The Last Leg - From the Greens to The Deens

So it was back to Worthing, on the south coast in Sussex, where we have a home too. Soon it will be lived in by Jim's daughter Jenny, her husband Matt and their son, due in August!

As Jenny and Matt are moving in on 4th July, we spent some time trying to clear the place up and take more stuff to Ireland. It transpired that Jim's great nephew Sam Burgess was going to be playing rugby league for England on Saturday evening so all 3 of Jim's children decided to come to us and watch the game. Sadly the only tv we have working there is a very small one! So Ali arrived with Poppy! Woo hoo, happy me. She was asleep when she arrived but happily for me, she woke up shortly afterwards and we were able to play with her for the evening. Here are 3 photos of Poppy and Jim, the proud Grandad:





Isn't she lovely?













She is all giggly now












She thought the camera flash was funny







Of course Poppy should have been fast asleep but we had a great time playing with her and keeping her amused. It wasn't until after 10 that she got a bit grotty and Ali had to take her home. I found her a bowl and wooden spoon to play with!





I love her surprised looks!













Jim took several photos of me holding Poppy, but I look hideous in most of them! This one is the best of a bad bunch:





Another of Poppy's surprised looks!












Jenny with Poppy, Ali and Russell













Jenny is practising for the arrival of her baby. I love their expressions.
















Ali looking thoughtful. Poppy caused a bit of damage with that spoon.






As for the rugby game, England absolutely slaughtered France and Sam scored a try and set another one up, so although the game wasn't really exciting, Sam did well and was mentioned several times as usual.

On the Sunday, 14th, Russell and Caz were taking part in a protest down by the sea front. The council built a lovely cycle path from Worthing to Shoreham by Sea, which they have now closed, in their infinite wisdom! So there was going to be a mass cycle ride and protest. We went down to support and I took some photos of course:



Caz in blue, Russell and Jim waiting for the ride to start













Lots of cyclists of all ages took part












The lead cyclist with a board showing what it was all about













Russell and Caz riding past and off to Shoreham











Jim was standing on the other side and took this photo of Russ and Caz!



















Can you see this laid back chap's Irish flag?














Jim on the rocks!











Jim took some of me too!




Me at Splash Point, Worthing, with the pier behind














I think I need another haircut!!
















I rather like this arched shelter











One of the gardens behind the beach. We sat and eat ice creams on a bench there







Sadly we had too much to do to be able to spend any more time on the beach. We were catching the overnight ferry from Pembroke and had to leave Worthing with a car full of stuff by 8pm. So it was back home and work for us until then. The journey was made much more bearable by the wonderful sky that changed throughout. I'll just pick a couple of the dozen or so I took.




It started with wonderful streaks in all directions











It gradually reddened














To this





It was very beautiful. We arrived and our ferry, The Isle of Innishmore was waiting for us and we quickly boarded. We usually bed down on the seats in the drivers' lounge but it was pretty packed as there were a couple of coach parties with us. We just managed to find 2 benches and slept our way across. We arrived about 7am and then it was the long drive up to Clare. It wasn't too bad really and we love the countryside. A while ago I blogged about a large tower that had gone up in Waterford. Well, it is now the support for a bridge and I managed to photograph it from the car. There really wasn't anywhere suitable to stop.



Do click on it to enlarge it. It still isn't finished














From a bit further away. The cloud formations were wonderful on this journey too.








There was one dark dark sky, then rain, then a rainbow











It was an eerie light













The last photo of our journey home. The clouds hung low over the hills of Tipperary





It's now a week since I left Suffolk and I miss Jack especially.

The builders are getting on with the ceilings in the extension. My room, the spare bedroom and our bedroom have been done. Just the bathroom (which is small) and sun room (which is big) to finish.

Before Jim left Ireland he took this photo of the first strawberries he had picked. We have had lots since.





Jim took them to the UK and ate them there!







Tonight we had a lovely dinner of home grown salad leaves with herbs, gammon steak and Jim's fresh brown bread. Followed by strawberries and cream. What a treat.

We have been clearing up as best we can around the builders. Jim has been doing some work for the Horticultural Society and mowing and I've been mostly planting all the flowers Jim has grown! I have just a few more to plant tomorrow, if the weather is ok. We have been promised a week of good weather, warmer too, from Sunday afternoon. I'll take a round of flowers in the garden then.

Tomorrow I'll blog about all the wonderful things I have received through the post. Don't miss it.

2 Lovely Days in The Garden. Sat, 10th May, 2009

Jim Back, Car Unpack

Hello everyone. Well, we've actually had 2 decent gardening days. It's been wonderful and today in the sunshine it felt like Summer. Bliss. After Jim's trip the first thing we had to do was unpack the car and find 'homes' for all the 'stuff' he brought. The unpacking didn't go too badly. We put all the boxes in the kitchen/diner. He had brought his lovely old desk and that just about goes in our 'snug' for now. (Tiny living room). I guess he'll have it in his office later on. Jim also bought me the world! I have , for a while, wanted a world map so that I can see when things are on the news, where exactly they are. And now I can see where all you lovely bloggers live too. It's brilliant and will go on my new room wall. He also bought me 2 new pairs of gardening gloves. One is zebra striped! Sorry Rachel. Sadly no chocolate!

Having unpacked the car, we did much wandering around the place admiring things! We managed to waste quite a bit of time doing this. We went into the extension from the outside and hung out of our bedroom window. It's simply such a wonderful view. I'm a bit disappointed with the size of the guest room's window but it's in now and Jim thinks it's too late to change it. Ah well, I suppose people aren't there that long and it'll still be a lovely room, next to the bathroom and the views through the little window are still super.

Gardening

Eventually we did manage to get some gardening done! Jim pricked out and planted his growing seedlings. I attacked the bank the other side of the fairy hill, where the stream runs down. It had become very brambly again and the sticky bob was taking over too. Sadly after a while I was being bitten to death so gave up and went inside, as did Jim. I worked on Kitty's wall hanging, sewing on a couple of embellishments and it's looking good.

Today it's been even better. I carried on with the bank I was clearing and finished it. It looks so much better. I have to stand in the stream to reach much of it and Jim crept up with the camera!!


Here I am in my best clothes, standing in the stream weeding!!












I thought I'd pose and give you a slightly better angle! I hope you notice my non matching rubber gloves! Both of those have holes in now...













Jim set to and mowed the lawns. In the sunshine, the front garden looks wonderful:



View of the 4 lawns up to the parking area and our car, (Jim thought I'd said 'The forlorns', miserable people..... Ha ha).







The view from the top barn across the lawn towards the fairy hill and the hills of County Clare beyond. I love this one. By the way, Jim had the camera for most of the time today, so he gets the credit for the photos.








Boots, Bottles and Shoes

Having finished the river bank, I did some ivy pulling above it. That's an area we've not really tackled. As I dug, I unearthed all sorts of rubbish. This was obviously an area once used as the family's tip! We have collected several unbroken bottles, one for hair dye and one for hair restorer. I will photograph the finds at a later date. We have already unearthed lots of leather shoes in previous 'digs' here and as I dug today, I unearthed dozens of boots and shoes. Maybe the owner at that time was a shoe maker or repairer? Lots of them are work boots with big nails in the sole. Quite amazing how many there are. There was lots of broken pottery and the spout of a teapot. A brown earthenware one. So I wasted much time until the midges descended scrabbling about in the dirt, with Buster's help occasionally. He thought it was great fun and started to eat one or two of the old shoes! Dirt was flying all over when he started digging.

I once did a 'dig' in my garden in Thetford, Norfolk and uncovered the complete skeleton of a piglet. My brother came and collected it and has it to this day, as he is an archaeologist.

Tea Break

We had a break for afternoon tea and Buster joined us. He does love to share a cup of tea:


Can I have some? Jim drinking his tea, Buster watching closely.



















Buster gets the last drops. What a spoilt dog!









Back to it and the time seemed to fly by. How wonderful to feel the sun on your back. The swallows chattered away on the telephone line, while whimbrels and curlews flew overhead, making their characteristic melodic cries. In the hedge, an angry robin kept up a vocal attack on Sandy, who was sleeping peacefully below him in the compost heap! Later on he caught and killed another shrew, which Jim and I buried!

Garden Photos

Jim took a few photos of the garden, so here they are:





Cowslips














False Oxlips and a close up below





























A stunning photo of the ferns. Some of them are completely out and others not even at this stage














Such beautiful symmetry from this dandelion clock














Some of the sweet peas about to be planted in a half barrel












Sweet Peas planted with natural willow canes for support. They will hide the mucky barn wall!

















An orange tip butterfly on the honesty













If you click on this side view you can see its proboscis











Bundle Day

I am taking part in 'The Disintegration Project', organised by Seth Apter, see "Bundle of Bundles":

We had to make a bundle of anything really and hang or place it somewhere where it would be open to the elements. Mine has hung from a tree on the allotment and today I took it down:


My parcel on 17th March, just made and hung in the tree





















Here I am, reaching to cut down my bundle

















Here I am displaying my parcel. The bee has faded a little but the papers are very tatty.







I will take it apart tomorrow and photograph the contents.

Poppy

A couple of photos of Poppy as someone had requested them!




Jim's daughter Jenny took this one















Big Eyed Poppy!

















Ali (Mum) and Poppy, May 1st, 2009















I had to put this one on as it made me laugh so much!








I think that is more than enough. Sorry it's so long but there seemed to be a lot to say today. I will just mention that my son Jason has started his own blog, it's mostly about him being a Dad to Jack, my lovely grandson and has some super photos on his first 2 posts. He has called it Father Jason which I think makes him sound like a priest!! Hey ho! http://father-jason.blogspot.com/
This is it!

I hope all those for whom it was mother's day had a good on at the weekend.

Let the sun shine on.....