 Corfe Castle 9 - 12 July 2025 (Wednesday to Saturday) Wednesday morning, and we were up early as we were off to spend a few days in Swanage with Vivi (of Vivi's Kitchen Garden) at her Cottage by the Sea. Again, a trip seemed to be coinciding with another heat wave over the days that we were to be away, so I was down at the plot to do some really early morning watering; I thought it sensible to get as much deeply watered as possible. After breakfast, and packing our bags and making a few snacks for the journey, we got into Fenella and after a quick pit stop at our local garage to check tyre pressures, we were on our way, soon wending our way down the M3 and onwards through Surrey, Hampshire and into Dorset. We had a necessary (for me) toilet break at Winchester services, where on the way out I couldn't resist a Greggs vegan sausage roll which we ate in the car; neither roll was as warm as we’d wanted it to be but the taste was rather lovely. Post stuffing our faces, a beautiful butterfly landed on Richard's bracelet as he was sitting in the car with the door open; it just stayed on his bracelet licking his skin, possibly taking either moisture or salts. Even with some gentle blowing encouragement the butterfly didn't want to move, so eventually Richard got out of the car and moved to an area of trees where there was lots of shade, and the butterfly decided it was time to move on… just as we then did, continuing our journey down to Swanage. After much motorway and many country roads, we were greeted at Vivi’s front door with many hugs. Happy Huggy Days!! It was time to unpack Fenella, ensuring she had nothing remaining visible to curious passersby, then we drove up the hill a little bit further and parked in free parking a few streets away. Back at Vivi's Cottage by the Sea and after a cup of tea and much chat, we had lunch which Vivi had already prepared which was a fantastic Greek salad which we had with bread and dips of my hummus which Vivi’d made and also an edamame hummus which was new to me and absolutely delicious - I got the recipe from Vivi straight away, and as it’s just a few swap outs of my own is another easy one to do. Lots of table chatting and garden talk, and then at the end of the afternoon, we popped down to walk along the seafront, had an ice cream and sat down and watched people enjoying themselves, sitting quietly as the Swanage world went on around us. As we sat, I was somewhat surprised to hear some rousing Chairman Mao style music, with a host of voices singing along to galvanising Chinese music… it took me half an hour to realise it was actually British sea shanties emanating from the pirate and Jurassic Park themed Sante-Fe Fun Park behind us, landside of the main promenade road! How our mind plays tricks with us… In the evening, we had one of Vivi’s delicious mild curries outside in Vivi's fabulous cottage garden. The growth rate of the garden since our last visit in May has been phenomenal, with tomatoes way way higher than my own at the plot and growth on plants that I’d given Vivi much stronger than I have at the plot myself. I think the soil must be really good, though also, and MOST importantly, all the genuine hard graft that Vivi’s put in turning a tired overgrown back garden space into a flourishing veg patch with lots of flowers and LOTS of wildlife. Sitting at her wonderful table, the hard graft has to be admired and applauded. When Vivi says she's going to do something she certainly gets on and does it, and with her garden, or rather her producing garden I should say, the effort is really paying off, and in so many ways. We sat out chatting and laughing until the light had gone, and even after this Vivi brought candles out, so chats and star-gazing continued. At the very end of the evening we went in and sat down in Vivi's living room for half an hour or so before getting off to bed… and of course, a few pages of my book.  After the first swim in the sea... Thursday saw me up early, and at the kitchen table having a cup of tea. I didn’t have the knack for the back door, though Richard was up soon after and then Vivi joined us and we sat out at her garden table chatting away, and Richard and myself having a breakfast of All Bran. After breakfast, it was down to the beach again, this time walking farther than we'd walked before, right across the promenade and in front of the beach huts, and then over the groynes which are there to reduce the impact of the waves on the beach huts and cliff, and then to a space on the sand where the nearest person was 200 meters away. It had been very hot on our walk, and I decided immediately to do something that I hadn't really expected to do, and that was to go for a swim in the sea… even though I wasn’t prepared for one! As Vivi was getting her dress off, bending over to undo her shoes, she looked to the side and saw that I was already down to my knickers and vest and pacing off towards the lapping water. Very soon Vivi followed in her bathing costume, and in we both went… cautiously at first, just feeling the temperature of the water on our toes and ankles and shins and knees and thighs and, well, other bits… Once I was up to my waist, and with my face turned towards Vivi in the shallower waters and Richard sitting on the beach, I let myself lean back and fall into the water… and then immediately started swimming as it felt rather chilly… After a few moments, my brain began to realise quite how delicious this whole experience was… and a few metres away there was our Vivi, fully in too and we were both swimming, each finding warm patches, or making our own… We stayed in swimming and chatting and laughing and in my case crying for about half an hour or so. The last time I'd even seriously paddled in water was 10 years ago with mum at Rocquaine in Guernsey, a few days after dad had died… memorable in so many ways, especially it being my 50th birthday. Mum was in her bathing costume and I was up to my thighs in water and we were just walking along the shoreline looking out at the fabulous view of the sea, and then looking back at the fabulous view of Guernsey. It was a moment to reflect, and a moment to treasure. Now, a decade on, and with mum now gone, I was having my first time in seawater since that moment, so not surprisingly emotions rose to the surface… just like my blubber-filled body did as I quietly laid back, floating on the surface of the silently whooshing waves. I hadn't really come prepared to swim, as I hadn't hugely expected to be swimming, but Vivi had come prepared and she and I sat on a towel she’d brought, drying off in the warm breeze and sunshine, chatting away with Richard. We sat there for half an hour or more, with the sun beating down and the salt crystals forming on our skins, and then we packed our things up and started walking our way back to Vivi’s Cottage by the Sea. For both Vivi and myself, this first swim had been special and emotional and essential in so many ways… and we had done it together… which was bloody marvelous! Happy Days indeed!! Back home (note the use of the word home - as it already feels like a home away from home), and still flushed with the joy of having swum, it was time for lunch and Vivi heated up some of her delicious Courgette & Potato Soup, added some grated cheddar, and we had leftover dips and bread with spread for lunch, again sitting at her table out in Vivi's lovely cottage garden, chatting and watching the wildlife fly by… butterflies and hummingbird moths, and bees and wasps and hoverflies, and then of course seagulls and town pigeons and country pigeons and doves and so much else, all with the occasional backdrop of a hoot and a chuff chuff from the railway line, and tinkly chiming bells of the local church striking the hour and half hour. Bliss! In the evening, we decided we’d go out and have chips so we went to Vivi’s favoured chippie, ordered a portion of chips for Vivi, cod and chips for Richard, and haddock and chips for me. With wrapped paper bags filled with goodies in our hands, we made our way along the front to a short pier, which is actually called Stone Quay as it's where local small ferries dock. A bench was free, so we sat down to eat our seaside suppers, with seagulls keeping an eye, and one dive bombing my chips though not quite getting away with one… it's only when a seagull is close up to you and literally flying over your lap and have a wing bashing your shoulder as it passes, that you suddenly realise quite how big, how strong and how heavy a seagull can be!  A labrador helping out at the seaside... Photo courtesy of Vivi of 'What Vivi did next' and 'Vivi's Kitchen Garden'. After our fish supper (a very rare thing for Richard and myself now as we only ever have when we’re at the seaside, as fish never features in any shopping basket) and chippie supper for Vivi (Vivi eats no fish), we watched all around us, enjoying the water, and the sun and the sumptuous air that only a seaside town like Swanage can do; suntanned kids jumping off piers into deep water, others on inflatable paddle boards being dragged out of the water by a tugging labrador, and water lapping calmly and endlessly against any surface it wants. A little walk along the front to Banjo Pier, and then it was back home and back to the table in Vivi's cottage garden at her Cottage by the Sea, and time for a few rounds of Yahtzee. Happy Days!!
Friday morning, and we’d already planned to drive back up the valley to visit Corfe Castle, which you cannot NOT see as you pass by on your way to and out of Swanage. Imposing… ruined… majestic. Richard had wanted to visit it on our first trip to Vivi's Swanage, though there just wasn't time, so this time we made time. So, after breakfast we walked up the remainder of Cardiac Hill that Vivi lives on, across and then up Cardio Hill, which is even steeper. Fenella was patiently waiting a short distance away on the next crossroad, and we piled into her and began our short journey to Corfe Castle. Now, Richard and I are members of the National Trust though we’d forgotten that Corfe Castle was a National Trust property… and also forgotten our membership cards! Despite this, we decided that if we couldn't get in with our membership numbers it was worth the cost just to have a walk around this magnificent castle with so much history. Parking up, and going into the Welcome Centre, I asked about parking and membership and the lovely lady immediately said it was not a problem and that our membership could be looked up at the Ticket Office, which was a 10 to 15 minute walk away. She also gave me a slip of paper with the date of our visit specified, so back to Fenella I popped to put the gifted slip on Fenella’s windscreen, to ensure that we wouldn't get charged the penalty fee for not paying for parking. Delighted, I walked back to the Welcome Centre, met up with Vivi and Rochard again… and in the short time I’d been away Vivi had been scouring the shelves of secondhand books for sale… so back off I went to Fenella to fill her boot with Vivi’s wordy gems. Crossing the road carefully, we made our way along the incredibly white chalk path, glistening with sunshine and shadows, over a brook and then wound our way up around the castle battlements to the Ticket Office. Sure enough, they were able to look up our membership and give us tokens which would give us free entry to the castle… technology can be a boon! The walk was pretty rough underfoot, and the castle always were too, though we had such a fantastic time; sometimes walking and chatting the three of us, sometimes in twos, and sometimes just individually wandering around taking pictures and video and watching the train coming in or leaving Corfe Castle station. Also, there are peregrines nesting at the top of the battered battlements which seems so apt, and two of them were happy to show themselves during the time we were there, both looking down on us and occasionally making the noises that are now so familiar over my allotment. I think we must have spent about an hour and a half wandering the castle, and then meandered back down through the huge gateway and into the cafe garden, where we ordered a cream tea, a savoury cream tea and Vivi had a quiche of some sort, I think it had red onion marmalade in it which also came with the savoury cream tea. We hoped that we'd be able to sit in the garden, in the shade, though there was a Wasp Alert on which was signalled on signs and that we were told about at the time of ordering… so once we had sat down and the jam for the cream tea was noted by the wasps, we decided to move inside and have our food and drink in the cafe rather than in the wonderful garden… even so, a wasp followed us in and stayed with us, flying and feasting on a little bit of jam that had somehow made its way onto Richard’s bag. After our little repaste we had a wander of the little village of Corfe Castle, window shopping, visiting the little museum, then crossing over and visiting the rather fabulous railway station. The station itself is a throwback to yesteryear and I think manned completely by volunteers. The train that goes through is powered by steam and goes down to Swanage and up the other way a stop or two. It always amazes me how the time and generosity of a few individuals has ensured that these historic railways and stations and railway lines remain intact, something I think we often forget, sadly. Walking back along the chalk path to Fenella, who was quietly waiting in the car park, we then drove back to Vivi’s for further chats and laughs and games and fabulous food (Vivi's delicious Fassolada) and an evening outside, at her table, in her cottage garden of her Cottage by the Sea, with candles burning and under the crisp starry sky… listening to various jazz sessions glistening over Swanage as part of its annual Jazz Festival at the start of the British summer holiday season.  Swanage Bay Saturday was another planned day in many ways, mainly as it was the day that we were going to be leaving and driving back to a rather hot and sticky London. However, we’d decided that we’d go for another swim, so after some bran flakes we all got ready, which for Vivi meant putting on her bathing costume and for me and Richard meant just dressing like we normally do… no, I’d not bought any swimming shorts yet as I hadn't seen any that I really fancied… though to be fair, I hadn't really looked either!
Off we went again, down the very short journey into Swanage town, and then left along the beach front to Ocean Bay and then just a bit beyond. It was still early in the morning, around 8:30 or 9 and there were already loads of people bundling onto the main beaches of this fabulous resort. However, and thankfully, where we went it was still pretty quiet; there were a few people between the groynes that we chose to swim from, and some of the beach huts were open or being opened by their owners. As with Thursday, I went in with my knickers and T-shirt and Vivi in her slinky bathing costume. At first, the water seemed a little bit cooler than on Thursday; maybe because it was early in the morning and the sun hadn't been beating down for several hours warming the top few inches or more. However, we were both soon fully in and again paddled and swam away each to our heart's content, literally as swimming is such a good exercise and gets the heart pumping. It’s only on occasions like this, filled with deep joy, I remember how much swimming was a part of my life growing up. From a very early age, as a baby mum would leave me in a pram or pushchair outside the front door of mum and dad's B&B, and if mum went back at 9:15 and I was gone she knew that she had the day to herself to get on with washing and cleaning and making dinner for all the guests that evening. A visitor or visitors would have taken me off to the beach or to town or to wherever they were going for the day. Most often, it was to the beach and for many years the beach was just an intrinsic part of my life… sand, sea, sandwiches, smiles - even then always a sanctuary too. Maybe one day it will be so again, though just now, for these precious moments of Vivi and I being in the water, it felt so right, and so good, and so joyous. Again, we sat on a towel on the sand and dried off a little bit, and then walked back along the seafront where by now the beaches and walkways were just bustling with folk, and buckets and spades and float boards and sandwich bags, and windbreakers and little shelters, and many smiles with the hope of a fun day out. Back at Vivi’s Cottage by the Sea, Richard made toast and the three of us sat at the table in Vivi's cottage garden, enjoying proper toast topped with a spoon or two of Purbeck honey from a pot that Vivi had bought specifically for our visit… it was totally delicious, and another slice or two was had by each of us. The rest of the morning was leisurely chatting and packing and washing-up and watering the plants in the garden and filling watering cans and doing 101 things, and then it was time for the final feast of this visit which was a cheese and tomato sandwich made by Richard. Sitting at the table, with the smell of salt in the air and seagulls above it once again took me back to being a kid, eating cheese and tomato sandwiches on the beach at L’Eree, almost six decades ago; a cheese and tomato sandwich when there’s salt in the air will always bring memories back off the perfect fodder for a beach. The only difference with our sandwich today was that it hadn't trundled its way down to a beach in the Tupperware and sat sweating under a towel in the shade for an hour or two, so our fabulous sandwich was cool and crisp and just the right temperature, rather than warm, and floppy, and tasty and welcomed as was often the case when we were kids on the beach. Happy Days!! It was soon time to wend our way back to London, and with lots of hugs and a little planning for our next visit, I walked up Cardiac Hill and Cardio Hill to collect Fenella, drove her down, pulled in outside of Vivi's Cottage by the Sea and then we packed our bags back in, had more hugs, and started our relatively uneventful journey back to London, where things would begin getting back to normal… including a visit to the plot in the evening to check on how things were doing and to give plants a water if needed, and recording Sunday Chat on Sunday morning… an event in itself! Weather: Sunny throughout, with a slight breeze, and very warm… though quite a few degrees less than the heatwave of 34° in London! Wednesday Breakfast: All Bran and oat milk Snack: Greggs Vegan Sausage Roll Lunch: Vivi’s Greek Salad (with Feta), hummus, edamame hummus, olives, and bread Supper: Chickpea, Cauliflower & Mushroom Curry with bread Thursday Breakfast: All Bran and toast Lunch: Courgette & Potato Soup, Edamame Hummus, Bread, Olives Supper: Haddock & Chips Friday Breakfast: Bran Flakes and All Bran and toast with cherry jam Lunch: Savoury Aft Cream Tea (Corfe Castle Tea Room) Supper: Vivi's Fassolada and bread Saturday Breakfast: Bran Flakes and toast with Purbeck honey Lunch: Cheese & Tomato Sandwich Supper: Broad Bean & Basil Pesto with wholewheat spaghetti and a tomato, cucumber and basil salad
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 Lady of Shallot 12 June 2025 (Thursday) Up early and after making a flask of tea and some crackers with marmite and thin slivers of cheddar, we were off to Kew Gardens to see the roses. We had a lovely time, and had a really good look at the roses. Whilst Richard wandered taking loads of photos, I took a few photos of ones I really liked, keeping their names to add to each photo later. Lady of Shallot is an absolute fave, as it has been for ages, as is Dame Judi Dench; both were introduced by David Austin Roses in 2009, though I had thought the Lady of Shallot a much older rose… I must be thinking of another. I also did a segment for A Week at the Plot and talked briefly about how to prune roses, and why bees (and other pollinators1) like some rose types better than others. Back at home, there were a few issues ongoing with For Earth’s Sake - it just seems to be one of those weeks… We’d been forecast rain, and had felt a drop or two at Kew, though in the end none was coming so down to the plot I went to water, and I decided to do some pot tidying - which I guess was also a little plot tidying, though it does need a HUGE amount more - maybe at the weekend!
Weather: Sunny start, then dull and cloudy by 9.30am, and feeling much more humid by around 10.30am. The sun then came out early afternoon, and it was feeling a tad warm, though no thunderstorms… Breakfast: Bran Sticks, yogurt, and sultanas Lunch: Egg Mayonnaise, rice crackers cucumber, tomato and radish Supper: Wholewheat spaghetti with broad bean, pesto, garlic, basil and a little cream cheese  Spent rhododendron petals creating a magic carpet. 8 May 2025 (Thursday) Richard’s in that period of time when he’s up before me and making tea, or heating one up for each of us. I had editing to do, and we were going to have time at Kew Gardens… so, editing would have to wait as Kew Gardens was the priority. You see, we wanted to get there at the crack of Members' Early Opening at 8am so that we could delight in there being so few people walking around the gardens - just Kew staff and members. Once the gates open at 10am it can get really busy, so we try to make the most of these early opening opportunities. I did my usual snack of rice cakes spread with Flora ProActiv then some yeast extract and some very thin slices of cheese. There’s always a flask of sweetened tea to go with it, sometimes with milk as I have milk, though always with some honey as Richard usually drinks his black with honey. All prepped and ready we got off to Kew… and whilst driving Richard remembered he hadn't had breakfast… and then I remembered I also hadn’t had breakfast! So, our rice cakes snack would be coming in even more handy than usual! Our first stop was Kew Palace, and as we walked to this majestic red building it seemed we had the whole of Kew Gardens to ourselves… and Kew Palace and its gardens to ourselves too, as the only other people we saw were Kew staff. Leaving Kew Palace and passing the Orangery we wandered up the Broad Walk, and along to the rose garden and beyond to the lake where we took a seat and had our snack; a rice cake sandwich each, and a little tea. Then up, and we continued walking, off around the lake where I was accosted by two Egyptian geese and their six rather large chicks - the chicks really took to me until daddy goose honked and they all followed him off - whilst this was happening Richard was befriended by a coot who took to his jeans, which we knew as he was pecked once or twice! On we went, towards the pagoda, with a toilet break on the way, in the loos by the pond. We then doubled-back by the Japanese garden, and then through the woodland area passing Queen Charlotte’s Cottage as we did. By this time we’d been walking around for almost two hours, and still we’d not knowingly seen another visitor… it really felt as though we had this magical garden to ourselves, with the occasional smile and “Hello” to a staff member. When we got to the end of the long view from the Palm House, Syon View, we took a seat for further rice cake snack and tea, and I noticed the white lion that walks atop Syon House has had a new coat of paint. At this point I heard some voices, and turning my head to the path that leads to distant Brentford Gate I saw the first people who weren’t Kew staff, so knew it was past 10am and the main gates were all now open to the public. Time to wend our way home…
Walking back to Brentford Gate, where Fenella would be patiently waiting for us in the Pay-to-Stay car park, we went down the walk of the Rhododendron Dell, hoping that it would be bursting with colour - and it was! I saw a good few I loved, so I took a photo of them and their nameplates so that I could put variety to colour when I was back at my desk… I dream of a dell like this… maybe our next garden… fingers crossed!! Saying goodbye to the staff at the gate and being back at Fenella, with three hours of blissful Kew to start the day, we drove home; Richard at the wheel as he was on the way there. We had cereal when we got home, then both got to our desks for work, and in my case work work too; some prices needed to be changed on the scales and the till of For Earth’s Sake, so that was done by a WhatsApp video chat with the staff member who was on duty. After lunch, more work work for me then off to the plot to do a bit more footage to close off today's segment of A Week at the Plot. I’d taken various bits at Kew, though wanted to end today’s segment at the plot with a look at the pricked out cosmos and our plants and seedlings hardening off on one of our benches. Then home to make supper…  Recipe: Lemony Tofu & Broccoli
I’d bought broccoli from Lidl on my last visit as I wanted to do another meal with tofu, and I thought I’d do something lemony. I also decided I’d add some carrots too, though I think next time I’ll do red pepper, and maybe a green pepper, as I think that would sit better visually and taste wise. I used a large pan with a lid, a large saute pan. Ingredients (serves 2) 200g Extra Firm Tofu, frozen, defrosted and well pressed 2 tbsp gram flour (chickpea flour) or flour of your choice 1 tbsp olive oil Half a red onion, sliced thinly 2 medium carrots, topped and tailed and peeled and cut into pound size coins 1 large head of broccoli, about 600g, florets cut into bite sized pieces 4 tbsp water ½ tsp salt Lemon Sauce 3 tbsp lemon juice 1 tbsp Liquid Aminos or soy sauce 1 tbsp maple syrup, agave or sugar 1 tsp Sesame Oil, or your preferred oil 1 tsp Marigold Vegetable Bouillon powder, salt or a stock cube crumbled Method As I’ve said before, I now keep tofu in the freezer so it’s ready to defrost from 24 hours before using. You end up with a firmer tofu this way, though if you wish to use straight from a fresh chilled packet please do. Press the tofu between your palms and over a sink a few times to remove as much liquid as possible. I then put between a well folded and VERY clean fresh tea towel and press again. After this process, lay the block on a cutting board on one of the two largest sides, and cut in half lengthways. Now cut these long cubes of tofu every 1cm or so - hopefully this will leave you with flat squares about 1cm deep. Add the little slabs of tofu to a bowl with the gram flour, and move around gently with your fingers to coat the tofu. Leave to stand for ten minutes, then do this again. Wash your hands after each coating procedure! Whilst the tofu is sitting prepare the vegetables, and get your ingredients for the marinade out, but not measured out (unless you want to wash up another bowl). Heat a pan on a hob with half the olive oil - you don’t want it to smoke. Lay the tofu slices flat side down and cook for two minutes, then turn and cook for two minutes more. The tofu should be lightly browned on both sides. Once this is done remove the tofu and keep warm, if possible. Now add the remaining olive oil to the pan, and then the onions, carrots, broccoli, water and salt. Bring to a steam, turn down the heat to low and cover. Steam for five minutes, or until the carrots and stems of the broccoli are al dente. Whilst the vegetables are steaming, add the lemon sauce ingredients to the bowl the tofu and gram flour were in, and stir. The remaining gram flour will help thicken the sauce slightly. When the vegetables are al dente, add in the lemon sauce mixture and stir around the pan, and add in the tofu slices. Stirring, bring all up to a bubble, then stir for a minute more, then serve. I served this with Lemon Potatoes, and though Richard was VERY happy with this it was really a bit too heavy on the lemon. Next time I will serve with plain boiled rice, and will use red and green peppers instead of the carrots; sliced thinly, though I might just keep the carrots too. This is another keeper!!! Weather: Cloudy at first, though sun breaking through in spells. Around 17° with an overnight of 7°. Breakfast: NONE… so crackers early at Kew Late Breakfast: Bran flakes, yogurt and a banana Lunch: Carrot & Lentil Soup, cottage cheese, crackers, yeast extract, cucumber and radish Supper: Lemony Tofu & Broccoli and Lemon Potatoes  2 April 2025 (Wednesday) We were thinking of going to Avebury, though instead a closer less tiring drive took place to Kew Gardens and back. The sun shone and it was warm, though there was a blustery wind all day which meant that a gilet (body warmer) was definitely needed. The cherry blossoms and magnolias were mainly in full bloom, with some looking stunning whilst others just looked thoroughly beautiful. One spectacular pale yellowy cream magnolia really took my interest; called Yellow Lantern it’s one that I would love to have - unusual and eye-catching, though as with many magnolias there was no scent. One rather blousy white magnolia did have the most magnificent scent, making it wonderfully special in its own way.
There were still many daffodils out, though drifts we’d seen a few weeks back were now well over. A few varieties really caught my eye, including one that was virtually white, maybe then palest cream species and another which was white petaled with the palest yellow trumpet. This is the thing at Kew Gardens, they have so many different species and specimens and suddenly you see one or two that really grab you.
Getting back home, after a quick lunch, I finished editing yesterday's filmed segments of A Week at the Plot, and then going on and doing a quick edit of today's footage at Kew Gardens today, though I want to get to the plot and do some work, just watering… though in the end I do much more!
Early to bed, as it’s an early start for me tomorrow as I’m off to Vanessa as I’ve meetings at the Great Green Barn with potential crafters who run workshops, and also some prices to change at For Earth’s Sake which I can only do onsite. Weather: Cool start, then warming up swiftly and sunny much of the day. though quite a chilling blustery wind all day. Breakfast: Bran sticks, yogurt, banana Kew Snack: Rice Cracker Sandwich with spread, yeast extract and thinly sliced cheese, Cream Cracker Sandwich with spread and yeast extract, and tea Lunch: Pitta, homemade coleslaw and thin slices of cheese Supper: Microwave Spinach Omelette, Baked Potato, salad of red onion, radish, cucumber and celery  20 March 2025 (Thursday)
A fabulous day, even early on feeling more like summer than spring, let alone winter! As today was forecast to be the best day of the week, and with other commitments this week and next, we’d decided to get down to Avebury and have a wander… until Richard realised today is the Spring Equinox and therefore Wiltshire, Glastonbury and Avebury would likely be awash with people, which we’re not fans of! So, instead we popped off to Kew Gardens. The sun shone, and it was warm… and of course, that meant there were rather a lot of people - and especially those who seem to want to visit a fabulously peace-filled outside space on a glorious day and chat loudly about everything apart from the place they’re visiting, or those that call someone to speak loudly on their phone, with the speaker on so that all can hear both sides of the conversation… I guess it’s best to not say what I’d do to these people if it was legal! Have I mentioned we’re not fans of places awash with people! After we'd started on a path to our Kew quiet places - where few people go, apart from those who know - the people thinned out and the joy of Kew Gardens lay before us, with its open spaces and tranquil peace (despite the often regularity of planes flying over on the landing path to Heathrow!). The light was that light that shows everything to its best, the fresh spring greens were jumping out, daisies were quietly dancing in the wide stretches of mown grass, and the sky was that bright wholesome blue that lends a backdrop to a spectacular view. It was whilst we were at the southern head of Kew’s lake that I saw the view above, and thought of mum, and smiled. Mum was always a fan of trees, and woods in particular. She’d love to spend time out in nature, with dad, walking wooded walkways at Pleinmont, watching the sea glistening in sunshine or subdued by grey cloud through the needles of the pines trees she sheltered under at Albecq, and walking down the giant avenues of oaks and firs and pines and redwoods that add such grandeur here at Kew Gardens. In her later years, it wasn't possible for her to get out and visit woods, or many trees; the mobility and accessibility just wasn’t there. So, she’d sit in her chair at the window of her room of the care home where she spent her last year and a half, and watch the trees up the driveway blowing in the wind or just grandly standing there. These trees were mentioned during every call we had. “Oh, it's really windy today and the trees are really blowing”, or “Oh, there's hardly any wind, not even a breeze and the trees are as still as soldiers on guard”, or, “It rained before, and the trees are now glistening in the sun”, or very occasionally “oh, it’s so foggy today I can’t even see the trees. I hope they’re OK”. This tiny view of three willowy firs sustained mum's love of trees through till the day she died. A view like this above, of grass and trees and the bright blue sky would just lift mum's heart, just as it did for me standing amidst the daisies on this glorious Spring Equinox. We carried on wandering… eventually sitting down near Queen Charlotte's Cottage, where she used to picnic and have Afternoon Tea. We had our own sustenance of rice crackers with yeast extract and a thin sliver of cheese, and a cup of tea, black with a little honey - the way Richard likes it. After restoring ourselves, we carried on walking, losing time and getting back to Fenella almost three hours after we'd left her - she didn’t mind, and was herself warm and snugly to get back into. In the afternoon, with the warmth continuing, I needed to get to the plot and water the broad beans that are hardening off on an outside bench. They're growing pretty well, so the compost needs to be kept moist; I really don't want them being stressed at any point during their growing period, if I can help it. There’s also a few other things to water, and I notice a little bit more germination in our Portuguese cabbage cross. Happy Days! A Chilli Concoction Supper is a chilli concoction - we’ve leftover veggie Shepherd's pie mix, sans potato. In a saucepan add a rounded tablespoon of miso paste, two rounded teaspoons of cocoa powder (or four small square blocks from a bar of dark chocolate), two rounded teaspoons of ground cumin, a flat teaspoon of ground coriander, a level tablespoon of dried coriander leaf, and half a teaspoon of chipotle paste (use more if you prefer your chilli with more heat) - give this all a good mix. Then add a tin of chilli beans (including the sauce, do not drain) and a drained tin of kidney beans. Slowly bring this to a simmer, stirring regularly - be careful as the mixture is thick and gloopy and could splatter. With a lid on, let simmer on a low heat until all is fully heated through. Serve with rice, or pitta, pasta, poppadoms, tortilla chips, bread or whatever your choice of starch is. A bit of grated cheese always hits the spot. Weather: Very sunny and warm - hitting 19° and likely to just nudge below 10° overnight. Breakfast: Bran sticks, yogurt, prunes and sliced banana Lunch: Butterbean Squish Wraps (butter beans, miso, red onion, celery, mayo, yeast flakes, soy sauce) in Lidl wraps. Supper: Chilli Concoction - remaining mix from Richard’s Vegetarian Shepherd’s Pie with added spices and beans. Had with brown rice cooked in the Instant Pot.  6 February (Thursday)
The day started as well as forecast, maybe with a harder frost than I’d expected, and as we were on a mission (well, doing something at a definite time!) we were both up earlyish. You see, Richard had booked a time slot for us to visit Kew Gardens’ Orchid Festival; a members’ timeslot of 10am, though Richard had read an advisement to ensure arrival ten minutes prior AT the Princess of Wales Conservatory, which itself is a decent walk from any of Kew’s public entrances. Now, as per our usual routine we’d be parking Fenella at the Brentford Gate entrance which I was sure didn’t open before 10am; Richard, somewhat understandably, was positive there wouldn’t be advice to arrive early if it wasn’t required, so off we went… to find Brentford Gate didn’t open prior to 10am. Anyway, ‘rules is rules’ and I’m all in favour of that, so after an ‘on time’ opening and a quick trot along pathways, at 10.08am we got to the PoWC where the Orchid Festival is held each year. By the time we got to the festival’s entrance a shortish queue had already developed, which of course we joined at the end, about fifteen members back, thankfully soon moving our way along as the line was swiftly scanned in to the event one by one; though not before a requisite security bag check which itself seemed to be over before it had begun, which is a good thing in one way, though very much not in another! Now, when it comes to orchids I'm a bit of a “pretty colours, and?” type of guy. I appreciate the colour and the beauty and the bottony, though they don't really do it for me. I'm not quite sure why this is. For sure some I find a bit too blousy and show off, but of course that's what they do do and what many people love them for. Others, which I seem to like a little more, are much less “look at me” and far more subtle in their visual gifting. However, seeing the happy faces of thronging people there's no doubt about it, the Orchid Festival is popular and a much anticipated and enjoyed event in Kew’s calendar, and my feelings on these colourful gems of petals and foliage from far flung continents are in the minority. When we came out after about an hour of wandering the prescribed route, I noticed the queue was sizable and ever growing. I wondered what they’d all make of it. Most, I was sure, would love it. For me? To be honest I’d been more intrigued by the size of some leaves of other tropical plants housed in the same glasshouse, and the sheer spikiness of the myriad cacti rather than the orchids themselves. Each to their own, which again is fine by me! Now, when we went to Kew a few weeks back it was for the astounding Expressions in Blue exhibition of the work of Felicity Aylieff, monumentally large hand-crafted porcelain pieces which in some cases are twice my height or more. The day was quiet and grey and damp, the preciousness of the finely shaped fired pottery bringing a veritable shine to our visit… and then of course the walking and ambling and watching and looking which all brought a calm, relaxing and restorative healing. Today, it was somewhat different… everything seemed vibrant and pacey and moving with many people enjoying the various elements Kew Gardens always has to offer, and those regular and irregular events that are extras and the more precious for it… like the Orchid Festival. So, leaving the growing queue well behind and wandering on our way it seemed the entire gardens was awash with visitors, them bustling about the paths and glasshouses in many groups of ones and twos and threes and fours and larger… a gaggle of school girls (is that the collective noun?) mobiles in hand completing their tasks sheets by taking photos of plants whose shape from this angle or that resembled letters of the alphabet; laughter from an Italian couple chattering away unaware as they stylishly walked tarmacadam paths as if on the runway of a Milan fashion show; a Japanese tourist TikTok’ing her way from the dragon encrusted pagoda to the snakelike Sackler crossing; and an elderly couple all bent around and swaddled in wool holding each other physically, emotionally and lovingly. The entirety of the gardens felt alive and appreciated, and that can only be a good thing. And of course, unless you're a member you have to pay not only the usual entrance fee to Kew Gardens itself but also for the Orchid Festival on top, so it's a good money earner too. Weather: Gorgeous start to the day, sunny and blue sky. Around 9°, feeling cooler when not in the sun. The afternoon got a tad greyer. Breakfast: Bran Sticks, yogurt, oat milk, a few freeze-dried strawberries Lunch: Lidl Minestrone Soup, Rice Cakes (two leftover from our walk as a sandwich of yeast extract), Hummus, Carrot Batons Supper: Butterbean, Caramelised Red Onion & Carrot Stew, Baked Potato, Braised Red Cabbage (recipes will be another day…) |
Paul SavidentFollowing on from A Guernsey Gardener in London, I've decided to try and write a regular blog, and we'll see how it AND 2025 go! Archives
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