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| Summer in bloom - courtesy of a local hillside in Frensham |
Well, it's been quite a while between posts.
My excuses for this are many. Work has been relentlessly busy for months, we've had a number of visitors from Australia, and despite the long summer days there have never seemed to be enough hours in the day for everything I want to do.
There's a bit to cover, so I'm intending to follow up with a 'Part 2'.
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| Cow parsley, brambles and nettles flourishing on one of many public footpaths that criss-cross England, giving everybody access to the most beautiful landscapes. This one is a couple of minutes' walk from home |
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| I came across FIVE roe deer in the course of my 45-minute walk on this day in late May! |
Whilst I seem to have done not terribly much other than slog away at work with the odd day or two away, Kevin has been jet-setting all over the place - on school trips during term time, and of course since his 8.5 weeks of summer holidays commenced, on cycling adventures.
In May, somehow Kevin managed to wangle a spot on the French language trip to Normandy, despite not speaking a word of French. It was indeed a grind, staying in a chateau, flitting from cheese factory to artisan chocolate maker, to cathedral. Not to mention exploring fabulous medieval architecture in quaint towns. He also got to see in situ the beautiful bust of Joan of Arc in Rouen's Jeanne d'Arc church, which our good friend Richard Evans sculpted a few years ago.
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| Kevin's accommodation on the school French trip - Le Chateau du Broutel |
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| Rouen's lovely mediaeval streets Photo by Kevin Joy |
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| Rouen rooftops Photo by Kevin Joy |
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The bust of Joan of Arc in Jeanne d'Arc church in Rouen, created by our friend Richard Evans
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| Loch an Dubh Lochain, Knoydart Photo by Kevin Joy |
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As you see, my travels have been slightly less glamorous than Kevin's cavorting about Scotland and the Continent, but enjoyable all the same.
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| Yours truly in front of Petworth House, West Sussex |
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| This year's House & Garden Festival at Olympia, London |
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| Street art in Chichester |
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| The glorious bell tower of Chichester Cathedral |
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| The Chagall Window at Chichester Cathedral - truly a thing of beauty |
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| The Lady Chapel at Chichester Cathedral *that decorated, vaulted ceiling* |
We've been fortunate to have further visits from Australian friends this spring/summer, as we do each year. We are always so happy to renew the relationships - with good friends it's just like slipping on a pair of old, comfortable shoes. It's like we haven't lived on opposite sides of the world for years.
In my last post, Ed and Karen had been to stay, and their visit was followed fairly promptly by our mutual friends Terry and Janet, in early June. They were fortunate to stay when the baby deer were in evidence (we had one at our garden fence one morning), and as a family of mother and three baby squirrels took up residence in our garden.
A couple of weeks later Lesley arrived for her annual exploration of Norman churches, gardens, villages and antiques stores.
Lesley had flown the last leg of the flight from Australia on her 60th birthday, but having crossed the International Date Line (with the UK currently 9 hours behind Australia), she arrived still on the date of her birthday. That was the excuse for popping a bottle of organic French champagne and dining out at our very good local Indian restaurant. What a treat to be able to celebrate a good friend's milestone birthday with her.
The following day she and I visited beautiful West Dean Gardens, near Chichester. It was a drizzly, grey day, but the unfavourable weather did not diminish West Dean's charms. I have to say in recent years I have very much relied on Lesley's superior knowledge of fabulous gardens and villages in the UK - anybody wishing to do a tour of such things in England would be well advised to seek her counsel!
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| Roses and poppies in abundance on a grey day at West Dean Gardens, near Chichester |
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| Try as I might, I can find no information on the age of this magnificent oak tree at West Dean Gardens. It must be absolutely ancient |
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| The romantic, rose-covered dovecote at West Dean Gardens |
Lesley has long been an avid fan of Antiques Roadshow, and on this trip she actually got to attend the filming of an episode at Compton Verney in Warwickshire. Not a person to do anything by halves, Lesley even managed to meet a couple of the show's hosts, including the elegant and impressive Fiona Bruce. What a coup!
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| Lesley realising a dream - with Fiona Bruce from Antiques Roadshow |
Until the middle of July we had a fairly cool summer - actually, not a cool summer by traditional standards, just a normal summer, as they used to be before climate change descended. The days were generally in the low to mid 20s, a bit grey and a bit wet for a few days at a time (we desperately needed the rain after nearly a year of substandard rainfall), followed by a period of warmer, sunny but comfortable conditions.
(I'm sure you can sense the 'however' approaching)
However, all of that changed in the second half of July. And I'll just leave that there for now.
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| Summer brings the short but spectacular season of peony roses |
Today, 4 August 2019, marks five years since we arrived back in the UK to start the next phase of our lives. I can honestly say that each and every day I still wake up with a sense of wonder at my very good fortune to live in this lovely country.
Well, friends, in the interest of getting something posted without further delay, here ends Part 1 of my summer news.
Meanwhile, please enjoy some pictures of early/mid summer in our garden, and the local area. If I must suffer this season, I'm happy to be doing so in England, where the ravages of heat and sun are generally gentler than back in Australia.
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| We have a family of squirrels who regularly visit to steal the seeds, peanuts and fat balls we provide to the local bird population. This is Mum, showing the youngsters how it's done... |
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| Mum stands guard as Junior performs acrobatics on the fat ball feeder |
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| We are so very glad that we purchased the squirrel proof peanut feeder (there is no such thing) |
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| The school where we live is in the direction of 'West End' |
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| One of the public paths in the local area, below the school (in a field often populated by calves) |
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| Frensham Heights School nestling on a blanket of summer green |
Until next time,
- Maree xo
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