flat
Victorian tombstones like his have lost their lettering over the
years and are now flat and plain.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There are also some rather amazing yew trees. This is my particular favourite for its
horizontal trunk and enormous size.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdZFrAIHGHIlmfZQnzMiaC3vYMdZ-Blf7JtU6vGAXHP8WhTNNIgnZgf2GheGTz8l3kSQ18lmj9_2xlDJG8-8O6ip0-HvysKH6sgSNF60p9J5A_hQwVCU3AxZU4FA91F5Nkr0ny4JSJRKY/s1600/Amazing+Yew+Tree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdZFrAIHGHIlmfZQnzMiaC3vYMdZ-Blf7JtU6vGAXHP8WhTNNIgnZgf2GheGTz8l3kSQ18lmj9_2xlDJG8-8O6ip0-HvysKH6sgSNF60p9J5A_hQwVCU3AxZU4FA91F5Nkr0ny4JSJRKY/s640/Amazing+Yew+Tree.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There will be more to find, there always is.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Life and Death</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Love Life</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">XXX</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11830511823393150090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6592619680402593860.post-61974635159006671062015-08-20T20:00:00.000+01:002015-08-20T20:00:02.669+01:00Cemetery Roses<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The flora and fauna changes rapidly in the cemetery. I notice things every day when I'm out
walking with Maude.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The roses are just about finished now, but they have been
absolutely glorious.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy6RCtPYOlhRyWd_Te4pbOVzjU6vKrIGV0YH92FEcUlyD6DxkUD1HuYiYzo0jQvS6m6MG33DvCRIKm1CNfZqzrEZ2jxLn7InmR71QEkKeBWj2jMfSObEMCDp7zPFbJFpcvwzwMZuYs_G0/s1600/Yellow+Roses.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy6RCtPYOlhRyWd_Te4pbOVzjU6vKrIGV0YH92FEcUlyD6DxkUD1HuYiYzo0jQvS6m6MG33DvCRIKm1CNfZqzrEZ2jxLn7InmR71QEkKeBWj2jMfSObEMCDp7zPFbJFpcvwzwMZuYs_G0/s640/Yellow+Roses.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">This yellow was particularly stunning and with very
strong-smelling perfume. Yellow roses
are often the most highly scented I've noticed.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And there are beds of these beautiful old-fashioned pink
roses whose perfume hits you on a hot day as you turn the corner.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC1CGy86Y50eIhIs6ZzdAZ5fqZ-qTVLlCr1faYL84aQB0dIBEY5bl3Pn6xyXTN-2Sb9NoAEYML6mU7xPYfKsVKSRZFJ6QSnD6yUUJCLn6_7Iv0Vmh5OF0mQAMzTGOYKPzm0NzRC5zfV7M/s1600/Pink+Roses.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC1CGy86Y50eIhIs6ZzdAZ5fqZ-qTVLlCr1faYL84aQB0dIBEY5bl3Pn6xyXTN-2Sb9NoAEYML6mU7xPYfKsVKSRZFJ6QSnD6yUUJCLn6_7Iv0Vmh5OF0mQAMzTGOYKPzm0NzRC5zfV7M/s640/Pink+Roses.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">They'll be completely gone soon. Until next year then.....</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Love Roses</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Love Life</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">XXX</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11830511823393150090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6592619680402593860.post-44733258769822426222015-08-16T07:00:00.000+01:002015-08-16T07:00:00.881+01:00Fourche to be Posh<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Whilst I am fully aware that
this blog is in danger of becoming renamed "Me and my Maude" or
somesuch nonsense I make no apology for my obsession with my girl. There are worse things in life to be obsessed
by.</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSIrQp4Yhy5r_umPvzrRSiYmGaN2pLtrUvIZ8VuZ5y8Et_Dk60OEXUwHNnnX4POJUnileGIigf5QtLUS_dgeOnnWctwKYo12brjLhECs5-kEus2pMkzm195kQcP0efBGmkFUDTh5vqcg0/s1600/fave+place+to+sit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSIrQp4Yhy5r_umPvzrRSiYmGaN2pLtrUvIZ8VuZ5y8Et_Dk60OEXUwHNnnX4POJUnileGIigf5QtLUS_dgeOnnWctwKYo12brjLhECs5-kEus2pMkzm195kQcP0efBGmkFUDTh5vqcg0/s640/fave+place+to+sit.jpg" width="462" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Favourite place to sit at home</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"> </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When you have a dog you meet other
dog owners. You stop and you chat, about
your dogs usually. It's the way of the
dog owning world. Plenty of chats in the
local park, in the cemetery and on Hampstead Heath are about Maude’s breed. We know she is a Yorkie though clearly a
cross, but crossed with what?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiw8GoWqZZ37AjzRocWVzHGxdVwS7xjHXH1jVovQ_tqBak64oxRqlHGqDM2sac4c2Vhcm9P7ewDuBSqoS1ebSEX-sW7R1-zcUiPGGSfYBOKQTKE5lWGjHg3dMiZ80CFnZ6uQnkK6dlUWo/s1600/Relaxing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiw8GoWqZZ37AjzRocWVzHGxdVwS7xjHXH1jVovQ_tqBak64oxRqlHGqDM2sac4c2Vhcm9P7ewDuBSqoS1ebSEX-sW7R1-zcUiPGGSfYBOKQTKE5lWGjHg3dMiZ80CFnZ6uQnkK6dlUWo/s640/Relaxing.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">My name's Maude and my life is F-I-N-E!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Several people have suggested
she may be crossed with a West Highland Terrier, mostly owners of such dogs, so
I did a Google image search and up came many <a href="https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=fourche+terrier&rls=com.microsoft:en-GB:%7Breferrer:source?%7D&rlz=1I7SUNA_en&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0CDAQ7AlqFQoTCLy2ztPqnscCFWOd2wodkMMBMA&biw=1164&bih=591" target="_blank">photographs of Maude-lookalikes</a> in
various colours! I'll never know for
sure unless I have her DNA tested but there are more pressing requirements for
money-spending right now, so in the absence of proof I can surmise that she may
well be Yorkshire X West Highland Terrier.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A further search revealed that
this charming little hybrid dog is what the Americans rather pretentiously
called a <a href="http://www.designermixes.org/breed_info/360/fourche_terrier.aspx" target="_blank">Fourche Terrier</a>, always reminding us that it is “<a href="http://www.dog-learn.com/dog-breeds/fourche-terrier/" target="_blank">pronounced Fush as in Push</a>”. At first I thought it was a joke but apparently not! Really!?!?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4zWz68lz4jOkPzyT7Wj2OU56LdE8rrTT0kGrKFK9dqimTIwU3AP57eIbmfnHGT-eQ34NqsVjP-0ZN2EumHGfmMJS_zF5OjonBW8rxfghAPaKxl7HhOsiknV1QSSTAtuY6NWI7JTXnmi8/s1600/resting+in+the+heat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="464" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4zWz68lz4jOkPzyT7Wj2OU56LdE8rrTT0kGrKFK9dqimTIwU3AP57eIbmfnHGT-eQ34NqsVjP-0ZN2EumHGfmMJS_zF5OjonBW8rxfghAPaKxl7HhOsiknV1QSSTAtuY6NWI7JTXnmi8/s640/resting+in+the+heat.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Walking out on a hot day Maude likes to stop suddenly and sit on the pavement in the shade to cool down</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Despite this desperation to
make a cross breed mongrel appear Posh (pronounced exactly as it sounds) the characteristics
described are right for my Maude. Of
course I really don't care what she is.
All I know is that she is perfect for me and I love her.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Love a Fourche (pronounced
Fush!)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Love Life</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">XXX</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11830511823393150090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6592619680402593860.post-51014499952168030752015-08-13T17:00:00.000+01:002015-08-13T17:00:07.131+01:00Home-Made Dog Treats<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In the absence of expendable
cash I cannot buy so instead make quality dog treats for my Maude. I looked online at various recipes and chose
the least offensive for me to handle as a vegetarian. Cooked fish I can just about cope with (even
though at the first attempt I almost fainted but I carried on for that's how much I love my
Maude) so I use tinned sardines and/or mackerel. I took account of the various available
recipes then tailored to suit our needs.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A tin of sardines costs less than
30p at Aldi – thank the gods of good sense for Aldi and Lidl whose affordable
food prices means we can now eat while exposing the horrendous greed of the bigger
supermarkets. I use either a tin of
sardines or a tin of mackerel, put on some rubber gloves and mash it up in a
bowl. To this I had a handful of linseeds
which I've soaked overnight, just covering them with water. Chuck the whole lot in, liquid and all, and
then add an egg. Beat it all together, get out the porridge oats and add some a handful at a time, stirring
thoroughly all the while, until the mixture is fairly stiff.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you remember, and I generally
do I'm happy to say, add some fresh parsley or mint, chopped up small. This will counteract the fishy breath. I nip out into the back garden and cut a few
sprigs of various mints; whatever is available.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikDsBwFaYxq4Yj4HlbYt5l1_9ol0iPI2BSzsIUx3Bpy9bbtaekYQssbFwTbnViA85bxdbbY0GmShFsdsL5xpNgaypKNhRN_Pxc2VtidowESNUlmh-oV_c7DHNgdDw2C_NvrkzEUXWZuy0/s1600/Fishy+dog+treats.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikDsBwFaYxq4Yj4HlbYt5l1_9ol0iPI2BSzsIUx3Bpy9bbtaekYQssbFwTbnViA85bxdbbY0GmShFsdsL5xpNgaypKNhRN_Pxc2VtidowESNUlmh-oV_c7DHNgdDw2C_NvrkzEUXWZuy0/s400/Fishy+dog+treats.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Ready for the oven</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Then you roll the mixture into
balls. If you prefer a biscuit shape
roll the mixture into balls then squash them down in the middle to flatten
them. Bake them at 170c for about
15-20 minutes. They will be soft in the
middle and slightly crispy on the outside.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOFkV32P3AHsWhNF-5gcUt2fssU8DB4LZHUDblILgTTyCZ3ukTjpgLRdLWcaOKVH9JoxZDRUdNlF2hjyhCx-1PX8ZBt4Xv2S33qlrZpJRK7ejCQ3CqYX2RJMIiYFe0EmGgeBPRJY4orqs/s1600/Treat+Balls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOFkV32P3AHsWhNF-5gcUt2fssU8DB4LZHUDblILgTTyCZ3ukTjpgLRdLWcaOKVH9JoxZDRUdNlF2hjyhCx-1PX8ZBt4Xv2S33qlrZpJRK7ejCQ3CqYX2RJMIiYFe0EmGgeBPRJY4orqs/s400/Treat+Balls.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Ready for Maude to eat!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A tin of fish will make 40-50
balls! They freeze well once cooled and it
takes about an hour to ensure they are thoroughly defrosted. It's a winning situation. I save a fortune (I dread to think how much
such a wholesome treat would cost to buy), I am becoming slightly less
horrified by the smell and feel of fish, and best of all Maude loves them.</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8b2IF63-TiTwC5MFebgD3iMjGHBL9LEMzxpHNPwzTpB7XMEYYA-qv9nJPO4lN48KmpvDpIws1MSrXUt3Ev_Dvy-VRzGE-TJVZ-9zAfcZtZyAMa4rLNj9jGjFQRr6xVg0t5HGEFxJHZ7c/s1600/after+the+treat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8b2IF63-TiTwC5MFebgD3iMjGHBL9LEMzxpHNPwzTpB7XMEYYA-qv9nJPO4lN48KmpvDpIws1MSrXUt3Ev_Dvy-VRzGE-TJVZ-9zAfcZtZyAMa4rLNj9jGjFQRr6xVg0t5HGEFxJHZ7c/s400/after+the+treat.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Maude relaxing after a fish ball treat. She likes to sit close to my chair while I'm working at my desk.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Love Your Dog</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Love Life</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">XXX</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11830511823393150090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6592619680402593860.post-5438625534462005182015-08-10T14:15:00.000+01:002015-08-10T14:15:28.096+01:00Growing Pains<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Despite the ongoing aches and
pains all over my body (another story - suffice to say I'm <i>still</i> waiting for my pain management appointment, now scheduled for mid-September)
I've been getting on with quite a lot of jobs up at Magic Plot 7. I'm back to using my elbow supports for
digging and heavier jobs, which makes me a little frustrated as I haven't
needed to use them for the last three or four years, and I'm having to do
things slowly, little and often, but I'm getting there. Slowly.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I've been edging more beds
with wooden boards, tiles and anything else that works. It looks rather rustic and home-made but
that's because it is. It's been a huge
job for me and has so far taken all year, and I still have one edge to do. 10 years ago I could have done the entire job
over the whole plot in a day or two, but that was then and I can't look
backwards.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I haven't been able to use my
sundeck this year at all. The path that
leads up to it was overgrown with the neighbours nettles (I have terrible
nettle phobia after being pushed into a patch by my older sister when I was
about two years old; my entire body from head to toe was covered in stings) and
with forget-me-nots who nobody can forget because they encroach on any bare
patch of earth that's going. My flower
bank up at the top isn't anything like as good as it used to be and the sundeck
is covered in weeds though amongst the madness of it all sat this exquisitely
beautiful dusky, rosy, bronze-pink Iris.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh134AwUuFoeDQyP5z8p8FX-yv3rHlRIYQ5eEnhm6P3fRfVoAy2hgalZilKz-WGOEMirvfad5xcpDM-W6x8P-H9johRmIjGXQ208Q5dz_JAqvs5myE-pvqRMAHnleDY7JTeslhq0fRPm58/s1600/dusty+pinky+iris.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh134AwUuFoeDQyP5z8p8FX-yv3rHlRIYQ5eEnhm6P3fRfVoAy2hgalZilKz-WGOEMirvfad5xcpDM-W6x8P-H9johRmIjGXQ208Q5dz_JAqvs5myE-pvqRMAHnleDY7JTeslhq0fRPm58/s640/dusty+pinky+iris.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My task for the autumn and
winter is to get all the weeds out, thin the forget-me-nots to a manageable
amount, cut the fruit bushes back hard where necessary and make the space
usable and beautiful again.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I used to
really enjoy sitting up on the sundeck with the flower bank behind me,
listening to the bees buzzing and watching the butterflies.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Camden Council removed our use
of hosepipes back in March this year hence my use of elbow supports again - I
simply can't carry endless watering cans back and forth from the tap to the
beds without damaging my arms. I'm not
alone. There are many of us up at the
allotments who’ve suffered because of this; those recovering from illness,
those with existing conditions, those who are older (lovely John is 84!). I suspect the council are trying to save
money on the water bill, though you’d think they’d have more than enough to
cover it after they doubled our rents this year. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Our hosepipes were finally
restored last week, well after the main need for them during spring and early
summer, and only after persistence from plot holders.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Of course my crop has suffered
a bit. I had to plant less of everything
because I just couldn't physically water it.
Some things will be OK and other things won't work out well at all. We'll just have to see what happens.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thus far the potatoes have
done, and continue to do well. The
Linzer Delicatess were beautiful and delicious.
I've started lifting the Pentland Javelin now that they look like this:</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4JbqnA1BeFjk4-PGYTLhMEmR1f3fEJIZqB_iQpj97OObK05UEgPDFq5BSFyZee8WxbUBVSL7y4Mn8HeOmhTLh1BMUdxmYAxbuHakQJ0Er_70zDcrPh8RMVQz5zB96DOj2kXQMjtXqWSM/s1600/Pentland+Jav+almost+ready.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4JbqnA1BeFjk4-PGYTLhMEmR1f3fEJIZqB_iQpj97OObK05UEgPDFq5BSFyZee8WxbUBVSL7y4Mn8HeOmhTLh1BMUdxmYAxbuHakQJ0Er_70zDcrPh8RMVQz5zB96DOj2kXQMjtXqWSM/s400/Pentland+Jav+almost+ready.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And they’ve been really,
really tasty!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A little tip I pass on to my
students is that during the growing season crop will generally store better in
the ground than in your cupboard. So I'll
lift the potatoes as and when I need them, but will no doubt take a few of the
Shetland Black on my next visit since they have also almost completely died
back and are therefore ready. Both of
these are First and Second early crops but I also have a couple of Apache which
are still in full growth as they are a Maincrop. I've just got to pray that the blight doesn't
get them before they are ready.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFyBs_mQnXxhyMsvLXNbUQFUU1y9F0_o1j96TX1doy1d6K9cEqsxzfTNOtId6Iav3gyrf8UInmGzFg8YD3q0XMABHeLvvh8x2JnUFzXxDIA9pXnYNbaWSR-JrjWqxmNQeBswfEju9i4SU/s1600/Apache+potatoes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFyBs_mQnXxhyMsvLXNbUQFUU1y9F0_o1j96TX1doy1d6K9cEqsxzfTNOtId6Iav3gyrf8UInmGzFg8YD3q0XMABHeLvvh8x2JnUFzXxDIA9pXnYNbaWSR-JrjWqxmNQeBswfEju9i4SU/s400/Apache+potatoes.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Speaking the dreaded b-word
when talking about potatoes tomatoes fills me with fear!</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My tomatoes were weak-looking and spindly for
a long, long time but picked up well and have put on some good growth since
being planted out a few weeks ago. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Nonetheless they feel rather
late as the first flowers and fruits are only just showing.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Another reason to pray for some warmth and
sunshine - I need to grow and ripen this crop.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiGYAv3-yGAV3D-_NRUMpLJJZEw6-mXRd-lyeoU1aSVtTc-KjU8Sin3L-v4PKegXHN_C_uzRGEj03r2tql__aEmseyINKdHPOBrvHrg_wtduQNev5hUFSylRj_jAEaiKYNNhgPKhcEIhU/s1600/Tomato+Flower.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiGYAv3-yGAV3D-_NRUMpLJJZEw6-mXRd-lyeoU1aSVtTc-KjU8Sin3L-v4PKegXHN_C_uzRGEj03r2tql__aEmseyINKdHPOBrvHrg_wtduQNev5hUFSylRj_jAEaiKYNNhgPKhcEIhU/s400/Tomato+Flower.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My climbing beans – Borlotti,
purple podded and Neckar Green – are doing OK.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I must say I was sloshing buckets of water over them for fear of loss (I
don’t want a repeat of <a href="http://heavenlyhealer.blogspot.co.uk/2014/12/gardening-review-of-2014.html" target="_blank">last year</a>) and there are now also some purple podded
dwarf plants showing at last.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This will
be the first year for many that I won’t have a courgette glut as my regular
courgettes have suffered badly.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I had
three plants, two yellow and one Black Beauty and all of them dried up and
died.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I just couldn't get enough water
into the solid ground with watering cans and dodgy arms alone.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Nonetheless, the patty pans are small but
looking pretty good, although again they feel very late.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj7KvD0xvaNhG-EGwFA1cJG2wxwG3tJNDHo40EmUu_7sZeJsakyCTD1yfS_1xyVHwfK3c2PG_dacwoVU1Q5aJN5Yyj-qlv6aNaLXw-uOSYsy_gMkrmXllv2f9_lD37-pySL31rGvS063c/s1600/Patty+Pans.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj7KvD0xvaNhG-EGwFA1cJG2wxwG3tJNDHo40EmUu_7sZeJsakyCTD1yfS_1xyVHwfK3c2PG_dacwoVU1Q5aJN5Yyj-qlv6aNaLXw-uOSYsy_gMkrmXllv2f9_lD37-pySL31rGvS063c/s400/Patty+Pans.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Likewise the root veg – having
lost the first sowing of carrots, beetroot (and swiss chard which grows in the
same bed) </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">to the heavy rains which
washed them away, and the second to the drought and watering can hell, the
third sowing are at last putting on some growth.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmrsQnt_A2Ck75e-DK1X8bkPj3_XbaIReefc00sPw-WZPbazbs_FDNwySRG0G7_koEuGq6YFgL9VZzThiUgflIeiPvDa2s7wpvpMWb3Zu2PtgUkjZLlbdiHT4b5adeTKcxi1anANGlSTE/s1600/Root+Bed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmrsQnt_A2Ck75e-DK1X8bkPj3_XbaIReefc00sPw-WZPbazbs_FDNwySRG0G7_koEuGq6YFgL9VZzThiUgflIeiPvDa2s7wpvpMWb3Zu2PtgUkjZLlbdiHT4b5adeTKcxi1anANGlSTE/s400/Root+Bed.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But slowly..... And there are
new seedlings as I continue to sow in hope.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If nothing else gardening
teaches us patience, something I need in spades when everything hurts.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Love Growing</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Loathe Pain</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Love Life</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">XXX</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11830511823393150090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6592619680402593860.post-73136199145202149722015-07-30T07:00:00.000+01:002015-07-30T22:43:07.661+01:00Bees, Dogs and Heat<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Well, the British summertime
certainly hasn't let us down has it?!! True
to form, or what form has now become, there are no longer any seasons. Spring doesn't warm up slowly and build to a crescendo of warmth and sunshine in summer like it did when I was a child. The two seasons now roll into one with
super-hot full-roast days followed by big overnight temperature drops and endless rain,
then another hot, hot day, then warm but with strong winds, a bit more rain for a few more days, more heat and
so it goes on, though sadly with more rain than sunshine for my liking.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The bees seem to be quite
plentiful this year so maybe the bonkers weather hasn't affected them too
badly. On hot, hot days they've been pollen
drunk, rolling around on the hollyhocks up at Magic Plot 7, too full and too hot
to move anywhere, even to the next flower.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFN0Re1s_lREFlj6HMrICb2sJFP-LhwRNtLVJaZ6JomD9jqfmYSzWO2a5Lf3rJOEErzFb7rLyPVNExGBkkdYCxbF-dOKDhL7e61L5O7NJbXz4zN1tPys835iWntYPkeOhyXOtKCiYb-e0/s1600/pollen+drunk+bee+on+white+hollyhock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFN0Re1s_lREFlj6HMrICb2sJFP-LhwRNtLVJaZ6JomD9jqfmYSzWO2a5Lf3rJOEErzFb7rLyPVNExGBkkdYCxbF-dOKDhL7e61L5O7NJbXz4zN1tPys835iWntYPkeOhyXOtKCiYb-e0/s640/pollen+drunk+bee+on+white+hollyhock.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Pollen drunk at Magic Plot 7</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></o:p></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqsmYHDX8MwzJ98qC71hiLKh2T9dTbh1CTGx_6necr1-1EiPzCnv0izPuFeQ5HxF1my5ZTCO5AmQDOO6IW32NPYYuc9dh-fySE5bV_7dMYdLb-8SM4B4DNQtQso7SvWIdshkYLDKhl8qk/s1600/bee+on+purple+hollhock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqsmYHDX8MwzJ98qC71hiLKh2T9dTbh1CTGx_6necr1-1EiPzCnv0izPuFeQ5HxF1my5ZTCO5AmQDOO6IW32NPYYuc9dh-fySE5bV_7dMYdLb-8SM4B4DNQtQso7SvWIdshkYLDKhl8qk/s640/bee+on+purple+hollhock.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Too hot to move...</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">These particular specimens
didn't even flinch when I stuck my camera lens in their faces (do bees have
faces?)!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Whilst my lady Maude enjoys
being out and about, and likes nothing better than a roll in the grass on a sunny day, she does feel temperature extremes so when we're up at the plot on a
hot day she likes to take shade underneath my wooden chair where she can have a
sleep whilst keeping half and eye on everything going on around her.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjywzdWicwuimxCVdMnlWcpclGj6bcaOozQjrmrSpanpIRg9IIVIRAX5yXmMdrlFRkAf7Yqpy0SwFHhp0LE5lZ281Wq1IHgQvmDgmeb2KuWHpFGYW71phCSdpB7wLpHpgKWVAwWd9-OcXw/s1600/Maude+resting+under+allotment+chair.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjywzdWicwuimxCVdMnlWcpclGj6bcaOozQjrmrSpanpIRg9IIVIRAX5yXmMdrlFRkAf7Yqpy0SwFHhp0LE5lZ281Wq1IHgQvmDgmeb2KuWHpFGYW71phCSdpB7wLpHpgKWVAwWd9-OcXw/s640/Maude+resting+under+allotment+chair.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Hot and half-asleep, but only half...</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And make sure I'm safe of
course, as that's her main preoccupation.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Summer can't be over yet! Can it? A little more sunshine please.....</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Love Bees</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Love Flowers</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Love Sun</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Love Life</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">XXX</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11830511823393150090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6592619680402593860.post-40739962029726435502015-07-26T14:24:00.002+01:002015-07-26T14:25:20.864+01:00A Cosy Home<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The balcony of the flat above me makes a roof
over a small ‘patio‘ (if you can call it that for it's only about a metre deep)
directly outside the back door in my home.
Beyond that is my garden. This
overhang can be troublesome, giving too much shade in the springtime when I'm
trying to raise seedlings indoors and means that houseplants can struggle at
times though it can also be useful, not least for nest building.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I've been lucky enough to
enjoy many nests in my little garden and a few very close to the windows and
doors of my flat over the years. When robins
nested in my shed I sat on the sofa watching the little ones fledge, a blue
tit raised a single chick in a tiny planter on the side of the shed shielded only by
the leaves of the climbing plants around it, and there are two ancient remaining
still-intact nests in the original, now almost 30-year-old, climbing frame
where jasmine has the upper hand.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dw6h4Xjt7o-lIBb2FwfqbNG7KUg6L10d3PAXPvwgW80fXgDzZA2aBH8q3aduFS5DTjxtEFapsI0vK_u9WNx' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This year it's the turn of the
wren, a cavity nester who spent springtime busily making an impressive little
structure between the older stems of the climbers and the roof of the overhang
outside the back door. Little wren found
empty netting from bird feed balls, bits of string and plenty of twigs and
leaves. Now it's noisy, cheeping away
almost constantly!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">From the information I can
find about British garden birds it's <a href="http://www.bto.org/sites/default/files/shared_documents/gbw/associated_files/bird-table-53-2008-wren-article.pdf" target="_blank">the male who builds the nest</a>, or sometimes
several, and the female who is enticed into the best one so I feel very
honoured that Mr Wren found my home to be secure, safe and desirable. We all want a cosy home.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's not clear whether it's the male or the female,
or both, darting in and out of the nest at record speed with food for the
hungry brood. Whoever it is they’re certainly
not bothered by our movements. As you’ll
see in the film, things are busy around here where people live in close
proximity but even above the sound of Maude and another dog having a barking conversation
across the gardens, and the neighbours chatting with television in the
background, the cheeping is loud, the nest is busy (watch for the adult leaving at the
end of the clip – blink and you’ll miss it) and the wrens are entirely unbothered
by us.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So now we wait and hope and
pray that those little chicks will fledge at a time when I'm at home and get to
watch them. I'll keep you posted.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Love Wrens</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Love Life</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">XXX</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11830511823393150090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6592619680402593860.post-27408904897566126282015-07-17T23:30:00.000+01:002015-07-17T23:30:00.576+01:00No Shade<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Nobody could fail but be
reminded that last week marked 10 years since the London bombings. Every
news station carried the story, tied in with London winning the bid to host the
2012 Olympic Games just the day before.
TV coverage showed the <a href="http://queenelizabetholympicpark.co.uk/" target="_blank">Olympic Park</a> and I remembered the rave reviews
from gardening friends about the amazing plantings there and decided it was
high time I paid a visit.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It was a very strange day, an
odd experience. Avoiding the tube strike
Maude and I headed off last Friday on the London Overground. The first strange thing was arriving at Stratford
and following the signs to the park which took us via the top floor of the grotesquely
vast and ugly shopping centre. Homogenous,
interchangeable, boring shops and cafes are not my thing. Exiting the dullness we crossed a main road and
entered the park with its wide, open pathways.
The sun was shining but there was no shade to be found. </span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN35UvGoNseRJvApGd8yqLhPVS6sh97ON4Rh5PkErtsntN0VAac6zrLTQHa3W69ccHU51f6bjGK4spujnX5WJbuBnXfxWgs1IroXIThlk6LReQVKxmfAC9i-JvxAM9IZmVKMWMKQxk3wk/s1600/olympic+planting+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN35UvGoNseRJvApGd8yqLhPVS6sh97ON4Rh5PkErtsntN0VAac6zrLTQHa3W69ccHU51f6bjGK4spujnX5WJbuBnXfxWgs1IroXIThlk6LReQVKxmfAC9i-JvxAM9IZmVKMWMKQxk3wk/s400/olympic+planting+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">All wide and white and open but no shade</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My gardening friends weren’t
wrong – the flower borders are amazing!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeOw_5PJz2B6EIHG-ZjPig5y56u7I8yRjg3yPfQadAcSfLRsHbliUEqJP9JnfpYCVhl3n81MkxZwHBUfKdlgv8Hv9X8_tZdY-vUqSGaOxg4D0hj5jnInjMmLPZMvjuFY4OfncAu_PMGGQ/s1600/gold+and+pink+planting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeOw_5PJz2B6EIHG-ZjPig5y56u7I8yRjg3yPfQadAcSfLRsHbliUEqJP9JnfpYCVhl3n81MkxZwHBUfKdlgv8Hv9X8_tZdY-vUqSGaOxg4D0hj5jnInjMmLPZMvjuFY4OfncAu_PMGGQ/s400/gold+and+pink+planting.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioVWz8gSUU4pxP4jlUEtLd2OnmalNWQxclRmLhH9qJnCKFu84cbM1Nv4W8aBvz7kUlpUOcmMdPmGly2sf_SG43Gw-kvnN5CgZGFaxkCwPHIf1d4F0NqFRHN3m8UistnI1XrZZOJBc6FKE/s1600/pokers+planting.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioVWz8gSUU4pxP4jlUEtLd2OnmalNWQxclRmLhH9qJnCKFu84cbM1Nv4W8aBvz7kUlpUOcmMdPmGly2sf_SG43Gw-kvnN5CgZGFaxkCwPHIf1d4F0NqFRHN3m8UistnI1XrZZOJBc6FKE/s400/pokers+planting.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxDwirRccjFU2kfBwYwcR5fYZ4OdZdnOO9jejaIiaK6AoR0pKbcuYKgYK8yUiOg87wOlxyrkpi9AVnyxGoz3DGhu9uia8S0_KRkXJEvpQC_Z_-gZuVrlKvwY99eAQ1PtEsdedR0QJp3Fk/s1600/dark+and+light+planting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxDwirRccjFU2kfBwYwcR5fYZ4OdZdnOO9jejaIiaK6AoR0pKbcuYKgYK8yUiOg87wOlxyrkpi9AVnyxGoz3DGhu9uia8S0_KRkXJEvpQC_Z_-gZuVrlKvwY99eAQ1PtEsdedR0QJp3Fk/s400/dark+and+light+planting.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmzAPlKPILy1sBVHQFJ21r4uMbt8FtfK4T6XYrICT4AotKarUNXxI24gWU99H9UxYQnPrjt8i9JwMTF6mQYPH7hJb6Eb-nd5jnI-3zIhfVs0gTt8uttgeQ0xEm9tWq1o7EUGqyc13xP58/s1600/olympic+planting+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmzAPlKPILy1sBVHQFJ21r4uMbt8FtfK4T6XYrICT4AotKarUNXxI24gWU99H9UxYQnPrjt8i9JwMTF6mQYPH7hJb6Eb-nd5jnI-3zIhfVs0gTt8uttgeQ0xEm9tWq1o7EUGqyc13xP58/s400/olympic+planting+2.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And there is interesting use
of interesting plants...</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9pPKCCOd_QYiYrFEA5tULUKIte3QHYURs7BXqLzm4Lz0grOk99lkVe5up319xCCb0PIF1dMkMUHP01mJ4O2s6XXcjKVQEHv1TNk7tT2sMT-teCVxBc9z-l0Ck_JfU3qVJgsdGrptWqb4/s1600/olympic+planting+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9pPKCCOd_QYiYrFEA5tULUKIte3QHYURs7BXqLzm4Lz0grOk99lkVe5up319xCCb0PIF1dMkMUHP01mJ4O2s6XXcjKVQEHv1TNk7tT2sMT-teCVxBc9z-l0Ck_JfU3qVJgsdGrptWqb4/s400/olympic+planting+3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMxN1ahkJfrCIbI2dF97C_N0FtJPVxM2W8jdNrBJ-Y8wB0Qdd48BahfjgJQGsIhQ7vZ4K1mTvMDlvrodHfxUmxeCb5i7_tnmD43O6AqsGwgVXQgmCsnpLCRc5K69Og5I85jzJ1dkQ5UZ8/s1600/shade.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMxN1ahkJfrCIbI2dF97C_N0FtJPVxM2W8jdNrBJ-Y8wB0Qdd48BahfjgJQGsIhQ7vZ4K1mTvMDlvrodHfxUmxeCb5i7_tnmD43O6AqsGwgVXQgmCsnpLCRc5K69Og5I85jzJ1dkQ5UZ8/s400/shade.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">...some of which I cannot
identify, like this one below. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3MifnXqxW6aTCiDGH0QCieicoQ5k1beco5qRAwjqZB8Ajmjl6JJmwiy3eyOR2WlePM5VluKLnCvm8i4QiszSm-wzAEaoxI6rM3zcQKeZkO-J5Zr2hGY7aqhX85ETHwhK0FiQotJZhSMw/s1600/what%2527s+this.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3MifnXqxW6aTCiDGH0QCieicoQ5k1beco5qRAwjqZB8Ajmjl6JJmwiy3eyOR2WlePM5VluKLnCvm8i4QiszSm-wzAEaoxI6rM3zcQKeZkO-J5Zr2hGY7aqhX85ETHwhK0FiQotJZhSMw/s400/what%2527s+this.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">What's this?</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Any ideas?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There are super-clean towpaths
with beautiful borders, flower beds surrounding green lawns cut to perfection
and edged immaculately, sculptural blocks of upright trees but it’s all a bit
manicured for my taste and there’s NO SHADE!!!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The trees aren’t large enough
yet, and nobody thought to put up some structures in the meantime. It’s a bit strange. Maude wasn’t best pleased. On a grassy bank overlooking the River Lea which
winds all around the place and with the stadium across the water, we found the
biggest tree we could and had a rest and some lunch. Behind us was the fabulous Anish Kapoor sculpture. If you’re a fan like me, it’s a treat. There’s no peace though as building work is
going on all around, including inside the stadium where you cannot visit and
all bridges to it are closed.</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGa4E3K9AOpSmNYQmWmZXpcPlO9hV_kGk6mYDsMibHkh9HqF-VUwpHByXdEhP69wHdPjJgnCnjyd6CrrI0MbwZd2GweFr78kpzBd8CxS6zDtiLY5flwqqr1oBkNkkv3nHksRorbK21eto/s1600/anish+kapoor+sculpture.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGa4E3K9AOpSmNYQmWmZXpcPlO9hV_kGk6mYDsMibHkh9HqF-VUwpHByXdEhP69wHdPjJgnCnjyd6CrrI0MbwZd2GweFr78kpzBd8CxS6zDtiLY5flwqqr1oBkNkkv3nHksRorbK21eto/s400/anish+kapoor+sculpture.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Lunch spot. Dappled shade and Anish Kapoor.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We walked along the towpath,
hoping for some cover somewhere.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There
are more beautiful plantings to admire as you roast in the heat (or get
drenched in the rain).</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhYr6lzNtmUpQ-ckn3O7Sn4xPXeObIQK5DVUKkbLW0nYdg6XaOTpBIhKRsc67ZmbYVItazVeOwivOQ5kxGq2mao9lug2orBGhBYdvpkyIH-MIhvH-lloc3LnTTy4K2FYrASpYldGzw1us/s1600/shady+border+spot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhYr6lzNtmUpQ-ckn3O7Sn4xPXeObIQK5DVUKkbLW0nYdg6XaOTpBIhKRsc67ZmbYVItazVeOwivOQ5kxGq2mao9lug2orBGhBYdvpkyIH-MIhvH-lloc3LnTTy4K2FYrASpYldGzw1us/s400/shady+border+spot.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Then we came across the best
thing in the place – the bridge at Carpenters Lock which is sculptural and
beautiful and reflects everything below it.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZK1ysB9gIpUcWigc-r8gZr1J5GlQsjl7ARCPGi6sqHJct3DyA7j1gI5CmGJ6qIGe8Yfty-QhNKwAqgsjdSSdtqwPmoFy_QDg-7f6N90bqEVsKgOd52uyUYzLqIflFdv96DPMvhCj6-NQ/s1600/Carpenters+Lock+bridge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZK1ysB9gIpUcWigc-r8gZr1J5GlQsjl7ARCPGi6sqHJct3DyA7j1gI5CmGJ6qIGe8Yfty-QhNKwAqgsjdSSdtqwPmoFy_QDg-7f6N90bqEVsKgOd52uyUYzLqIflFdv96DPMvhCj6-NQ/s640/Carpenters+Lock+bridge.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5rawHgFwyDtPmX5_YVlnsDY7nxSfOIY7ub3NAjSCULTj35UjV7DpEKPZnmtyYDuefSlJEncKFgQ8Hu_jpZhXNqjrivMZL_Msllxa3cziDbM3emij3b3eau8IVJ4Y8uurlffWF_QvLtuw/s1600/Lock+Bridge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5rawHgFwyDtPmX5_YVlnsDY7nxSfOIY7ub3NAjSCULTj35UjV7DpEKPZnmtyYDuefSlJEncKFgQ8Hu_jpZhXNqjrivMZL_Msllxa3cziDbM3emij3b3eau8IVJ4Y8uurlffWF_QvLtuw/s640/Lock+Bridge.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgosiXRTaBwZv8gFLdJEQAPRKEKnG2a8S1HKuipBUip2Enc6JqGz-zZhncuJcIDjx2SRFSNQRvbi7ZWldHkhCKHG_SHghM3SCCLhKsp6EjsLUWCLobOHMrqKKRU4CHr-PUBtdnSLHR_N54/s1600/Carpenters+Lock+reflection.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgosiXRTaBwZv8gFLdJEQAPRKEKnG2a8S1HKuipBUip2Enc6JqGz-zZhncuJcIDjx2SRFSNQRvbi7ZWldHkhCKHG_SHghM3SCCLhKsp6EjsLUWCLobOHMrqKKRU4CHr-PUBtdnSLHR_N54/s640/Carpenters+Lock+reflection.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDqWBVRgeo8aNyjEgHje0VU1QNj6EJ6qXBJwO7tfGPk__DEv7DFikIN-pZMvUAUPPIFg2NZpu1gy4mwLyhs_Tv5KEkzbVm585x8wEvWmhAHuYBIjqMVbzh4RkaCHDrMAiSfRl8ukXSbwg/s1600/Me+and+Maude+reflect.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDqWBVRgeo8aNyjEgHje0VU1QNj6EJ6qXBJwO7tfGPk__DEv7DFikIN-pZMvUAUPPIFg2NZpu1gy4mwLyhs_Tv5KEkzbVm585x8wEvWmhAHuYBIjqMVbzh4RkaCHDrMAiSfRl8ukXSbwg/s640/Me+and+Maude+reflect.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Including me and Maude! And it was cool in every sense of the word s</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">o we stayed a while.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The bridge that would have
taken us across the river towards the north, where I wanted to go in search of
something a bit more natural, was closed so we schlepped all the way back around
the towpath in the heat until we were where we would have been had the bridge
been open, and finally headed to the north park across another main road and
into another semi-building site. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5v6rUDCF8w7KB9dPgNsDvdP5LOiIzEXIKVuKPlT02JYrDd-I0sMGTsJOEeqPbcCnvbs6zTPzBQgPyWo2mEVi1M19ATHKfjEn-nEn5m4HR9sKiIZYt9jBlSYnZADVZyJkIWyBqCStsVRM/s1600/view+from+north+park.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5v6rUDCF8w7KB9dPgNsDvdP5LOiIzEXIKVuKPlT02JYrDd-I0sMGTsJOEeqPbcCnvbs6zTPzBQgPyWo2mEVi1M19ATHKfjEn-nEn5m4HR9sKiIZYt9jBlSYnZADVZyJkIWyBqCStsVRM/s400/view+from+north+park.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Exhausted
by the lack of peace and the heat we hopefully entered the wetlands walk which
is great, houses tons of wildfowl and has beautiful flowering vistas.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMGpSqcSp_AS03fSTLE41nRhtdhSluK7RB_c6-urQ0g-7p3HF8aQQmnCHT5fB2XX9aWKv9nBFfdMUx6cruBrTiRcuAGzK2RC-FoQ-6iXu39JpyIEYC9a9o4EVcwr1VXW-47Nfg5NKIiDY/s1600/wetlands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMGpSqcSp_AS03fSTLE41nRhtdhSluK7RB_c6-urQ0g-7p3HF8aQQmnCHT5fB2XX9aWKv9nBFfdMUx6cruBrTiRcuAGzK2RC-FoQ-6iXu39JpyIEYC9a9o4EVcwr1VXW-47Nfg5NKIiDY/s400/wetlands.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOsVHbpH4t8781RRhcffEjRnpaOh_LqPDJheHf9LAV5OFLekbDKX7kVhHYQ-mhz4AsmHhyIoZZDgRD_Gk9oXc2VFsuXabWPOVytj_pUpr9bOqXNGx9HVFLP2QUaRc-Gld1N-6Io2YchtI/s1600/heron+and+geese+in+wetlands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOsVHbpH4t8781RRhcffEjRnpaOh_LqPDJheHf9LAV5OFLekbDKX7kVhHYQ-mhz4AsmHhyIoZZDgRD_Gk9oXc2VFsuXabWPOVytj_pUpr9bOqXNGx9HVFLP2QUaRc-Gld1N-6Io2YchtI/s400/heron+and+geese+in+wetlands.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Heron and geese</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But there is no shade on any of the pathways.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">PAH!!!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Maude looked fed up and I wasn’t
overly impressed so I took one last chance and went a little further north to
what the map shows as big fields of green.
I saw vast and open fields but no significant trees anywhere on the
horizon – though it did have heat shimmer.
We got back on the towpath and headed back towards the main park. More closed walkways meant that couldn’t
happen so we cut our losses, came off the towpath and walked towards Hackney
Wick station instead.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Amazingly, the moment you
cross the bridge into Hackney Wick you are out of the modern homogeny and into
old Hackney Wick, a place I knew fairly well in the early 90s. I couldn’t quite believe the difference. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you want to do sport or if
you’ve got children the park is a great place to visit with lots to do. If you’re local it must be quite nice to bob
in and out as you please. The plantings
are beautiful and I’m glad I saw them but as a place to visit just for the hell
of it I’d say wait 10 years until the trees have grown and the builders have
finally put down their tools. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Or go just to enjoy the bridge
at Carpenters Lock.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I’ll take Maude somewhere more
peaceful and natural next time we have a day out.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Love Sunshine</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Love Shade</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Love Life</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">XXX</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11830511823393150090noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6592619680402593860.post-71078905366322822432015-07-15T07:00:00.000+01:002015-07-15T07:00:01.421+01:00Flower Show Shopping List<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Those of you who’ve been
following this blog for a while might remember that I purchased some spectacular
black scabious plants and a terracotta achillea last year for my back garden when
I was at <a href="https://www.rhs.org.uk/shows-events/rhs-hampton-court-palace-flower-show" target="_blank">RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show</a>.
I also bought rather gorgeous orange kniphofia which had a single flower
spike at the time. It weathered well
over the winter and this summer afforded me a glorious show of orange pokers.</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-qhx7qo2Jn7Oex0oK49Qob6r5ah72TwrDhup4EZAtWuSeZbE721DV5IAHQRFaxUmM7g5erxbwSvoNoD0lGHw_DWgaYNgpt-bd8lBDUm1vjw8H6UcBw4C7fvIIZv9M19b8Afn3sSJ47Kk/s1600/kniphofia+12+June.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-qhx7qo2Jn7Oex0oK49Qob6r5ah72TwrDhup4EZAtWuSeZbE721DV5IAHQRFaxUmM7g5erxbwSvoNoD0lGHw_DWgaYNgpt-bd8lBDUm1vjw8H6UcBw4C7fvIIZv9M19b8Afn3sSJ47Kk/s640/kniphofia+12+June.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">kniphofia in June</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Since I took this photograph
it produced another three flower spikes making a total of six in its first full
flowering year in my garden. It sits in
front of a black stemmed dogwood looking amazing. The flowers are finishing now and who knows how many it will make next year?!!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My friend Polly took me to the
Hampton Court show this year on
the Tuesday of full-roast week (the day before ‘the hottest day EVER’ according
to the newspapers) so it was uncomfortably hot and packed to the rafters, and subsequently much more difficult to
get around than on previous visits.
Nonetheless I enjoyed it and once again made some great purchases, but only those on my shopping list.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I was specifically looking for
<a href="https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/18287/i-Trachelospermum-jasminoides-i/Details?returnurl=%2Fplants%2Fclimbers%3Fs%3Ddesc(plant_merged)%26context%3Db%25253D0%252526hf%25253D12%252526l%25253Den%252526s%25253Ddesc%25252528plant_merged%25252529%252526sl%25253Dplants%252526r%25253Df%2525252Fplant_plant_type%2525252Fclimbers%26page%3D3%26aliaspath%3D%252fplants%252fclimbers" target="_blank">Trachelospermum jasminoides</a> which has many common names, my favourite being
Star Jasmine. It's a hardy evergreen climber. I needed this plant to climb and fill the
gap where my vile neighbour cut a hole in the hedge to spy on me when I'm
inside my home (yes really, but more about that another time perhaps) and in
preparation I'd erected a bamboo frame back in May, five inches or so in front
of the fence. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmHLkYO6vhlZuf1pS3iB2H-yGUM9S389jleJnFY-SO9UIvA6e3oPiwx8Nu7ojs9vI9nKIs35yVdXJVvQTXtVZ9Jrza-RunB3VyEPtM1vwwnXaqFu8iWdGMnL6HUHMNsUShEbW4XKFAK7Q/s1600/climbers+frame+in+May+2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmHLkYO6vhlZuf1pS3iB2H-yGUM9S389jleJnFY-SO9UIvA6e3oPiwx8Nu7ojs9vI9nKIs35yVdXJVvQTXtVZ9Jrza-RunB3VyEPtM1vwwnXaqFu8iWdGMnL6HUHMNsUShEbW4XKFAK7Q/s400/climbers+frame+in+May+2015.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">bamboo climbers frame in May. Ceanothus in flower at the bottom (if you can see it...)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My thinking is that the
existing climbers - honeysuckle Tangutica and clematis Montana Rubens - along
with the shrubs – a Tamarisk planted in 1989 (the subject of vile neighbour’s
cutting) at the fence with <a href="https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/details?plantid=350" target="_blank">Ceanothus repens</a> and <a href="https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/16452/Sarcococca-confusa/Details" target="_blank">Sarcococca confusa</a> in front –
will fill the gap between the frame and the fence along with the sought after
Star Jasmine. Vile neighbour won't be able
to cut it because the space is inside my garden, beyond his fence line.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After looking around the show
and braving the heat and crowds we headed to the plant village section where
various nurseries and garden centres offer such a great range of flowering
treats it's hard to stick to the shopping list.
But I did. I bought two
good-sized star jasmine plants from the nice people at <a href="http://www.cooks-garden-centre.co.uk/about/" target="_blank">Cook's</a> for £15 the pair. A bargain!
They'd have cost me closer to at least 20 quid each in a London garden centre, if
you can find one. In 3 litre pots both
had very good root balls and plenty of new growth. </span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlaq-hcNPZ-KTpKs1df5o5Ug1FLcAfN9LOiTyW60ET7a-VgZR7RIcWFJ5wpKWIW4f8QBnpAFg2H6SYkALjcpaTYAbnGWQldrUhv-CZpXNc0mi4rena8UWIi-ATAWvTgsoitIECjkj3Yk0/s1600/trachelo+%252B+ceanothus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlaq-hcNPZ-KTpKs1df5o5Ug1FLcAfN9LOiTyW60ET7a-VgZR7RIcWFJ5wpKWIW4f8QBnpAFg2H6SYkALjcpaTYAbnGWQldrUhv-CZpXNc0mi4rena8UWIi-ATAWvTgsoitIECjkj3Yk0/s400/trachelo+%252B+ceanothus.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">star jasmine planted close to ceanothus repens</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The following day was
biodynamically correct for planting ‘flower’ but only after 4pm.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And it was ‘the hottest day’ and the soil was
dry like concrete.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Digging and preparing
two holes at the bamboo frame uprights took about an hour and a half, several
times slower than usual and all the time I worried that vile neighbour might come out and be vile.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But they were
ready for the biodynamic hour and the new, well-watered plants went in.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGK7jKLajt5ROBSeevm1z0pW-FYTBgPOavtKW9t_VlNsSul-PkdKmgmneaS7K1WkwHlrgeZFrvtNk57ncmeKxZn82ERjrGD71T3CCdyNqefkiEdUUByRx-0uvYr-_dgGzoed6E_hSAcSc/s1600/climber+frame.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGK7jKLajt5ROBSeevm1z0pW-FYTBgPOavtKW9t_VlNsSul-PkdKmgmneaS7K1WkwHlrgeZFrvtNk57ncmeKxZn82ERjrGD71T3CCdyNqefkiEdUUByRx-0uvYr-_dgGzoed6E_hSAcSc/s400/climber+frame.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6DPbIxt5kq0fPPSu-Ty4tEMldXAVgEGaP2SfCH2_0CWQHu1XJDTGiDbctOaikgLAGiBDGsL9gqBqALuFahCK2qlRNX2KC3liC9ooprrc435D5LySDkV7DWpj5HyGdh1pUSEQGBm2ViQU/s1600/common+jasmine+and+trachelo+jasmine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6DPbIxt5kq0fPPSu-Ty4tEMldXAVgEGaP2SfCH2_0CWQHu1XJDTGiDbctOaikgLAGiBDGsL9gqBqALuFahCK2qlRNX2KC3liC9ooprrc435D5LySDkV7DWpj5HyGdh1pUSEQGBm2ViQU/s400/common+jasmine+and+trachelo+jasmine.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The common Jasmine that grows along
the side of my flat (seen on the right of the photograph above) will intermingle with the star Jasmine, the ceanothus and
sarcococca will grow, the gap will fill and I’ll have some privacy. It'll take a wee while but it'll be good, and
smell amazing!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The other great purchase I
made that HCPFS was a packet of <a href="http://www.pennardplants.com/products.php?cat=11" target="_blank">Swiss Chard</a> ‘Fordhook Giant’ from <a href="https://www.pennardplants.com/" target="_blank">Pennard Plants</a>. It was such a huge success last year, and in
fact I've been eating the last of the leaves even as it ran to seed in the
past fortnight, I simply had to have another packet of seeds. Another stand I was specifically searching
for, when I got there they had no seeds for sale this year. Oh no!
What to do? I explained to the man
on the stand my dilemma. They have a
great website but the minimum online spend is £7.50 and I only wanted one packet
of seeds costing £1.50 hence searching for them at the show. He came up with a simple solution. Some people are just lovely aren't they! He wrote an order, took my £1.50 and said
he'd email headquarters and get them in the post the following day. He was good to his word and they arrived on
Friday. I am hugely grateful and equally
impressed.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOnOtb8xYh2qH_QDMLk62zsZMU0PYXIYYpAUri_vu9lNSgsXyUwEW9izrg-2i-NRMY8oll7vCfAYc4hadOXte1WE2YLWLTFVYOqZpxAuXprCCi3roGkzWzYSkPzFKEscZiRSTMiHkIOCg/s1600/fordhook+giant.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOnOtb8xYh2qH_QDMLk62zsZMU0PYXIYYpAUri_vu9lNSgsXyUwEW9izrg-2i-NRMY8oll7vCfAYc4hadOXte1WE2YLWLTFVYOqZpxAuXprCCi3roGkzWzYSkPzFKEscZiRSTMiHkIOCg/s400/fordhook+giant.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It serves to remind me also
that while some people are properly vile, most people are essentially good and
amongst them there are those who are just lovely.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Love Flower Shows </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Love Plants</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Love Life</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">XXX</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11830511823393150090noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6592619680402593860.post-38341169183501931202015-07-13T07:00:00.000+01:002015-07-13T07:00:01.911+01:00Groom It Yourself<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I've always been into Do It
Yourself. I'm not talking about
the usual home based tasks, like putting up shelves, rewiring electrics and
the like, though I can do those things, but more about doing things myself that
I can do and would otherwise pay somebody else to do, like buying things that I
can make. With dog grooming costing
around £45 average in London and with no spare income at the moment I saw no
reason not to do it myself.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I've spent some time over the
last few months getting Maude used to the clippers. She was very afraid of them initially,
probably recalling the trauma when she was picked up off the streets and had to
have her matted body hair pretty much shaved and her face cut very short, so following advice from Dawn at <a href="http://www.the-mutt-hut.co.uk/" target="_blank">The Mutt Hut</a>, I'd get them out and leave them lying around, switch them on every now and
again for a few minutes at a time, then switch them off but still leave them
lying around. Now she has no fear of
them and although she’s not particularly fond of being clipped she does allow
me to do it without too much fuss.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Her face is more difficult of
course as I need to use scissors but she stands pretty still for as long as is
needed.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Until now I'd only done small
clipping at a time, her legs and graduating her growing torso hair in with her neck
and face. But word was that we were going to have a heatwave so she needed a
summer cut.</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgthNd9z2NCv8U1gh_FtMml1m-8r7NmNZD2Fv-rxGEi8OmpXYVN4_N9e6Czw6VTH8xDZ34mKgJNtyqIesDLyfViCMrr0PnXTfAYdoRktJn2Jd4lgZiLMArZ7jWehD2mY05pVflGPsaQ9nk/s1600/2+days+before+haircut.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgthNd9z2NCv8U1gh_FtMml1m-8r7NmNZD2Fv-rxGEi8OmpXYVN4_N9e6Czw6VTH8xDZ34mKgJNtyqIesDLyfViCMrr0PnXTfAYdoRktJn2Jd4lgZiLMArZ7jWehD2mY05pVflGPsaQ9nk/s640/2+days+before+haircut.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">before</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Before: this is how Maude
looked on 24 June.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">She had her neutering
operation four weeks earlier so her belly area had been completely shaved which
emphasised how long the rest of her hair had grown.</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKZkOPK0oSFj1TjDNxwP2wyOzvy54K2ellG8bAMUnNBBJQtVC0CgQPdSf7HwIjfnZVxPTip87UJEXa4or7e403gZrywODunxQf7dIP2hYenzlQ0aJpKTq7PUTgy80H4NoPabTx56D4jZs/s1600/Maude%2527s+summer+haircut+2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKZkOPK0oSFj1TjDNxwP2wyOzvy54K2ellG8bAMUnNBBJQtVC0CgQPdSf7HwIjfnZVxPTip87UJEXa4or7e403gZrywODunxQf7dIP2hYenzlQ0aJpKTq7PUTgy80H4NoPabTx56D4jZs/s640/Maude%2527s+summer+haircut+2015.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">and after</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After: here she is on 29
June.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Not bad for an untrained dog
groomer!</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Note that I’m growing a little
longer hair around where her tail should be.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Poor Maude has only a tiny badly scarred stump (because some dog owners
are vile) so I'm growing her a little hair tail.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It means that when she wags her stump I can see
it. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I knew all that hairdressing training I did
between 16 and 18 years of age would come in useful one day.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now I've just got to get her chops thinned
out a bit......</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And when the (short-lived) heatwave
came along Maude was really happy with her cool cut.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you don't fancy doing it yourself or you're not a born-again
hairdresser and need a dog groomer in the London area I recommend going to
Dawn Doran at <a href="http://www.the-mutt-hut.co.uk/" target="_blank">The Mutt Hut</a>, close to Gospel Oak station. Some of the London dog groomers support various
rescue charities by offering their services for free and Dawn does a lot for <a href="http://alldogsmatter.co.uk/" target="_blank">All Dogs Matter</a>. When ADM took charge of
Maude from the dog pound it was Dawn who shampooed her clean of the streets and kennels. When we first met she
recognised Maude because of her no-tail and we often pop in to say hello when
we're on our way to Hampstead Heath. I've
only ever heard very good reports from other dog owners about Dawn's work but I
had no cash to pay. Nonetheless she generously
shared invaluable advice and little tips that gave me the confidence to do it
myself, something I hugely appreciate.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Love a Haircut</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Love Life</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">XXX</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11830511823393150090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6592619680402593860.post-38603209210473630062015-07-10T17:30:00.000+01:002015-07-10T17:30:01.592+01:00Maude's About 6th Birthday<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's probably become pretty
obvious by now that I remain obsessed by my Maude. It's a good obsession, like gardening.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Since she is a <a href="http://alldogsmatter.co.uk/" target="_blank">rescue dog</a> and
we don't know her actual birthday I decided that she needed an official date
that we could celebrate. I didn't want
it to be the date when she came to me as that time will always be associated with
my mum passing, and as my birthday is on Spring Equinox I felt that Maude's
birthday really ought to be on Summer Solstice, June 21.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">To celebrate Maude turning
About 6 - I was told she was "about 5" when she came to me so she
will always only ever be "about" any particular age - we went up to
<a href="http://trentcountrypark.com/Welcome.html" target="_blank">Trent Park</a> in Cockfosters for a dog walk and shared picnic with some of our dog-loving friends.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVtuYs4rCJ4nThtIC6dhksExvC0PRy7m9DHMKv17MJ3g-gHbXaF0ibGBgjbHy-7fSMcuRRC25NF1efjZMr2S6DHNx-DX-1WWCtTTkIJZrV3uUitbbJWWUAcvDnMRyVd3BGlZjihTculOc/s1600/Scarlett+and+Maude+in+Trent+Park.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVtuYs4rCJ4nThtIC6dhksExvC0PRy7m9DHMKv17MJ3g-gHbXaF0ibGBgjbHy-7fSMcuRRC25NF1efjZMr2S6DHNx-DX-1WWCtTTkIJZrV3uUitbbJWWUAcvDnMRyVd3BGlZjihTculOc/s400/Scarlett+and+Maude+in+Trent+Park.jpg" width="300" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The humans feasted on puy lentil
and feta cheese salad and tortilla amongst other delicious little bits and bobs. Maude feasted on home-made mackerel balls and
sardine biscuits followed by peanut butter and banana bombs. I'm getting pretty good at knocking up
batches of dog treats (and saving a fortune in the process) though as a
vegetarian I had to get over the handling of fish which freaked me into a cold
sweat on the first attempt. Seriously, I
thought I was going to either faint or throw up! But I did it because I love my Maude. I know - I am a woman obsessed.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijAKUrSrT_IugkmjJK5Gg8kreqpTptb4Y5PSjKruVAfRqJBnWvbslpxW85wkYhNWz6R77vCv5mcSTbpBMMVRNeycRjQSqMb_laH4o09i84BUPN-d0kE1UpDeQ6qK-CF2A1s9TERp-QRus/s1600/Jen+and+Zig.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijAKUrSrT_IugkmjJK5Gg8kreqpTptb4Y5PSjKruVAfRqJBnWvbslpxW85wkYhNWz6R77vCv5mcSTbpBMMVRNeycRjQSqMb_laH4o09i84BUPN-d0kE1UpDeQ6qK-CF2A1s9TERp-QRus/s400/Jen+and+Zig.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ziggy had brought Maude a cupcake (for humans) for her birthday which of course was far too large for such a little dog so we were forced to share it amongst ourselves, with Maude allowed just a little of the least sweet part of the cake. I can be tough too, particularly when it comes to her good health.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-zynIe2XmCdl1LblGjyAT-0C8cDjvaAt_EtXAGosxcExdT6plm4pEaAzOBiHy8HGG8Gj0GRLwSnfRxi4P7ENU0MWtIW-e-PGfetNZr5tCKQMKfWKpWrZONBd28w8Ml4jB3WVkQuCPNHs/s1600/sleeping+off+the+picnic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-zynIe2XmCdl1LblGjyAT-0C8cDjvaAt_EtXAGosxcExdT6plm4pEaAzOBiHy8HGG8Gj0GRLwSnfRxi4P7ENU0MWtIW-e-PGfetNZr5tCKQMKfWKpWrZONBd28w8Ml4jB3WVkQuCPNHs/s400/sleeping+off+the+picnic.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After eating far too much we sat
around chatting for a while, enjoying our digestive rest whilst Maude had a
sleep. Then we went walking.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcVCL6e562ZHMnk09G-50nBiRo6EazEtfRv4zsH_tdcKVoSRgUhRxqwefx_aJyNFaW87CYUVtDfORBGdswhBoUdjb8NwHoux2UNRkltQLSlq8Hq_oAI0DFG68c3YloOT6-wycZSE4bDGs/s1600/Zig+and+Malachi+walking+in+Trent+Park.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcVCL6e562ZHMnk09G-50nBiRo6EazEtfRv4zsH_tdcKVoSRgUhRxqwefx_aJyNFaW87CYUVtDfORBGdswhBoUdjb8NwHoux2UNRkltQLSlq8Hq_oAI0DFG68c3YloOT6-wycZSE4bDGs/s400/Zig+and+Malachi+walking+in+Trent+Park.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is only my second visit
to Trent Park. Mariola and I went up
with Maude for my birthday in March, which I kept very low key as I really
wasn't feeling it this year. It's enormous with <a href="http://trentcountrypark.com/Wildlife.html" target="_blank">rolling hills, farmland and deep woodland</a> too. Because
it's so big it doesn't get overcrowded, even at weekends which near-to-home Hampstead Heath
has a tendency to do. And though it's a
fairly long way out of town (it takes about an hour on public transport from my
place in north-west London) it's easy and inexpensive to get to. Take the tube to Cockfosters and you are there.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUBlcJ2kDC-MNeSXxan_eihG2YZkEwj3OJ-xDOFfLV-2YjmtIfpQo-frgBaUgJbpmdXmdgLjzQn3tu3Wvf_DW1Mdj5m57IAphSotAdgT4IGKWjCj9gCqkTpwjK3y5l3dzUNIVcHDbHUGw/s1600/rolling+hills.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUBlcJ2kDC-MNeSXxan_eihG2YZkEwj3OJ-xDOFfLV-2YjmtIfpQo-frgBaUgJbpmdXmdgLjzQn3tu3Wvf_DW1Mdj5m57IAphSotAdgT4IGKWjCj9gCqkTpwjK3y5l3dzUNIVcHDbHUGw/s640/rolling+hills.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We ended up walking over five
and a half miles (according to Ziggy’s phone app) without even realising it,
though my legs knew it immediately upon sitting down on the tube to head home. Maude was utterly exhausted but happy. She had a lovely, lovely first birthday with
me and I believe is enjoying being About 6.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Yes indeed. Obsessed.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Love Summer Solstice</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Love Birthdays</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Love Dogs</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Love Life</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">XXX</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11830511823393150090noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6592619680402593860.post-39767338183103961612015-07-09T07:00:00.000+01:002015-07-09T07:00:08.466+01:00The Lone Rhodo<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Just a quick one today. Another catch-up, this time a photo share.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Walking on Hampstead Heath in
early June we came across this enormous and very old lone rhododendron in glorious purple flower
sitting comfortably amongst the British natives. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFjm06r0FeWFZTJv5GGiOMY2m-zfvEGpP2R8WAc8IOla8i_Cr7YLRkUCOPfNlcDALsUN5fE4X-UTbiFVvCVlvUjZo2Lw0TyLX1T5qiO3NXmuk_L8eZxTfFYiQqNN_m1Z7ne1S-UVVlaAg/s1600/lone+rhodo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFjm06r0FeWFZTJv5GGiOMY2m-zfvEGpP2R8WAc8IOla8i_Cr7YLRkUCOPfNlcDALsUN5fE4X-UTbiFVvCVlvUjZo2Lw0TyLX1T5qiO3NXmuk_L8eZxTfFYiQqNN_m1Z7ne1S-UVVlaAg/s640/lone+rhodo.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If I didn't have Maude I
wouldn't be walking on the Heath at least two or three times a week and I'd
miss this.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thank the lord for Lady
Maude.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">She gives me a reason to get out
and enjoy Nature whose creations never cease to impress me, and all for free.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Love Nature</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Love Dogs</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Love Life</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">XXX</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11830511823393150090noreply@blogger.com0