Mon - Weds in the UK, 50,000 mile Service

What, you didn't miss me? I went to Worthing, where we still have a house in the UK for a full service! Not the car, me. The trouble was, I was sure I was due to go on Tuesday to Thursday. Jim kept asking me what time we needed to go as I was weeding away in the garden. Suddenly I realised he meant that day! I had to drop everything, come inside and have a wash and then Jim ran me to the airport. It's a good thing one of us is on the ball. The weather in Worthing was beautifully sunny with a light breeze. Now what do you think I did on the Monday afternoon? That's right, I sorted the garden. Much snipping and chopping ensued. It had all become very overgrown and fairly weedy too. This is a photo of the back garden as it was when we lived there:



It was a very small garden, so we had to pack the plants in!














We had a pond with fish, a little water feature with a small fountain, numerous hanging baskets, some with tomatoes in and others with flowers. There's even a greenhouse at the end of the garden










Since then, it's all got a bit out of control! I ended up with huge piles of garden waste so I bagged it all for Jim to take to the tip when he next comes over.

I was tired, so had an early night. Dentist was my first visit, at 8.30am. I leaped out of bed, rushed into the bathroom, washed, dressed then thought, 'it's a bit dark', re-checked the time and it was 4.30am!! I just lay on the bed and dozed until 8! What a fool. So, off to the dentist. All well there, then into town by bus (what a novelty) to go and visit the hearing aid shop. I had an appointment there at 11am. Full check up there and a new hearing test. My right ear has dipped very slightly at the top end of the hearing range, but nothing significant. The consultant thought the best thing for my type of hearing loss (I have otosclerosis) would be glasses, which have the hearing aids in the 'arms' and they sit on the bone behind the ear. We tried some out and I could certainly hear very well with them. Only one drawback, they cost £4,000!

My next appointment was with the doctor at 6.10pm, so I had the whole afternoon to myself. My hair looked a mess, the grey roots coming through, so I went and had my hair coloured. A proper pampering it was too. After that, a trip round the charity shops, of which there are many in Worthing. Ireland has hardly any at all, and I do miss them. I picked up all sorts of bargains and ended up a bit like a donkey carrying all the bags. I also took a few photos and had a walk along the sea front to the pier. Time was marching on by then, so I picked up a taxi, dropped off the shopping and headed to the doctors just in time.

All went well there too. It was a 'review' of my medication and it was basically 'keep taking the tablets'. It was a beautiful evening so I walked back home, which took about 45 minutes I guess. So that was my day done. I had bought some knitting needles and oddments of wool and knitted a couple of ATCs!! They're fun. Here are the photos I took on the Tuesday:




Along the sea front is The Old Coastguard House. The gate is rather tatty!











It's a lovely gate, but needs a touch of paint













This is one of my favourite sea front houses. It's so tiny. I'd like to buy it. The beach and sea are opposite. This was the old lifeboat station so Jim informs me.


















Worthing beach and pier. The tide was right out.









The beach in the other direction, a bit later on. It's all pebbles, as you can see! They get swept up into a big pile by the sea, then a tractor comes along and pushes them all back again!











A concrete bench on the promenade and a row of delicious Victorian and Edwardian houses. All very grand.












Another bench had this rather splendid lion for its arm

















Half a bench?










Then in the 70s and 80s the local council went mad and built this monstrosity. It's a car park with a bowling alley at the bottom. Hopefully it will be pulled down before too long.










Rather splendid lighting along the promenade













A back bencher looking out to sea!











These Chinese lanterns swung in the breeze



















I wonder whether this seagull ever caught his taxi?





















The clock tower in the shopping centre. At Christmas it's all lit up



















Some rather sad looking seating in Goring. Goring is a village that has grown and is now attached to Worthing. Look at the long evening shadows.















I had to laugh at this pet shop window in Goring. It looks as though everything has been thrown into it!









Someone has given this apple tree a very odd haircut! It looks like a cake.













I've often admired this splendid house, although it is now divided up into flats.



















A very fancy wrought iron gate with a wooden gate behind it to keep the garden from prying eyes. Shame.














Isn't this simple little sculpture delightful?



















The lilac is all out and looking stunning
















On Wednesday I tried to get hold of Jim's 2 girls. Ali was out for the day with her work colleagues so I didn't get to see Poppy and Jenny was full of cold, so I didn't get to see her either! Ah well, it was back out to the garden and more work there. My flight was a late one and I arrived at Shannon at approaching 11pm. Jim picked me up and home we went, catching up on the news as we drove.

It seems our old barn, adjacent to the cottage, is about falling down and it would be wise to take it down before it falls on the cottage! We have another, newer barn, so it's not a total disaster and will open up the views from the extension enormously. Every cloud...

That's it for today. I do hope you've enjoyed your little trip around Worthing, on the South Coast of England. I will blog about the garden tomorrow.

The Sun is A Shining to Welcome the Day... 18-19 April 2009

The Deenery with the red acer, the magnolia stellata, narcissus and tulips in front of it








Well, can you believe it? 2 days sunshine on the trot! Amazing. However, today I've been in the dumps in spite of it. Ah well, it'll pass. Yesterday, I took photos so I will post those instead.




The Black Tulip have almost arrived














This one's almost out. The heads are smaller than last year. I will have to feed them















I love the bright lime green of this acer's new leaves as they unfurl












The leaves of this acer shine gloriously in the evening sun. It is in fact a darker purple than it looks here.














This pretty tree is on the arboretum, below is the blossom, close up



























This blossom is from a tiny little cherry tree!
























The gorse is still looking amazing, especially in the sunshine against the blue sky








In the orchard, the cherry blossom is fully out













and the pear looks a picture




























This is a Whitebeam. Jim planted it recently, although we had it in a pot to strengthen it until now.













Did someone mention tulips? These are in the arboretum bed. I love their colour and got a bit carried away photographing them!





























































This is a miniature willow tree, it's covered in 'pussy willow'. You can judge the size from the forget-me-nots alongside and the fading daffodils behind.








Will the Judas Tree blossom ever materialise?











BlackJack followed me about as usual





















This cream tulip had a surprise - a red splash
















Heuchera leaves all fresh and new










Narcissus and tulips














This tulip from above looks like a star fish










I think that's enough for one day. I'll post some more next time. It's 4.30am. Can't sleep.

Soulbrush ATCs, Pay it Forward, Dare You? 17.4.09

Oh more lovely ATCs, this time from Soulbrush. They are all hand painted and in an African theme.
Left, African ladies, centre, Masks and right, Huts and people. Aren't they wonderful?




Now Soulbrush has also got me involved in another venture, Pay it Forward.

Soulbrush wrote: 'While visiting Marianne's blog,
http://mandarianne.blogspot.com/2009/04/paying-it-forward.html
I found this wonderful idea of paying it forward....this is all with something creative.....'


Here's how it works....
The first five (5) people to respond to this post will get something made by me if they want to be involved. This offer does have some restrictions and limitations so please read carefully:

1. I make no guarantees that you will like what I make. Whatcha get is whatcha get.
2. What I create will be just for you, with love.
3. It’ll be done this year (2009).
4. I will not give you any clue what it’s going to be. It will be something made in the real world and not something cyber. It may be weird or beautiful. Or it may be monstrous and annoying. Heck, I might bake something for you and mail it to you. Who knows? Not you, that’s for sure!
5. I reserve the right to do something strange.
6. In return, all you need to do is post this text on your blog and make 5 things for the first 5 to respond to your blog post.
7. Send your mailing address - after I contact you.
IMPORTANT: This offer is null and void if I do not see you post your own blog to pay this forward.
This text was used from: http://mandarianne.blogspot.com/2009/04/paying-it-forward.html and then from Soulbrush! http://soulbrush.blogspot.com/2009/04/paying-it-forwardwanna-play.html

Have a wonderful day....
Well who wants to play?
Who dares...........?

Well, that sounds fun, doesn't it? I will not be baking a cake or baking anything, rest assured, I don't want to lose any of you!!

Now for the rest of today. Jim and I got up early and went to look at 'the table' in the closing down sale of a shop in Gort. Wow, what an amazing thing it is. It's not just a table, it's A TABLE, with a swagger like John Wayne, the looks of Brad Pitt and the voice must be of Richard Burton. Of course, we just had to have it!

It weighs an absolute ton and 2 kindly chaps carried it to the back of our car. We had Buster with us and he then had to move to the back seat, which he didn't like one bit! He shivered and looked miserable. Table is still in the back of the car, as Jim and I wouldn't be able to lift it out alone. We will have to enlist the help of our good neighbours, Joe and his son Danny, those two plus Jim should just about be able to manage it.

Now, how does one describe Table. Hmm, it's like the bottom of a real tree. It has various 'flat' parts carved out of the tree and they have been polished. The inside part is still quite rough and, well, tree like. Hmm, not doing very well, am I? Lots of people hated it apparently, but we loved it. It will look wonderful in our new extension's sun room. As soon as it is out of the car I will, of course, photograph it from every angle. What are you all thinking? From Jim's description to me, I imagined it pretty much as it is, but not as high. Apart from our bed, it's the first piece of furniture we have bought together. I think it may become 'a talking point'.

Today it's not been a very bright day, so no new photos. I carried on with the border at the edge of the arboretum. It's looking splendid. Jim's seeds are sprouting like mad, so we'll be able to plant some flowers in there soon, as well as the shrubs we already have, though they are rather small.

This afternoon, the builders turned up for about an hour!! I think at this rate the extension will be finished about July. We are going to look at Joe's house tomorrow to see his windows. If we like the colour of them, then they can order ours. Should be interesting to see his house. We think when they're not at ours they're busy with Joe's. Ah well, Rome wasn't built in a day.

That's about it for today, a nice short blog for Jason! Don't forget to read all the rules with regard to the pay it forward before you commit.

BT

The Postman Cometh - 16 April 2009

Well, I have had a big parcel from Stampmaiden and I can't believe the wonderful things inside! We were swapping ATCs and here are the six Linda has sent to me:













Aren't they just fantastic. They are a series entitled 'The Tattered Wall', the corrugated paper reminded Linda of the old walls they have in LA. Of course, Linda has decorated the tatty walls as only an artist would. Aren't I the lucky one? Now I'm embarrassed about the ones I've sent to her. ~Oh Woe~

BUT, the parcel also contained a vast amount of rubber stamps. All garden related, except for one of a cow. Knowing about my run in with a herd of cows, that was a joke one! I like it!






















Aren't they lovely?














The lady with the watering can is my favourite - and the tulips








As if that wasn't enough, Linda also enclosed 3 super magazines:






I can hardly put them down. They are filled with fantastic art and have set my mind racing with ideas






The postage cost an arm and a leg. I sent my ATCs in a little box. Just the ATCs. Nothing else. I feel so BAD! There was also a lovely 2 sided letter, all handwritten too.

THANK YOU STAMPMAIDEN (Linda). You have made my day/week/month!!

One of the magazines is 'Altered Arts'. I posted a photo on yesterday's blog of my disintegrating parcel. Later in the day, I received an email from Seth, the organiser of the project with Phase 2. Wow! On May 1st we have to take down our parcel and then make something new out of its remains! We have quite some time to do this but I'm already thinking of various projects. What fun, I'm so glad I became involved.

My daughter in law also sent me a photocopy of an article in 'Suffolk' magazine about Francine, the lady whose house we went to for our floral arrangement class. 2 letters for me in one day. Isn't blogging just the best?

Now, what have I done for 2 days apart from drool over the contents of my parcel? Gardening of course! I did hoover too. Just for the hell of it. I have ploughed on with the stream/path project and am getting along fine, apart from the thorns and nettle stings. We had accumulated huge piles of rubbish and I have spent the past 3 nights burning it all. Tonight the fire really got going and I think most of it will have gone by the morning. We'll be able to see the wood for the trees, as it were, now that it's gone.

For a change, and to let my hands recover, I have been clearing the bed at the side of the arboretum. I started this bed last year but never really got very far with it. Then the cows trampled all over it and dislodged the edging stones, so I more or less had to start again. It's looking so much better now. About half done so far, including re-doing the edge with bigger, better stones. One edge adjoins the grass and the other the road up to our meadow. I'll photograph it when it's finished. We already have some shrubs to plant in it and Jim wants to put some of his flower seedlings in there too. It'll be a good splash of colour.

That's about it for today. I just had to show you my lovely presents. Jim and I are off to Gort in the morning to look at a table he saw today in a shop that is closing down. He was very excited about it, so I have to see it too!

Anyone who is interested in flowers, in particular a bit more information about them, Jim is doing a blog now on wild flowers. It's quite amusing as well as fact filled. Do go and see:

http://livingwithtwistedwillow.blogspot.com/

Right, that's the 'plug' over with. Night everyone.