Thursday 31 July 2014

The 'Delargo Towers' Garden - July 2014

Here it is me dears - the new garden. I must say, I do miss the old garden with its bumble bees and hover flies to keep us company. 



What we have now is definitely bigger and sunnier but also bleak, barren and as it turns out a toilet for all the local foxes. The bees have been replaced by horrid flies.


With the help of friends and a large white van most of the plants have come with us.


There are four apple trees that were once trained as espaliers, now wildly overgrown and heading for the sky.


They have now had a hard Summer prune and I will try to get some shape back with the Winter pruning.



With no beds or borders in the "fallow field" that passes for a lawn and so much to do inside, the plants are all on hold and being kept in pots.




They are still doing their best for us though.




Most of our old favourites are here.





And some newbies too -


Like the Korean Mint with its fabulous orange flower.


Lilium Oriental hybrid 'Stargazer'



And a whole host of Dahlia 'Bishop's Children' all grown from seed.








Not a garden as we know it yet but it has potential. We have declared war on the foxes after not being content with pooing every where, they started to dig and uproot things (including in the pots) and to leave bits of dead animal and take way for us in the morning.


In the words of the great Sir Winston Churchill:

"We shall not weaken or tire. 
Neither the sudden shock of battle 
Nor the long-drawn trials of vigilance and exertion
 will wear us down. 
Give us the tools and we will finish the job."



Ta Ta For Now


x

Wednesday 30 July 2014

Random Wanderings

Hello again me Handsomes',

Things are settling down a bit now after the move and with a change of job next week, I have had a couple of weeks off unexpectedly. Here are the results of my random wanderings. They are all taken on my phone and often from the tops of buses so please excuse the quality.

No we are not in Amsterdam early. This is me in Maida Vale W9.


Fleet street and the Strand from the top of a bus.





Now onto rural Tottenham.



and the Lee Valley.


One of my fave water side pubs, the Ferry Boat Inn.



This leg of my wanderings ended at Black Horse Road tube station, and the famous WW1 'Battle Bus' just happened to be going past belching smoke - click for more info


A trip to Holloway Road to buy vinyl floor covering led me to this Art Deco gem of a pub, The Coronet:


Richmond at random




To our surprise and delight the Royal Barge "Gloriana" just happened to be going past on the Thames as we walked to Ham House.




After crossing the Thames on the little ferry, we carried on to Twickenham past Orleans House -



Walking on we past Eel Pie Island -



And on in to  Twickenham for some well deserved food and of course a pint.


Two days later, and after five and a half hours on the ("Gold Standard Express") Mega Bus, I arrived in Plymouth, shaken but not stirred.


I love the Barbican. It's one of the few areas of Plymouth that has any character. This is New Street - well it was new when the first Queen Elizabeth was on the throne...



Looking out past Mount Batten towards Staddon Heights and out to sea.


Two old favourite watering holes. The Dolphin and the Navy.



Plymouth Gin has been produced here since 1793:



Having "touched base", there was just time for a quick pint before seeing Mother.



Bless her.


Back to London and reality, Through Archway and on into Finchley for my final redundancy meeting.


I am being made redundant! Hey Ho.


Being back home after a very short visit to the South West, there was only one thing for it -  PASTIES! Soul food for us 'Janners'.


Yum.  
Well, there tiz me lovelies, one month squashed into one post.


Till next time


ttfn

x