11th June 2007

Currently sat under the climbing hydrangea that is overflowing down from next doors garden. The branches exhibit a tactile flowing pattern and wind in a vibrant latticework of leaves and flowers above my head. It forms a fragrant pelmet above the bench I am sitting on. It is so heavily laden with flowers that the nectar drips out in sticky globules that hit my bare, bronzed arms and make me think the rain has arrived. And oh, the sound; of hundreds of insects in an orgy of feasting upon the creamy white blossom is uplifting. A symphony of vibrancy set to the key of life on a hot summer day. The weather here has been incredible for the last few days. So warm and bright and alive, I think it is the word I want to use, but no matter, the change is already here. The balmy, leaden skies now enter and close off the overhead blue calm sky. The wind is heavy and still and the threat of rain hangs over everything like a promise of absolute certainty. There is a low distant rumbling and I cannot differentiate if it is thunder or an aeroplane in the distance. As if a call to arms the midges now arise and swarm for blood and verily they take all the need in microscopic itchy mouthfuls from all my exposed skin. The plants and earth seem to whisper "let the rain come at last" and water our need. For me I should rather sit in the evening air and feel free of the walls and ceilings but I shall take a joy in the rain for it does others, (if not me) good. The world will always win and we shall just take pleasure in the good days and seek gentle reflection on the bad. I shall reflect now for the heavens open and though I am waterproof alas the Sony is not…(not yet at any rate but give them a few more years.)

4th June 2007
The wedding was the most amazing event. Open topped Rolls and a beautiful bride. It was glorious weather in leafy green Hertfordshire with a medieval church and a rambling vicar. I had a wonderful weekend and Nick’s family and friends were all amazing. Yes I drank too much, smoked too much and even made a fool of myself dancing but it doesn’t matter. Drink makes the tongue sharp and the senses blur but we all had a good time and that’s what matters. Every happiness to the bride and groom. I hope they are happy always.

Time is naught but the brief effervescence of decay
That takes the form of crystalline music and sounds
Wrapped tight within a world of wondrous rapture
Bestroked erratically in painful memories and deeds
Yet I would not trade anything of its darker side
When its joy can reach deep within our souls
To make the decay of time halt and look back
And we can smile for the world shall not forget us

31st May 2007

Just a quick few lines before the weekend. I am off to a wedding in Hertfordshire for a few days. It’s Nick’s nephew Ben and he’s marrying his long time sweetheart. I’m looking forward to it although I don’t really know too many people that will be there.

The weather (you know Brits like to talk about this all the time.) is titanically tedious being dull and cold. From the pleasantness of April we have come back to the misery of late winter. Everything seems to be now in stasis till the warmth returns. Which is most welcome for all the bad insects and weeds but not so good for all the plants I have been busy planting. It is truly maddening, but that’s a British summer.

Extend an arm with a finger pointed toward the distance and measure the winds chill. Take a deep breath and call forth the summer and await it’s answer. Slow it is coming from the arms of the south. The lovers reluctant to let go and let the southern hemisphere sleep till spring. I miss so the heat and I miss the rain and most of all I miss the freedom of my nurtured open spaces that summer brings back to me.

Here’s hoping the South UK is a little warmer this weekend. Enjoy whatever you’re doing.

A spring gambol begins
Spry and swift the steps
Of two lovers in the throes
Of a whirlwind romance
The feign and swoon
Fly and wheel in time
Across my garage roof
Into the treetops together

Took some pictures around the garden a few days ago…here are a few. For the rest click on the link below. Lots of photos there. Better than clogging this up with too many.

http://groups.msn.com/SunsetsandNature/pictures

Words

Are our words reason enough to hold hearts forever. To bond and unite us into a forward moving light Or is a word composed of only syllables spoken over the swell of time that can come only to nothing eviscerated of lasting meaning by the unchanging winds of millennia. By our inability to last longer than the words we take, shape and cherish in the brief years we come to know them. I have no answer but still I have words and while they take form I shall create objects so you may see a little of how my world is.

21st May 2007
It is a beautiful evening with light blue skies and sunny interludes. Now I can appreciate having a wireless laptop as it allows me to sit in the garden and write while birds sing and breezes sigh. I feel almost as though I have rented some writers retreat and may sit amongst beautiful sights and sounds for inspiration. It has been quite a sad day as I went to the funeral of my aunt this morning. Aunt Cynthia was 86 and although we were not close still she was a formidable woman. One thinks now of all the kindness she showed to me as a child, even though it is now tempered by her disapproving comments in later years. Mainly about getting married and having children. Still we are as we are shaped and she played a large part in those early formative years. Goodnight and God bless Cynthia and say hello to mum for me.

Hope you can make it through all these pictures from Nice…each is titled with its description

19th May 2007
Been away to the south of France for 4 days last weekend arriving back Tuesday this week. Stayed in Nice and took day trips to Monaco (Monte Carlo) and Eze. We did plan to get to Cannes but there was not enough time and anyway it’s nice to have a bit of time to relax. It was superb all round. Great location and I think a great place to live providing one had lots of money. I would certainly go back at some point. I’ll post some photos shortly.

30th April 2007

The weather has been dry and warm and although a cool eastern breeze has been blowing the overall weekend scenario has been one of spring pleasantness. Spent the whole of Friday trying to repair the car but this can only be facilitated by a new part that has to be ordered. So no car now likely till sometime this week. On Saturday installed a water feature in the yard (see pic) which now transforms the ambience of quiet moments to another level. The sound of water is elemental to all of us and now it merges with the birdsong and breeze into an echo of simplertimes. Strange that as how our lives get more and more complex we relax by returning to the simple sounds and sensations of nature. The latest DVD and cinema surround pales to the sensation of warmth and the chimingring of water overflowing from pool to pool. Good buy.

3rd May 2007

Well still warm and dry and set to continue into the weekend. I could get used to this but a little water would be helpful for the plants in the garden. I have a lot of ferns and they could use some moisture about now. Car still at the clinic (my brother is repairing it for me.) "If only everything in life was as reliable as a Volkswagen." Wasn’t thatthe line they used in the ads…hmm!!!It’s a bank holiday weekend so we all get a day off on Monday…hooray!! I am sure I shall think of something to do with the extra time. I shall probably sit among the bluebells growing under the damsons and ponder the meaning of life. Take some crusty bread, cheese and pickle and a bottle of "San Pellegrino" which incidentally is my favourite water. I normally wouldn’t pay for bottled water but this water convinces me otherwise. Slightly effervescent and sweet…superb.

http://www.sanpellegrino.com/flash_site/storia.asp

Upon the greenest grass that carpets the arching slopes of land that I call my garden I shall stop and sit among the emerging growth and ponder questions that disseminate body from soul, convincing me that there is ameasure of hope and that ultimately there will be joy. It is best for me not move openly toward revelation any longer for I can see I have strode through my life with a measure of certitude that belies the conflicts that rage just below the surface of humanity. For we are all bodies held together with water and bone in a physical world that can only fail for each of us in turn. (Though at times interspersed within the pain is how amazing, bright and warm and carefree that failing may be.) For we are given to inhabit a world that is a paradise and our great test is to watch it fail and still remain true to both ourselves and all those around us. It is the hardest thing but it will set us free. Both on this Earth and beyond.

25th April 2007

Well an exciting 24 hours…I broke down on the motorway last night and couldn’t move the car out of the traffic lane. So thanks to all those wonderful people who tooted their horns and waved their hands like I had done it all on purpose…what a bunch of cretins! Nick to the rescue; so lucky I was close to where he lives. It was I suppose, funny in an annoying kind of way. Still a few glasses of wine and some food put it all behind me but it looks like I shall have to take a day off work Friday to get it sorted out. I managed to limp home from Nick’s this morning without incident.

Watched an amazing documentary on Japanese giant hornets last night…wow! They are big, big sisters and vicious. Watch this amazing National geographic clip

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2005/10/1012_051012_hornet_video.html

Have a great day…weathers turning warmer again here so looks like being a nice weekend.

24th April 2007

What a difference a few days can make to the weather. Gone the clear blue skies and warm evenings into brooding ashen skies hurling incessant rain down upon us. Worse still the wet weather has awoken the beast we in the north of the UK all fear the most…the microscopic bloodsucking midge. Quite the most interminable nuisance and completely mercenary. Nothing can prepare you for them and nothing deters them and whoopee! We’ve got a whole summer of their company to look forward to.

http://www.treesforlife.org.uk/tfl.midge.html

Still the unseasonable warm weather got me ahead in the garden. It is looking naturally magnificent. A wild mostly untamed beast slowly coming to life and shading the hillside with a pale and translucent green that soothes away all worry. I bought 21 Rosemary plants to edge along the raised bed in front of the swing and shall plant them when the weather brightens up. It is one of my favourite herbs and makes a wicked potato dish.

Take 1 onion and chop roughly. In a pan heat olive oil and fry onions till clear, add cubed potatoes and fry gently adding a couple of crushed garlic cloves. Raise the heat and begin to brown but don’t overstir or you’ll make the whole thing mushy. Take 2 stems of rosemary and strip the leaves from the woody stems and chop roughly. Add to the potatoes and leave long enough to infuse and enjoy with a plain fried tuna steak or leg of lamb braised in the oven with thyme, red wine and anchovies.

Even nicer washed down with a glass of USA Turning Leaf Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot or a good Australian Red. But not a French wine under any circumstance, well maybe a Chateau-Neuf –Du –Pape but that’s about it. Generally I find French wine thin and vile…. It is always reassuring bad and now I never, ever buy it.

My sister has just come back from India (she has a house in Goa) and while she was there was tracing family history and thinks without a shadow of doubt that my grandfather was a certain minor royal called Prince Omar from Afghanistan. I had sort of figured that out when I looked in the mirror though. So burqa me I’m practically Taleban. Think I’ll keep that quiet.

I got my 30 year long service award letter today from work and then promptly lost it…so I’ll be in trouble tomorrow. Hope somebody finds it and hands it in.

Have a good week

Swans swiftly glide and clouds slide
Without tedium, on a still clear medium
Vista’s of calm, that stem from dawn
To ease a heart and joyful a day start

15th April 2007

A late afternoon sun glances off daffodils and dapples the wood anemone that sit below the willow tree which has begun to drop its catkins like a thousand furry caterpillars. They lie on the ground as a fading yellow velveteen carpet. I have also my first magnolia flower this weekend and it is the most delicate pink. A fitting remembrance for those wonderful pets that nourished us in life and now nourish the world’s beauty as they sleep.

It has been an incredible weekend! Mediterranean in warmth and sunshine and last night I sat in the yard with vino, black olives and wonderful French ewes milk cheese called Ossau-Iraty.

http://www.worldsfoods.com/view.asp?prod_ID=2968

It is like creamy, mellow, sweet Parmesan. It is sublime. Cheese and bread and wine…perfect! I am discovering that products from Sheep and goats are in some ways better than cows. Wow 46 and still so much to try and learn. I fixed Nick’s computer but couldn’t fix Mike’s…I can’t win everything I guess. I keep stubbornly trying though!

I read a sad story about bees today. Apparently they may be disorientated by mobile phones. Can you imagine a world without these insects in it. Neither can I. It was Einstein who said that without bees man would perish within four years. Read it for yourself here…

http://news.independent.co.uk/environment/wildlife/article2449968.ece

Hope you too have had a wonderful weekend.

7.30am 13.04.2007

Here's the garden this morning just s the sun was rising. Been up to water the cabbage and uncover the straw from the Gunnera...its going to be 75F today (24 C) and warm across the weekend.

Just had a thought that it's a black friday so take care.

Have a great weekend.

12th April 2007

It’s been drier and warmer than the Costa Brava over the last few days here in England. Shame I have to be working but at least I can enjoy the dinnertime around the small reservoirs at work. They are home to various waterfowl and a kingfisher also makes intermittent appearances. They are the nearest things to a hummingbird we have here. You can’t imagine the thrill of the rapid flash of electric blue as it flies by. Like a huge whirring butterfly. It is so hard to see them properly, but nice to know they are around…they are a good sign of the health of the waterways.

I managed to sell my speakers but the whole thing has got complicated and likely the sale will fall through. Seems to be a case of proxy bidding by someone in Germany. Looks like I will have to relist them. Oh well I shall read the Janet Street-Porter column in the Independent newspaper for a while. She always cheers me up. She’s stimulating like Germaine Greer but better looking. Click on the link and see if you agree. She’s an ardent walker too.

http://comment.independent.co.uk/columnists_m_z/janet_street_porter/

Another refreshing columnist is Tracey Emin…woman of questionable artistry but wonderful to have around for dinner I guess. Couldn’t see her doing the cooking.

http://comment.independent.co.uk/columnists_a_l/tracey_emin/article2437606.ece

In fact the whole Independent web site is great…have a look around. Sometimes a bit hypocritical but most of the media is by having a moral stance and yet maintaining their incestuous relationship with the advertisers. In fact sitting on the bench in the garden reading and listening to the woodpecker tapping away at the Sycamore has done me the world of good. It’s a Great Spotted Woodpecker by the way. Click on the link

http://www.naturegrid.org.uk/biodiversity/birds/woodpeck.htm#great

So summer glimpses through spring days scattering sunlight through arching branches tracing the open sky and clothed in vestigial buds that feel the sun and call for syrup delved deep below the earth. It is the elixir of sweet winter rain caught and held within the trees chambered, wooden cisterns infused with the last summer’s essence stored for this moment. The sap rises and rushes to the end of every twig and the sylvan ships of state unfurl green sails to set before the fair winds of rebirth.

6th April 2007

Been to Cheshire to Tatton Park AND Dunham Massey with Nick today and the weather was perfect open blue sky and lots of sunshine. The gardens and houses were both magnificent. Hope you enjoy the pictures. See the one of the Gunnera Manicata creeping like huge green snails toward the waters edge - fantastic! There are also 2 links to the National Trust about both properties. I have taken some from the Tatton Park website and placed it below. Nice for us both to have a day off work and go out exploring.

Have a great Easter

This is one of the most complete historic estates open to visitors. The early 19th-century Wyatt house sits amid a landscaped deer park and is opulently decorated, providing a fine setting for the Egerton family's collections of pictures, books, china, glass, silver and specially commissioned Gillows furniture. The theme of Victorian grandeur extends into the garden, with its Fernery, Orangery, Rose Garden, Tower Garden, Pinetum, and Italian and Japanese gardens. The restored Walled Garden includes a Kitchen Garden and magnificent glasshouses, where traditional methods of gardening are used. Other features include the Tudor old hall, a 1930s working rare breeds farm, a children's play area, speciality shops and 400-hectare (1,000-acre) deer park.

http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-vh/w-visits/w-findaplace/w-tattonpark/

http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-vh/w-visits/w-findaplace/w-dunhammassey/

4th mar 2007

Easter is here so soon with the weather set to fair for the whole period. I am going to do a little gardening a lot of eating and read my vintage three-volume set of books on British Abbeys and Cathedrals. I have a pair of Tannoy’s for sale on e-bay (see if you can find them? Think of it like the hunt for the egg,) which ends Easter Sunday but currently no takers…ahhh!!

Awash in sunlight we strive to make each day a wonder
Count it made warm, special and joyous because it will,
Recede, leaving only a glimpsed memory and who but a fool
Wishes to look back upon these days with a sigh of regret

2nd April 2007

I’m sitting in the yard tonight even though it’s 7pm and the sun has slipped away from sight. Now descending from above, to tingle fingers and cheeks comes a touch of cooler air. My senses heighten, sharpen and become more creative in application. Mosquitoes dance in a group of eight a few feet from my face to the warbling song of the blackbird chanting a hypnotic avian evensong. Tulips and daffodils form a crescent swathe at my feet and as the light changes so too does their vibrant colour, intensifying in the gloom like a paradoxical truth of evening. Now I hear crows and a solitary pigeon. One spitting harridan curses and the other a tender cooing lullaby and through it all weaves the blackbird and now a robin. And oh, it is all staggeringly restful, till at last the chorus stills at 8pm as night approaches. Now all I hear is the sound of passing cars like a rushing wind heard at the top of high hills. Time for some warmth.

Spring is here with something man cannot make
Warming dusk, lighting nights and watering dawns
My heart for its worth is here and beats in time
For summer is knocking and spring opens the gate
So take joy in these days and reflect on each sign
The world is at last awake and tonight it is mine

01.04.2007
First day of April today but I figure you’d all worked that one out. Been in the garden and also to Whalley Abbey today with Nick. Whalley abbey is in the Ribble valley close to Clitheroe and is the most amazing place (if only to see the damage caused by the reformation.) It is always sad to see how much damage occurred to our abbeys and cathedrals but then positively to think the wonderful country we have now and our unique British traits are probably due to it. See the beautiful gardens with its magnificent magnolia and dry stone terrace and the Abbey ruins. How splendid to buy the Observer and sit among the well kept gardens reading all the latest news. Not that much of it is good but we can hope for better days. That is the essence of the spring.

It has been cool but sensationally sunny with clear blue skies all the way through the day. I took a lot of pictures so I hope you enjoy them. Some are of the garden as I was walking around so I hope you can get a feel for it. Looks quite bare with all the leafless trees but that will change soon. Already the bare branches spout green vestigial leaves. Also my first bumblebee, some moss and yellowish forsythia set against the azure sky.

Hope you’ve had a good daytoo .

31st march 2007
The weather has been cool but full of glorious sunshine that escaped from behind the clouds in intermittent bursts. I hung some pictures, then sat in the yard, read a book and it was so nice to feel warmth outdoors again. I had such a contented afternoon and it was so relaxing I fell asleep at one point…but maybe that’s the age thing creeping in. Still with fresh air delivered on a breeze and the birdsong wrapped in sunshine anyone could find that soporific. I can’t believe Easter is upon us next weekend and am looking forward to a four-day break. Shall be in the garden and around the house for most of it and if I am really lucky spending another afternoon like today. Have a great weekend and take the best care.

Hello...back at last after what seem years. Well sometimes other things have to take precedence to this. Still the long bright nights are back and as the temperatures climb you shall find me sat in the garden making full use of this wireless technology. Sorry if anyone has been clicking on here and finding nothing to see. That's about to change...get ready for a year in pictures.