May early in the garden
Warm April this year, so everything in the garden is early, so this years ‘May in the garden’ comes to you in April. Enjoy.
Past May in the Gardens: 2010 , 2009 , 2008 , 2007 , 2006 , 2005 .
Lovely Fay in Paris
Sacré-Coeur
Sacré-Coeur dome
Musee de Montmartre
Merci
Abbesses garden
Opposite Georges Pompidou centre
…and as the birthday girl at the Hotel Gramont Opera – best small hotel in Paris?
Paris and Books
Merci’s second-hand book cafe ( www.merci-merci.com )
Upstairs at Shakespeare and Company ( shakespeareandcompany.com )
Finding our next stop
Model Paris
After many months work, my scale model of paris-west was completed just in time for us to use it instead of a tourist map when visiting the city.
Sacré-Coeur Views
Views from 283 steps high: from the dome of the Sacré-Coeur in Montmartre, Paris.
Someone had a great sense of humour when they installed the potting shed.
Thanks to John Davies and family, who we randomly bumped into, for recommending going up to the top, and to the anonymous Irish man who counted the steps.
Kremes!
One of the (very many) things that little-getting-bigger F misses from the USofA has been Krispy Kreme Do nuts which were always a treat on the road trip south to Mt Rainier .
Fortunately, while meeting Tory inbound from SEA, I found that LHR T5 now has a Krispy Kreme stand. What could I do other than getting an assorted dozen?
The box is now empty.
The Barrow
A moody Brightwell Barrow from Wittenham Clumps.
Apparently the Barrow is bronze aged and was mentioned in the Domesday Book. I don’t speak olde englisch, but for those that do here’s the link .
More Flat Friends
The beans are doing well, especially now flat friends have arrived and can help with the weeding and watering. Not sure this is what they had in mind when they set off on their vacations…
Bike Jump Measuring
The boys jumping model motorbikes down the garden with granddad – attempting to beat the 1:20 scale world record.
Pen Y Fan
Breakie for champions (or just Aiddy & Mart) after a restful night (ignoring the herc at 150ft) in the camping field at Cantref Adventure Farm and Bunkhouse .
Before setting off down the lane towards the mountains.
The bright spring morning with clear blue skies had obviously unsettled the locals who, knowing that hikers expect it to rain when in Wales, instantly sprang into action, seeding some low level clouds to make us feel at home during the hike up through the foothills.
We saw some sheep too – another unusual sight for this part of the world.
The path up to Pen Y Fan was clearly marked
and in next to no time we were up at the top, with next to no one else around. Except that is for the UKs teenage population “doing DofE” and two crazy polish mountain bikers.
Not content with just one peek, we bagged Crybin and Fan Y Big (or was it Big Y Fan?)
before skirting Craig Cwareli which dropped us right into the lovely village of Llanfrynach…
…and the pub for a well deserved pint of Brains.
Except the pub was shut.
Next time we’ll ring ahead and check before hiking 14-odd miles and up (and down) 3,800 feet for a drink.
Top hike. Cheers Mart.
Clearing Fog
Looking across the field from the end of the garden this morning – mist clearing over the river.
Fixed Broken Glass Flower
Having safely moved 4,800 miles, including the trials of storage and shippers handling, one of the amazing glass flowers from
Bassetti’s Garden
was tragically attacked and mauled by the washing.
Fortunately,
Araldite
came to the rescue. Can you spot the join?
The thin edge
If you should go skating
On the thin ice of modern life
Dragging behind you the silent reproach
Of a million tear-stained eyes
Don't be surprised when a crack in the ice
Appears under your feet.
You slip out of your depth and out of your mind
With your fear flowing out behind you
As you claw the thin ice.
The Thin Ice. Pink Floyd.
Trauma
They were “just passing” so Fay and H thought it a good idea to nip into the Emirates Shop, shortly before kick-off on a home game day. F was with them; wearing his ManU shirt…
…cue phone call to Dad from traumatised son.
Flat Cole
Flat Cole is visiting from the USA. So we took him on the train to Olde Londone Towne
Where trash cans are litter bins.
Blue mail boxes are red post boxes.
Football is a game where you kick a ball with your feet
And the street where McDonalds first restaurant was opened!
Do you know what it is yet
Do you know what it is yet? Yes Rolf, we do.
Brassica Napus
.
It was the yellow flowers that gave it away.
Ewok Doing The Shake
Down by the river, and another attempt to get Ewok swimming fails. But he succeeded in giving the boys and me a quick shower.