Roses Grow On You, 21st May 08

Today we decided it was time to plant our roses. We were going to make a formal rose garden but in the winter the plot turned into a swimming pool, so we realised it wasn't a good spot for roses. Jim had the brilliant idea of planting a line of roses, like a snake, from the bottom to almost the top of the arboretum. We marked out the snake with rope and I cut the turf for Jim to remove. The ground is very stony but ok. We managed to plant about 8 of the roses and they look just great. I'll take a photo when it's all done. I'm so pleased with it so far.

I spent a while collecting stones for the base of the grotto. This area is incredibly wet and was very smelly too. I pulled up the weeds and took out the black muddy stuff underneath and am covering the whole area with stones. At least we'll be able to walk round there. I have some lovely plants growing there, loads of violas, ferns and sedums but it was too wet to walk around there. Should be another good section of our 5 acres sorted. As our neighbours would say 'We're getting there'.

We have had some rain today, but, believe it or not the garden needs it, especially the vege plot and newly planted roses. It will also be a test for my new grotto flooring.

Not much else to report. My daughter in law's Mum has been in hospital with a bowel infection but is fine now thank goodness. Intravenous antibiotics sorted it.

Ireland Updates 20 May 08

I don't really know where to start. Spring was a bit cold and after the rain the spring flowers weren't anywhere near as good as last year. Still, there were plenty of violets and now the bluebells are out. Plenty of primroses filled the banks around the orchard, though they have all but finished now.

The rest of the garden is beginning to look lovely. A recent spate of warm weather has everything shooting up almost as you watch and the grass seems to be growing daily. We did buy the super 15.5 horse power ride on mower and Jim has had fun riding it about everywhere. I have a motorised wheelbarrow which is the best purchase ever.

I had a mad spate of clearing the top barn and moved most of the machinery up there. It is dry and easy to reach. I spring cleaned the barn near the house but it isn't quite finished yet.

Paddy the architect came back with out plans which we altered where necessary. Jim has been to see him today for the nitty gritty stuff of where the radiators and sockets go, etc.

We have had a worrying 2 days as BlackJack, one of our lovely cats, decided to go to the top of our Neutka Cyprus, a very long way up, then he couldn't get down. He was up there all last night and it looked like he was going to remain there tonight. He meowed and yowled like a baby. Jim and I spent ages at tea time trying to coax him down. Finally, it worked and Jim caught him in his arms. Tonight, after scoffing his food, he has mostly slept. Apparently he did this when we were in Australia, so I won't be surprised if he decides to go tree climbing again. Stupid cat.

Also I have a bout of cystitis, which I haven't had for ages. It makes me quite poorly but I feel better this evening and now. My daughter has also been in hospital today to have a heart monitor put under her skin. Luckily all went well and she only had a local anaesthetic, brave girl. Oh, and the immersion heater blew yesterday, so it's cold water all round. Luckily we have an electric shower so we don't smell!

Finally, while Jim was coaxing BlackJack down, I found a cat poo behind the television set! All over the wires too. Yuk. They have been so good in that department. Ah well, hopefully it was a one off.

I'll post some photos of the gardens in the spring.

Back Again 20 May 2008. Holiday in Hopton

Wow, ages since I last posted. My daughter commented that she missed my blog, so it kick started me into action.

I had a great little holiday with my family at Hopton, near Great Yarmouth. I shared a caravan with Rene, Sam's Mum, which worked very well. It was very cold at night and the van didn't have any heating, but once in bed it was fine. The lounge had a gas fire so that was ok.

The full complement of our 'gang' was as follows:

Ivor and Maureen (Ivor is my first husband's father and Maureen my first husband's first wife). Work that one out.
Abigail, aged 10, Maureen and Ivors' Granddaughter.
Paul with his 3 children, Brandon, Conor and Gracie. Paul is Maureen's first born, his father is my first husband.
David, Sue and Dawn. David is Ivor's youngest son from his first marriage, Sue is David's 2nd wife and Dawn is David's daughter from a previous relationship. Complicated or what!
Jason, Sam and Jack (my elder son, his wife and my grandson).

The Haven caravan site has a club house, indoor and outdoor swimming pool, crazy golf, loads of those weird and wonderful machines that eat your money and flash lots of lights at you. Totally incomprehensible to me.

Jack had a wonderful time. He loved the pool, especially the section which had fountains and jets going in all directions. He would have stayed there all day! There was one of those big slides in the centre and I braved it once!

The site also had various characters who entertained the children. Jack's favorite was 'Bradley' a rather large bear. In the evenings they performed on stage.
Not my usual kind of entertainment but I quite enjoyed it for a change. I even played Bingo twice. The 2nd time I won £160 so that was fun. It enabled me to treat the others to some very bad for us food.

We had a great day out in Great Yarmouth, fish and chips all round of course! All in all, a splendid holiday. I spent hours with Jack and he loved every minute.

The photos above: Jack on the bike, Gracie and Abigail enjoying the fun at Great Yarmouth.
A very windswept me sitting on a breakwater at Hopton, plus Sue and Dawn. Jack with Bradley. Gracie in her Dad's hat. Rene and Abigail playing Crazy Golf and then we all squashed together for a group photo. Our caravan with Jack on the steps. I think I'll do another page re: Ireland.
g time no

Busy Gardening Day, 27 March, 08

Having gone to bed at about 4am, it was a late start to the day. Much better weather, sunny at first, then at tea time it changed to rather cold with a stiff wind. Jim popped into Gort to do the shopping. I weeded the rockery and spread our home made compost over it. Also planted some saxifrage, red, pink and white. They are so pretty and make lovely mounds like a cushion. I also planted some viola in the rockery and the Grotto bed. I spent the last couple of hours weeding there as it was a sheltered spot. Very wet underfoot, I moved a couple of big stones to stand on. It started to get dark and my feet were like stones, so I headed in just in time for dinner. Sausage, chips, egg and baked beans. Wonderful.

Martin the farmer's cows keep getting out and wandering all over our drive and eating some of our bushes. Very annoying. If I see him, I'll mention that his one band electric fence does not keep them in. The poor things are hungry as the field has very little grass left in it.

The cats have played outside most of the day and have been worn out tonight. BlackJack on my knee as I type.

A bit of scrabble on Facebook and to bed.

How Others Live and the Lawn Mower Hunt. Weds 27 March 2008

Well the Australia holiday has come and gone, a separate blog to follow. Now back in Ireland and loving the re-birth of the garden. The daffodils are still out, if a bit battered, the cats survived (just) and the magnolia stellata is just about to burst forth. A gorgeous camellia that we planted last year, dark pink, has one flower almost fully out. Various bulbs we planted on the fairy hill, rockery and arboretum beds are coming up. Lots of little blue grape hyacinths popping their heads up in contrast to the yellow of the daffodils. There are 2 stunning pale salmon colour hyacinths out on the arboretum bed, they are really a picture.

Some of the grass seed I scattered before Oz has come through and Jim has managed to mow the arboretum grass already. We have been trying to decide what extra machinery to get this year to make all the manual tasks a bit easier on our old bones and joints! Jim found a ride on mower for sale, second hand, not too far from Limerick, about an hour from us, and made an appointment for us to view it today. The weather has been weird all day with bouts of hail, incredibly heavy rain, sun and blue skies and black skies that make you think the end is nigh! Having driven through all this assorted weather, we found the house. The mower was parked outside, along with assorted toys, bits of machinery in various states of rusting decay, a noisy dog tied with a rope and mountains of mud!

Now had I been wanting to sell a piece of machinery I would have cleaned it at least. It was only one year old but looked 10. It had obviously been kept outside as there wasn't a shed anywhere and all the other machinery was also outside. The very friendly lady invited us in for a cup of tea and ushered us into the living room. There were 2 settees, both absolutely filthy, covered in muddy dog prints, food and an assortment of children in various states of undress! I sat on the window sill, Jim braved the settee. 2 dirty mugs were taken from the heap on the coffee table and reappeared filled with tea. A mad springer type dog leapt around pulling rubbish from a bag on the floor.

There was a small pile of festering baked beans under one chair and a frying pan under another. Plates on the fire guard and the mantel piece was piled high with dvds and any number of other bits and bobs. I was sure that if one item were moved, the whole lot would tumble to the floor. An enormous tv on the wall dominated the room. As we left the room, items were spilling out of the other rooms in view. Now I am not the fussiest housewife but I do like my kitchen to be clean and if anyone is coming, will tidy up a bit and maybe slap some polish here and there! I do have 'clutter' but it's clean clutter!

Having said all that, the children were very well behaved and brought us various toys to admire. In spite of all the chaos, the lady of the house was as calm as you like.

We didn't buy the mower.

We drove through more 'weather' and headed back to Limerick where there is a large lawn mower sales showroom. The most helpful salesman showed us many mowers from large to giant sized, industrial strength to average lawn size. For not much more money than the 2nd hand mower we had seen, we can get a marvellous, brand new 15.5 horse power ride on mower with a large cutting width and a trailer. Delivered free to our door, guaranteed for 2 years. Bargain. We need to sort out our funding then will buy one of the ride on beasts.

We lunched in an excellent cafe and mused over our odd experiences. A quick trip to Tesco and back home as the sky blackened once again and the rain poured down. Oh, we also bought 2 fruit trees, one plum and one greengage. 9.99 euros and big trees at that. While we were away a large plum tree in our orchard, which was diseased, crashed to the ground, as did an ash tree next to the fairy hill. So we have a replacement plum. Sadly it looks as though we may have to take down the rest of the ash tree, which is a multi trunked affair and the base is obviously rotten. All excellent fuel for Stanley though.

Before we went away, Paddy the architect came and measured for our renovation works. We rang his office on our return and he was to get back to us. No phone call yet. The Irish.......

On Sunday I fly to the UK for a 4 day caravan holiday with Sam, Jason and Jack (who I miss so much) and many other members of my extended family. Should be fun as the site has a club house and covered, heated swimming pool, so the weather isn't too important.