Walk this way…

I haven’t been at the keyboard much of late and as I sat down to catch up whilst some cake baked (one good, one fell victim to opening the door a bit soon – but there’s not much custard can’t fix) I uploaded all the photos since my last effort. It transpires that I haveContinue reading “Walk this way…”

Summer Swan Song

Having confidently declared autumn up and running in my last blog, we found ourselves enjoying a mini Indian Summer last week. Everyone, and everything, seemed to come out to enjoy the sun. Little troupes of mushrooms suddenly appeared in the garden. They crept stealthily out from under trees and a few, bolder types, marched confidentlyContinue reading “Summer Swan Song”

A scented nosegay

Since Lyra lost her sight I’ve been trying to think more about sounds and smells, to be more aware of what she is experiencing. Walking round Norham last week, Lachlan got in on the act and we spent a large part of the walk trying to work out the source of a very particular smell,Continue reading “A scented nosegay”

You gotta roll with it*

*In keeping with the zeitgeist I am offering up an appropriate soundtrack for this post. I am, as it happens, typing away in the kitchen whilst Keith cooks and I have to say he is not indulging in any Oasis nostalgia and purports to be singing some 70s rock. It is not entirely clear whatContinue reading “You gotta roll with it*”

Limbo

June passed in a frenetic blur of activity. Somehow we hit peak gardening, peak attic emptying and peak builder organising all at the same time. Something had to give and it proved to be the keyboard…. Our open garden day at the end of June was swiftly followed with a rather frenetic trip to LondonContinue reading “Limbo”

To the Wall…

I squished so many garden photos in my last post there was no room for anything else so this is a little catcher upper for the last few weeks. When I left off I think we had made it through Keith’s big party and were awaiting the advent of the rugby crowd for further celebrations.Continue reading “To the Wall…”

Someone left the cake out in the rain

The drear mirk continues, with intermittent flashes of sun. This, combined with a rather crippling and persistent bout of insomnia, has me distinctly frayed at the edges. Life rolls on much as ever, the vicissitudes and irritations are neither better nor worse than usual, but the energy to shrug things off and scope to deflectContinue reading “Someone left the cake out in the rain”

Mad March

I’ve been tied up with all manner of “stuff” of late and somehow March has slipped through my fingers. A catch up is well overdue and a combination of truly miserable weather and the blissful peace of an empty house (I have been largely deserted for various holidays, meetings, lectures and what have you) meansContinue reading “Mad March”

Perking up

The last few days have brought a speck of sun and it has driven the weeks of mud right out of my head. I look around at the green spears of emerging buds and tiny pulmonaria flowers straining up to enjoy a little warmth and wonder why on earth I’ve not weeded all the bordersContinue reading “Perking up”