More Weeding, More Scaffolding Thursday, 5th March

It's been on and off again today, sometimes sunny then a wind would whip up, the sun disappear and it was freezing. Luckily for the most part it was fine. Martin the builder carried on alone with the scaffolding. It seems like an endless job.

I did manage to finish weeding the bed above the grotto and the grotto bed itself, so it all looks quite smart now, if rather bare.







In the Summer there isn't usually a space to plant anything!




















This is the right hand side of the above bed and it drops down to the grotto, see below.








The grotto. All the new ferns I planted last Autumn seem to be doing well. The Pieris Forrestii, centre of the left half, has white flowers out already, although the new red leaf bracts have not yet appeared.










The Grotto again. This little path goes round the corner, right round the barn.









It may seem like not much of a job but it was all covered in nasty weeds, dandelions, stinging nettles, grass, blackberries and ivy. I have previously cleared all these when I first made the bed, but they keep popping up again. I'll beat them though.
I also took a photo of the sleeping shed from the front, looking smart for a change.



Our little collection of old farm implements is on the right. The green thing is an old milk churn, planted with everlasting sweet peas.







My sign for the fairy garden had fallen from its place, hanging from the hawthorn branch. The chain has rusted and broken, so I have propped it in front of an old tree stump. I quite like it there. I also took a photo from the fairy hill, looking over this part of the garden.





Perhaps I should trim that bit of grass!












It's all coming along.









These lovely double daffodils are in the bank at the side of the sleeping shed. At last a photo with some colour in it.












This pretty deutzia is just starting to bloom







As I was out a bit past the cats' tea time, they hung about round me, another photo opportunity. They were also fascinated by Martin walking up and down.
Sandy looking rather fine in the late afternoon sunshine. He is the cleanest cat I've known. BlackJack can't be bothered to wash much, so in the evening, Sandy washes him too.











Sandy slightly out of focus as it picked out BlackJack and the light was fading.













This is when Martin walked past!








They are very handsome cats I think, but then I would.

Buster made me laugh this evening. I noticed he was licking the underside of my ironing basket (which is much too full). The side of it was hanging over the edge of the chair. I went to investigate and a bag of gold Christmas coins had somehow fallen in there and was dangling out the bottom! He was having a fine time munching them, complete with gold paper. I did remove them as they're not good for him, but he still managed about four. They were some I bought for Jim but I reckon they'll be off by now.

It's Jim's birthday today (Friday the 6th March) and he is still in the UK until at least Monday. So I have ordered something for him to be delivered there. I hope it arrives. He has waited in all day today for a delivery of polythene and bits for our poly tunnel and they didn't arrive. It's so annoying, especially when you arrange deliveries on a certain day because you only have a small window to receive them. The best laid plans and all that.

This evening I've managed to keep Stanley going all the time so it's not quite as cold in here as usual. I still have 2 jumpers on though. I also watched an excellent new 3 part series on Channel 4 called The Yorkshire Riding Hood I think! Set in the 1970s, it had some famous actors in it including Sean Bean as the bad property tycoon who had all the police in his pocket, Warren Clarke and David Morrissey. It was really quite gripping all the way through and I can't wait for next week's episode. I'll probably forget and miss it. Sadly the luscious Sean Bean won't be in it as he was killed this week.

A little sewing now then it's off to bed. Do you like my new blog layout? I've been 'updated'. It's supposed to be easier to manage. I'm all for that.

Spring Sprung then Winter Walloped!

Well it was Spring for a couple of weeks. Jim took a few photos before the temperature dropped and we spent a lovely day gardening:



The narcissus are all gradually coming into bloom, the daffodils in this bed are not quite out yet









Annoyingly, I can't remember the name of this spring rockery flower. It has blue and pink flowers and silver spotted leaves. It always get mildew after a while too!

Thank you Weaver of Grass, it is, of course, Pulmonaria.












This 'host' (small one) of golden daffodils is just outside our orchard. These are now well out.










The flowering currant blossoms are really long this year. They had a hard pruning session last year.







It was indeed a lovely sunny day. Jim went off to the UK on Tuesday morning. Look what happened then:




What a crazy place this is!













The snow shows up in front of the trees









The figure in the yellow jacket was poor Martin, our builder, who carried on valiantly putting up scaffolding throughout the storm.













It does show up Jim's painted shed rather well though.











Martin's still at it, the snow looking like rain in this photo but it was as above, the same big lumps!












Then it all stopped, the sun came out and I carried on with the weeding I'd been doing before the snow came!





The 2 shrubs sparkled in the sunshine with melted snow. Look at the shed now!









A closer view. It's worth clicking on these to get the full effect and see the drops sparkle. You can also just see the old plough behind that Jim has painted black.













I took some from inside the house through the new extension. You can almost see rooms taking shape!

This is my new bedroom/studio, the hole is where the patio doors will be. I look through this window as I type. It will become the door to my room. See the sunshine out the back?








This door will be moved to be the door of my room if it isn't too damaged by the weather. The room you can see will be our new bedroom. It has splendid views across the garden, then the hills.















I just caught Martin going past the 'window'.











Buster thought he'd remain in the porch area while it snowed. He thought it needed guarding...












Some time later it snowed again. In the morning the scaffolding boards had about an inch of snow on them. Then the sun came out... It was a very odd day and it's still really cold with the addition of a biting wind today. I was going to stay in but decided about 2pm to go and do some weeding. I had 2 jumpers on and my big coat, a balaclava with a hat on top of that. I wasn't going to be cold. I was quite successful in my endeavours and only gave up because my feet were frozen and Buster wanted his dinner. It was also dropping dark. If I get it finished tomorrow I'll take a photo, though it looks rather bare.

I have been inspired to do some more ATCs (Artist Trading Cards) having found a blogger called Marianne who is Dutch and paints ATCs and also makes Mandalas. So yesterday evening and today I've been crafting, something I haven't done for a while. I really enjoyed it too. I can't wait for my new room to be finished. Needless to say there was a distinct lack of builders about today.

Just to finish with a Buster story. When Buster comes in at night from his rambles to goodness knows where, he does this rather weird trick of trying to fall asleep standing up. He'll often rest his head on something, a chair seat, my lap, a box, and yesterday evening it was the loft ladder. I took two photos of him and I think you can see in the second one his eyes are closed. He usually wobbles a bit then before he falls over, finds another spot. This goes on until he gives in and goes to bed. Like a child!





His head drops lower












Now he's asleep!







Now I've let the fire go out so I'm off to bed, it's warm there. Jim has the car so I'm stranded here and have run out of chocolate. What a disaster.

Marbella, Spain, Sun and Son

Here I am back in cold Ireland. I have been to Spain, Puerto Banus to be precise, to stay with my young son Ben. He and his mate Brett run a bar there called Zoo Lounge.

I had a lovely time, relaxing, sitting in the bar, chatting with the regulars and playing with Ben's gorgeous dog Teddy, an American Cocker Spaniel. Ben has an odd life, opening the bar around 7pm at the moment as it's winter and very quiet, then he stays open until about 3 or 4 or 5 depending on who's there. Then it's home, often something to eat then bed until about 2pm the next day! While I was there he got up a bit earlier so we had time together.

I fell in love with Teddy completely. He is gorgeous and well behaved and a bundle of fun. We took him for walks every day, which he loved of course. The weather was quite warm, though one day was pretty cloudy with a stiff breeze, so coats were in order, but it was still much much warmer than Ireland.

I spent some time on my own wandering around the port, taking photos, drinking coffee and people watching. I treated Ben and Brett to late lunch each day so we didn't bother about much food in the evenings. They live pretty well hand to mouth, the takings from the bar being used to pay the most outstanding bill! Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays are pretty busy, but the rest of the week is a bit dead. Hopefully things will pick up around Easter.

The last day I was there, Ben and Brett spent their time wiggling wires about the ceiling, trying to get their speakers in the best places. While they did that I gave the toilet a good spring clean. What else are Mums for?

Puerto Banus has a marina full of massive motor boats owned by very rich people. Hugh Grant was there last year and Ben sat next to him but he was a bit aloof apparently. Bruce Willis turns up now and then too. The owner of Chelsea football Club also has a yacht but when he comes, he has to moor up outside the marina as his yacht is too big to fit inside. One of Ben's friends looks after one of the yachts and gave us a guided tour. It was stunning. The bridge itself was like something from a spaceship. There were several bathrooms and bedrooms and a huge plasma tv. This was a pretty small boat compared to others moored nearby. In spite of the credit crunch, some people clearly still have money.

So, it's a great place for people watching too, with shops like Versace, Jimmy Choo and all those designer names on the front. Some of the ladies are beautifully dressed but others look a mess! (I was there in my t shirts, trousers, etc). One thing which struck me is the attitude of the shop keepers. Not all of them, but the majority in the supermarkets and big stores are really miserable, never smile and hardly acknowledge your existence.

Ben seems to know everyone in the port and we couldn't walk a few yards without someone rushing over and shaking his hand. In his bar, everyone I met told me what a wonderful son I had and how lovely he is. It was gratifying to hear that he is so well liked. It was clear that they were genuine remarks too, not forced in any way. Ben and Brett are like a married couple, except they never argue. It's a seamless relationship and they obviously trust each other implicitly.

So all in all a good break that went far too quickly. I took far too many photos as usual, so I'll try and be a bit selective with them. The whole set is on Facebook if anyone's interested. I can give you the link if you'd like to look.




I'm in love!
















One eyed Teddy!












A catholic shrine down a side street















Wrought Iron archway and tiled steps, typical of the area















One of the beaches with a rather odd, Eastern style hotel













Ben and Teddy. Brett is on his mobile phone in the background. Note the Irish Tavern behind.















At the edge of the main square, fountains in the foreground, benches and Ben, Brett and Teddy at the back.












Ben's name is Ben Bowler so we were highly amused on seeing the hotel Benabola!! Jim and I stayed there on our last trip.
















This is the view that greeted me in the morning, from Ben's garden













Bougainvillea in Ben's garden. The flowers look like paper











One of the yachts in the marina, Puerto Banus











It's strange what you can buy in some shops














I loved this above the 'Cadillac Bar'










An expensive cappuccino in a marina front bar












It seemed a little cruel to chain this lady round her neck!











This very overweight chap was indulging in a cigar. On his way to a heart attack I think.














The side of a rather lovely fern covered bench
















Life belt in front of the Marina, Puerto Banus

















A splendid rusty lion's head at the base of a lamp post

















One of the designer shop windows, all silver and black














Versace Shop Window













Inside Zoo Lounge with the 2 new televisions











Teddy again....














The Marina, Puerto Banus











Ben, Teddy and the mountain






We ate in this bar called 'Diva' every day. They have computers.... Brett, right on computer, Ben, left on computer and Louis Walsh look alike in the centre, on computer! Note Brett's 'Zoo Lounge' hoody.














Louis Walsh in Diva










A lovely view over the sea, masts in the marina, the round house and mountains












Brett and Ben deep in discussion, Teddy waiting. New Heineken fridge!















Just to finish off, Teddy!









There are about another 50 photos! But I think that's enough. Can't wait to go back again.