The old ways

 Talking to my Dr yesterday, I mentioned that my appetite had disappeared, which is sad, as I do love good food. His suggestion was to drink Lucozade. That took me back to childhood memories!

Glucozade, as it was known then, was invented in 1927 by a pharmacist in Newcastle. Aimed as a 'pick me up' drink for unwell people, it was soon acquired by Beechams and sold as an energy drink. As a child I used to love it, still do, and was tempted to ask if I could have a prescription for it!

Iodine was a great favourite of my Grandma, with the never to be forgotten remark ..'If it hurts it's doing you good'. Still used by the District nurses who come to change the dressing on my knee. And yes, it does hurt!

A friend's daughter in law visited the surgery this week, with a very nasty cough, wondering if she had pneumonia. Thankfully it wasn't, but she was advised to go home, rest and take lemon and honey hot drinks. So much part of my childhood! Hot lemon and honey is one of the best recovery medicines!

I think we are all more aware of other ways of healing rather than immediately going for antibiotics, necessary though they can be.

It's lovely to see the 'old fashioned' tried and tested ways being used. One of the worst in my childhood was a 'tonic' fed into us after a nasty bout of flu or something similar, called Parrish's food .Now discontinued, thankfully, (except for racing pigeons) it was a 19th century soluble iron supplement. Our mouths were always purple after taking it.

 I wonder if you have any memories of the old ways?

Slow days

The days seem pleasantly slow here. 

We have had a week of rain and more rain. Leaves have dropped off the trees, but there are still, unbelievably, roses flowering. This is an old photo of Rose Graham Thomas, as it's too wet to go out to take a photo!

Not being quite as mobile as normal has meant that I have had to find some ways of feeling useful. So began the job of sorting out Christmas cards. Do you buy cards from Charities? I try always to have a bit of a mix, so this year I bought National Trust cards, and also cards from a Charity called 'Child Aid'. Their amazing work is mainly rebuilding lives of abandoned and disabled families in Eastern Europe .

I'm so pleased that the Hyacinth bulbs planted in September are now showing their little green tops. Soon they will come in from the cool garage to the sitting room, and I'm hoping for six gorgeously scented plants by Christmas.

 Slowly, slowly....onwards and upwards. Thank you for the many kind messages of encouragement.

Watching

 Along with the obligatory exercises and walking practice, I have spent  quite a lot of time just watching. I have been surprised at how much of my energy it takes to go through the list of exercises each day, but I know that they have to be done.

My armchair, (book, rug, drink etc etc) into which I happily flop, faces large sitting room windows. Although this is a relatively small close of homes, there is always something or someone to watch going by. I see the same faces and the same dogs. Delivery vans stop with groceries. A huge lorry came yesterday delivering stone to someone who is having work done. A friend goes by and waves, Mr T wheels his wife by in her wheelchair, two girls ride their ponies along the road. All manner of life is here.

I've also been watching TV and have been interested to see the 'Christmas advertisements' offered by the bigger companies such as John Lewis and Marks and Spencer. So many of them are wholly focussed on FOOD. So far the only one with a little bit of social awareness seems to be Lidl. It has been criticised, but at least they tried!

I am looking forward to getting out into the garden, not too safe on crutches at the minute, but soon! The beautiful red leaves of the cherry tree have fallen overnight, and the branches are bare. But there will be bulbs soon and Spring to look forward to.

Home

 

Here I am, quietly delighting in the peace of Home. As the surgeon predicted, the pain levels are receding. I have a little help in the mornings, but have my trusty crutches and a walking frame to help me.

Looking out at the garden I'm happy to see the red leaves on the Cherry tree haven't yet fallen, though it won't be long. There are lovely splashes of colour from groups of pink Kaffir Lillies which have found their own spaces in the beds. There is even a rose or two in flower.

I can't drive for 6 weeks but have lovely friends who pick up things if I need anything.

Onward.

Onwards

For a few days following a knee replacement operation, I'm staying in a very comfortable 'Assisted Living Residence'.

It is lovely not to have to think about making meals, and the Care here is kindly and compassionate. I will be home next week, on my own but with some help at times.

Walking is improving though I'm not running any races yet.

Pause

 

I will rejoin you all in a week or so's time, after my hospital stay.

Preparing for a hospital stay

 

I have never suffered a broken limb, so crutches are new to me. But after knee surgery later this month I shall be on two crutches for six weeks. That sounds a very long time.

I have seen a very charming Anesthetist, had pints of blood taken, been to 'Joint School' (yes, really), filled the freezer with ready meals, and ordered some essential equipment. One of which is a trolley, because as my niece told me 'You can make a cup of tea, but you can't carry it anywhere'. How sensible.

My surgeon told me, laughingly....'For the first two weeks you'll wish you hadnt had it done, in the second weeks you'll feel a little better, but at the end of the six weeks, you'll be glad you had it done.'

Hmm.

Not that I approve of the Disney illustration, but this did seem to sum up how I feel!

10 days in Brittany

I have had the most lovely time revisiting my region of Brittany. Even though we lived there for many years I have lost confidence in driving in France now, but due to the kindness of friends who have a cottage there, I was taken in their car. I stayed in a lovely hotel in Pontivy, one of my most favourite towns.

Pontivy has a beautiful canal running through the centre.

You can see what warm weather we had. I was able to stroll through the town without a coat. It was so good to revisit little areas, cafes and restaurants, none of which had changed at all!

On the one morning when there was a shower, I sat with a coffee in my favourite bar, one where my husband and I always took our morning coffees.

Catching up with old friends was such a delight, two of whom I hadnt seen for 12 years! Like the buildings, they hadn't changed.

This house belongs to my friends . It's in a delightful little town called Malestroit. They have had a very close encounter with the water on a stormy night, but it didn't actually enter the house.

 Isn't it pretty?

I've come back feeling full of gratitude for a truly lovely holiday. Now I have to prepare for a knee replacement operation in October. This I am not looking forward to, but it's necessary.

One of the churches in Pontivy.

 

The 'little break'.

 A 'little break' turned into quite a lengthy break, mainly due to inflamed eyelids (Blepharitis). Even the name sounds vile.So the dark glasses have played a big part in life, as have countless sessions with eye drops.

I have been busy processing the hundreds of windfall apples (Bramleys, I think) that fall from my tree every day.

They have been sliced, stewed frozen  and made into Apple jelly, which is delicious.

I'm being taken to Brittany next week, by friends who have a cottage there. It's thirteen years since I was in France and it will be wonderful to catch up with some old friends, and maybe going to see my old house. I'm interested to see how the garden that I planted from a field, has developed.

This was taken the year before we left France.

I may not have much access to technology while I'm away. , but will be back later in September.

A little break.

I'm having a short break from posting.

I have things to do and books to read, one of which is 

I thought this sounded intriguing, and slightly expected a wordy tome. In fact it is a lovely gentle book. Juhee Mun, the author, believed in the connections formed by the writing and receiving of letters. The book is not about the right or wrong ways in which to write a letter. It's about what happens when you choose to make the time to write letters.

I'm taking it slowly, a chapter at a time, and enjoying the simple way in which it is written.

I will be reading posts but not writing for a little while.

 

The few things in the garden

Inspired by Lorrie's lovely post on her Autumn-y garden, I thought I would go and see if there was anything in mine worth photographing. The dry weather has finished off so many perennials. Roses are almost over, and the only things actually producing are apples, tomatoes and pears. Also blackberries on my 'Tame' plant. Not a wild one, not huge, it has produced over a pound so far.

I think these are called Asian pears. They are round rather than the normal pear shape. I have stewed them and they are very sweet, but I think people also use them in making chutney.

 Apples are falling over the lawn every day. They are Bramleys but the tree is old now and many are diseased. I have cut lots up and made Apple jelly, or stewed what I can. I do enjoy having my own produce!

There's a sudden burst of colour from this late flowering Clematis. I wish I could recall her name.

The lovely mop head Hydrangeas are turning from a beautiful blue to this interesting purply colour. The heads have been huge this year.

At the beginning of the season I was given a rather random set of plants and simply put them all into one big plantpot. They have gone on and on, bringing a lovely burst of colour just outside my kitchen door.

And the Tomatoes are behaving beautifully!

Today

 

 Just a thought for today!

Birthday

 Birthday flowers.

I have lovely friends!

My son and daughter are bringing lunch tomorrow, such a treat.

The sad thing about birthdays is that it means one is another year older.

'With mirth and laughter let old wrinkles come'

William Shakespeare.

Threads through Creation

 Truro Cathedral is hosting a wonderful exhibition his month. Called Threads through Creation, it is the work of Jacqui Parkinson. It comprises twelve huge panels, each one showing parts of the Genesis story..........in embroidery.

Actually, it is hopeless to try to describe it in words. I had never seen anything quite like it. The first panel shows the 'Beginning' and gradually the story builds up. Let me show you one side of the Cathedral.

Each panel takes the story a little further and becomes more complex. This one is called 'Universe, sparkle with lights'. It's a mixture of fabric engineering, quilt techniques and embroidery, and it really does sparkle.

Another one which caught my eye is a panel called 'Earth, dance with creatures'

Jacqui Parkinson, who says that it is her Christian faith that inspires her work, took over three years to finish this amazing collection. If you would like to see more, her website is

https://www.jacqui-textile.com/

There you can see all the panels in better colour than my camera shows. I shall go back for a second look at the exhibition, as one visit isnt enough.

Apples and flowers.

 It has been too hot this week to do much in the garden, apart from sitting in the sun. Even that was too much at times.

Apple windfalls were descending, some usable, some not. I wondered how long it was since I made Apple jelly, and thought it would be something positive to do, even with damaged fruit.

It's a fiddly job, involving cutting up and  boiling the apples, draining them in a jelly bag, then using the pale green liquid to make the jelly, mixing jam sugar with it.

All of a sudden the pale green liquid has become this lovely rose colour, and set into five pleasing little jars. (The fifth was given to a friend)

Waiting till the cooler evening to boil fruit was a good idea.

Evenings are the best time to water my many garden pots, full of colour at the moment. The flowers below are from a pot of mixed Clarkia and  Godetia. I love their tissue papery petals. No scent, but beautiful. I thinkthey are quite old fashioned plants. I remember my Grandfather growing them.

Today it is cooler, and people are heaving sighs of relief. As soon as it rains we will all be wishing the sun to return!

Seven heads!

 For the first time, my Agapanthus has seven heads!

It's much bluer than this photo shows. I'm so pleased with it.

Dark glasses

 Trying hard to look like one of the most glamorous ladies, Jackie Onassis. It's not really working.

Yesterday I had an operation for removal of a Cataract. The world is blurred but I'm hoping that soon it will be crystal clear. It wasn't a very nice operation, most of taking place under gallons of iodine-y water sloshed over my entire head.

Now I am wearing very large dark glasses and wondering if the look is appealing. or just slightly dim.

The Galeon Andalucia

 This beautiful Spanish galleon is visiting Cornwall this week, sailing into Penzance. She is a replica of a 17th century ship and was built in Spain in 2009.

The galleon is used for educational purposes and sail training with young people, and has sailed across the Pacific and Indian oceans, navigated the South China sea, the Mediterranean and the Caribbean, covering thousands of nautical miles.

The public are allowed to go on board and meet some of the young crew who have been sailing the seas. It's an exciting visit to a little Cornish town.

Quick after word.....reporting this on the West Country news tonight, the reporter referred to the ship as being 'parked' in Penzance!

Books

I haven't had a lot of reading time lately. The garden has taken up spare moments, though I always have to have a book close by. Reading  a review from Mary's blog recently(Visits with Mary), I was intrigued by her mention of 'Appalachian Song', by Michelle Shocklee.

I have always found early American history interesting, and have read other books set in the Appalachian mountains. This one moves from the 1940s to 1970s, and is set in a tiny 'holler' in the Smoky Mountains. Here Bertie Jenkins works as a community midwife, living with her sisters, all unmarried, in a very rustic cabin. They raise their own crops, living on what they grow and produce. No electricity, no phone, very few modern conveniences.

Into their lives comes a young pregnant woman who they call Songbird. Her story is interwoven with the sisters', and with that of Reese, a midwife in the 1970s. It's best described as a gentle historical Christian romance I think, though the 'romance' is more in the love shown by the sisters, and in the story of Songbird's son.

It's very different to the other book I'm reading (yes I frequently have two on the go!), which is 'The Land of Spices' by Kate O'Brien set mostly in a Catholic Convent. Her writing always feels slightly detached, but deeply descriptive.

I'm also wading through the four or five sections of the Saturday Telegraph, which keeps me going throughout the week. And I'm stuck on the Crossword.

There is always an emptiness, a sadness, when a book is finished, a sense of one's life being slightly incomplete. Until I have searched and found a new one.

“You can never get a cup of tea large enough or a book long enough to suit me.”

C.S. Lewis (British writer and lay theologian)

Roses

June is the month I most look forward to. It's now that the roses in my garden are coming into full and glorious flower. I counted recently, and have over twenty varieties, each one known by name. This is Darcy Bussell, who lives in a very large pot outside my kitchen window. The scent is lovely. A friend asked me recently, 'How does the rose know it should look like that'?

 Pierre de Ronsard , below, another great favourite, was first seen when we lived in Brittany. Somehow it doesnt grow with the same energy as it did in France. Maybe I should hold conversations in French with him?

Here's a very happy rambler, Ghislaine de Feligonde. The flowers change from Apricot to cream.

One of the most heavily scented roses is Golden Gate, who will continue to flower through till October. There's also a flower from Graham Thomas in the vase.

Although my garden has many other flowers, I think that without roses it would be a pale and empty place. I visited Mottisfont, a National Trust rose garden, many years ago and revelled in a garden overflowing with so many different varieties of rose....and wanted to reproduce the feeling in my own garden.

Just one more, Princess Anne, beautifully pink, highly scented, but very prickly!

What makes roses so magical? Is it the scent, the colour, the form? I'm not sure. I just know that for me they have a romance, a story, that is different from any other plant.

'Footfalls echo in the memory, down the passage we did not take, towards the door we never opened, into the rose garden.
T.S Eliot (Four quartets)

A little break

 I'm just back from a week in Austria, spent in a little lakeside town called Zell am See. I travelled with a group from a company called Titan, who offer the luxury of being picked up from home and taken to the Airport.

My hotel was in the town, most of which is pedestrian, so it was easy to wander to and fro, gazing at shops, stopping for a coffee, visiting the church and museum  but best of all strolling down to the lake.

Although there are excursions arranged, you don't have to take part in any or all, and I did opt out of a couple of them, mainly due to a knee problem. I'm on a list for a knee replacement and it is sometimes very painful.

However, this was a lovely way to see the lakeside, on a boat trip. I sat on one of the open decks with a coffee and just enjoyed the calmness, no voice-over commentary, just quiet. A lake is a calming place, taking in the gentle sound of water , enjoying the reflections, people watching.....

A day was spent in Salzburg, a city that my husband and I visited many times. Again, I wandered off and retraced some memories. The huge Cathedral is a very lovely place to sit and drink in the scents of incense   and the sound of background music. The oldest cafe in the city is Tomasellis, and there I went for 'Coffee and Cake' such a popular thing to do. Even on a Sunday there were few tables free.

 It's said that there are no calories on a Sunday!

I had a delicious lunch in a little lakeside restaurant, sunny, warm and welcoming.

 

It was a delightful break, but equally lovely coming back to a garden in full flower. More of that later.

Sitting by a lady at dinner, not someone I had met previously, we chatted about lives and places. She lived in Norfolk, and I said that I knew friends in Norfolk but couldnt remember their address. Musing, I said 'I know Bob and Angela  moved there a few years ago', only to have her cry 'NOT Bob and Angela Almond??'

She knew them well as their churches were not far away. What an amazing coincidence!

In the garden

These cheerful little Bellis Daisies smile at me every time I look out of the kitchen window. They are planted in a very old Cornish granite trough, which is almost impossible to move.

 I do love pink in my garden. This is a branch of an old fashioned Wiegela shrub which I thought had died.....until I cut it hard back and it flourished!

More happy faces. This very bright plant is, I think, Ixia. I can't be sure as it simply arrived one day with no warning, and grew and grew.  

The last photo is bronze Arctotis, much loved by the bees. I also have it in pink. Of course.

Just a little wander through my flower beds.

I'm off on holiday to Austria this coming week. I'll see you all in a couple of weeks time.