 10 April 2025 (Thursday) We planned a visit to Aston Rowant today so we got up early, getting our ablutions and breakfast all done and dusted and me preparing a snack and a flask of tea for our trip. It's part of our routine to take a snack and beverage with us so that we can sit on a bench, a fallen tree or a ledge, refuel, and ponder all around us, even when we're only going to Kew Gardens… a mere twenty minutes drive away! I guess as well as sustenance, it's a treat, harking back to picnics of bygone days. Richard hadn't slept very well, so he asked if I’d drive which I obviously had no problem with. It can be quite challenging when you've had a poor night’s sleep to then be in charge of any equipment, especially something as dangerous as a car driving along the motorway at whatever speed your head and foot dictate! After an uneventful drive, where chat and gaps were both welcome, we parked up in the Natural England car park at the end of the now very well weathered and pitted road. The car park’s used by dog walkers, walkers and doggers alike; each category of user having their own purpose and pleasures! We did our usual round: walking from the car park down to the lookout point, through the gate (that had PLOP written on it in chalk…), along the chalk embankment (hence writing implement for the PLOP), then up across the sheep walk and the back down to look out over Aylesbury plain, down into the woodland, up the wider path to go into the forest, left into the side forest that sweeps around the giant field of yellow flowered rapeseed, and right past fallen pointy tree point, and along almost to the road, turning 180° at this point to retrace our steps. We took our time, and halfway through the long walk of the side forest sat on our favourite bench to have our snack, with some quiet chat and a managed gap in trees giving an almost secretive glimpse of the hazy plain beyond. The first three quarters of the walk was incredibly wonderful, as we met not a single person. It's always lovely when walking to pass somebody and nod, or give a smile, or say “Hello” or “Morning” or “Lovely day for it”... and it's even more special to do the same walk and meet no one. True bliss, surely?  On our way back, just passing the bench where we'd had our snack not twenty minutes previous, I saw the first dog walker; up along the top path, his mongrel bounding excitedly ahead and he following on, with a whistle quietly thrusting through his teeth. He seemed oblivious to me being on the lower path, and of Richard fifty feet behind taking a photo of some wood anemones.
Richard had decided that we'd take a new way back to the car, which I was slightly wary of as the suggested path went sharply down, meandering away from where we needed to get to and if we followed it down I was sure at some point we'd have to wind the whole way right back up. I also wasn't sure it was a circular path, instead thinking it led away from where we wanted to get to in order to take ourselves back to the Fenella. However, being the staunch adventurers we are, we walked down the steep incline, and after about five minutes of trepidatious foot placing and much rustling of leaves found ourselves at the back of a few houses… With uncertainty of what was ahead and a certainty of what was behind we turned round, making our way back up the steeping incline breathing deeply and puffing gently as we both went. Back at the top, we began our way back to the car, retracing our steps rather than taking the usual shortcut along the rutted road. We passed various other folk, and when we got back to a high point where it's necessary to go through a gate we found two rather fluffy terriers standing still and watching what we were doing, with anticipation or apathy, I couldn't really tell. Their ‘owners’ looked to be nowhere, though the hilltop hid them and they were maybe just a few feet behind; an elderly couple, and she took a rest on the incongruous lone metal chair that's pegged into the ground. I guess they do this walk regularly, maybe weekly, even daily, maybe even twice daily. Who knows but them and their dogs? As we greeted and passed on our way as walkers without dogs and dog walkers so, I imagined the couple having lived their lives together for decades, dogs changing as they do as the years of love and care go by. Of course, they may have only recently found each other, though I felt there was a comfort of knowing between them that only comes with uncounted days of give and take, and a developed deep understanding of one another… and suddenly I’m reminded of my mum and dad, and the joys and jostles life threw their way. A moment of anguish that they're no longer with us, and minutes of smiles as I remember the happy time… and then looking up I see a red kite soar in the thermals and my mind is taken elsewhere. Back at the car park, with boots taken off and shoes put back on, we sat in the car just watching things go by; Richard fiddling with his camera and lenses and me watching a red kite circling close by, maybe the same one, maybe not. In one of its turns dropping off an unwanted poo cargo that thankfully, despite its trajectory, was far enough away to miss Fenella. There was a joy in this moment… a first for me, as I'd never seen a red kite pooping in midair before… in fact not surprisingly, I’d never seen a red kite’s ablutions before. Happy days indeed, though if I’d been underneath it… it could have been a very Lucky Day, as the old wives’ tale goes. The drive back, as usual, seemed to take less time than the getting there, and once home and lunch was had, it was time to get to my desk for an hour's work work. As Richard electronically developed all the photos he’d taken, sorting out what was good and what was not and what would be used where, I popped to the plot to do the necessary watering. It hasn't rained for well over two weeks now, and watering needs to be done. The forecasters say that at the back end of the weekend the temperature will dip from the highs that we're getting now and rain will come. And even though I love the temperatures, the rain will be welcome. Happy Days! Weather: Cloudy start, with sun coming out late morning. Blue skies and sun in the afternoon, and warm veering to hot, circa 22°. Bliss. Breakfast: Bran sticks, yogurt, banana, sultanas Aston Rowant Snack: Rice Cracker Sandwich with spread, yeast extract and thinly sliced cheese, and tea Lunch: Baguette with Quorn Chicken slices, coleslaw and cucumber Supper: Baked Beans (from freezer), potatoes broiled in a lidded pan with leftover braised cabbage and carrots added and heated through at the end.
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 9 April 2025 (Wednesday)
I was awake and up early, just before 6am. No reason, other than I was. A friend wanted to go to Lidl and do a bigger shop than usual, so I said I’d happily carry things back for her. She’d suggested we go in the car, though with me having gone to do a big shop yesterday (earning £5 off next week when I spent £30 in one shop this week!) I needed very little… so we walked; me with all my bags so I could carry items back for her. There was quite a chill in the air, which neither of us had expected, though by the time we were walking back from the shop the air had warmed as the sun was doing its job. With her ‘big shop’ she got her £5 off bonus for her shop next week too. In this day and age of ever increasing prices, it makes sense to bulk buy things that you will use if you have a) the storage space, b) the cash to bulk buy, and c) things that you want that will store well and not go off! With so much going on, I hadn’t done a FES/GGB Newsletter for some weeks, so cracked on with this first thing. Despite often using the last version as a template, it can take time.. writing, rewriting, checking dates, checking links, re-checking it all, printing it out to read slowly away from my desk to ensure it reads and is all spelt correctly, back to my desk to make any changes, writing the Subject line, setting the time to send… it was all done and dusted within four hours, though that’s quite a chunk of time in my book. I’m using Mailchimp, and for the first time using their suggestion of what time to send the email… I think 2pm or around 4pm is a good time, though the platform’s suggesting 8pm… we’ll see. I had another call with Vanessa, talking about lots of things though particularly the Greek event… an assistant of hers is in on Friday so those questions will be finalised and sent off then, and there are further costs to get too. I was at the plot at about 4.20pm, sowing the tomato seeds I didn’t sow yesterday. I’ve used two half trays and my markers to split the trays into sections; one has three, with Mountain Magic, Black Krim and Rose de Berne, the second has Amish Paste and an Isle of Wight Yellow - it’s called this as the seeds were saved from a yellow tomato in a box we received as a gift from a subscriber, grown by growers for Isle of Wight Tomatoes, hence… The current warmth and being in the greenhouse meant that all the seeds sown yesterday needed a good water, and quite a few of the plants outside too, whether in pots or newly planted out. I have done the switchover of swapping gravel trays with holes for gravel trays without holes - in the summer it’s best to conserve moisture and water, so gravel trays are best - I think it’s the first year I’ve not shown this on camera, though will mention it in a segment this week. I harvested some lettuce, noticing that woodlice seem to particularly like the endive style; they don’t seem to be doing any damage, though they were in numbers when I was harvesting the leaves. And on harvesting from the curly endive, I must remember to hold the base as it’s not an easy picker in terms of taking off individual leaves. Weather: A bit hazy, though warm in the sunshine. It’s going to be cool overnight again… Breakfast: Bran sticks, yogurt, banana, sultanas Lunch: Leftover Vegan Shepherd's Pie and tinned Baked Beans Supper: Lidl Caramelised Red Onion Tart, lettuce, cucumber, radish and cherry tomato  With the Greek Food & Wine Festival at the Great Green Barn in Surrey there's lots of costing to do, all of which needs to be sent off to the Greek team. There are quite a few questions that need an answer, and we need to get those answers swiftly as we’ve just under three months; and it's an event I can’t attend due to a prior commitment. So, lots of compiling of questions and budgets, and I will speak to Vanessa on all of these when she is available.
Mid-afternoon I was at the plot with the intention of sowing tomatoes, cucumbers, courgettes, squash and two types of Cosmos… in the end all got sown APART from the tomatoes, I ran out of time! Hopefully tomorrow Amish Paste, Black Krim, Magic Mountain, Rose de Berne tomato seeds will be sown. With lots of leftover Bolognese from Saturday still in the fridge it was high time to decant some to tubs for the freezer, and use the remainder for something; I chose a veggie Shepherd’s Pie and used Richard’s Microwave Mashed Potato recipe to do the topping. It was baked in the combi microwave for about twenty minutes, and we had it with a side of braised carrots and cabbage. It was all a little bit salty, as I think I overdid the miso in the mash as I forgot I’d put some in and put a second dollop in too! Weather: A bit hazy, though warm in the sunshine. It’s going to be cool overnight again… Breakfast: Bran sticks, yogurt, banana, sultanas Lunch: Baguette with Quorn Chicken slices, with coleslaw Supper: Vegan Shepherd's Pie using leftovers of the Bolognese, and Richard's Microwave Mash, with stovetop braised carrots and white cabbage  A busy work work desk day, and in the afternoon I was working from my tablet and phone in the front room whilst I waited for a Morrisons delivery… in the background I had an episode of Endeavour playing.
After supper we played Yahtzee, which Richard won though I did have one magnificent round! Weather: Still cold overnight, though the sun is out early and warming things up, though that breeze… Breakfast: Bran sticks, yogurt, banana Lunch: Tweaked Vegan Welsh Rarebit; Richard didn't use beer though added diced onion and celery Supper: Marinated Tofu Fajitas, pitta and grated carrot, cucumber and yogurt p early as Sophie needed to get off to her event in Chiswick, though Richard did bring me a cuppa in bed which is always a good way to start the day.
Toast, as Richard had made a loaf with the Panasonic yesterday, and then off Sophie went for what would hopefully be a successful day for her. Richard walked her to our local bus stop, ever the gallant uncle! When they left, I popped upstairs and went through the full edit of A Week at the Plot, knowing I needed to go down and do top and tail bits for today's segment which will include a Wednesday flashback to additional work I did that afternoon following our visit to Kew. At the plot by 9.30am an l did the bits needed to top and tail today’s segment - few people were around at this time, which was grand. I’m really pleased with how much I have got done at the plot this week, and especially having broken the back of the front area. Very Happy Days! Weather: Warm and sunny, much of the day, topping out around 17°. Expected to be cooler again overnight. Breakfast: Bran sticks, yogurt, banana Lunch: Microwave Mix Veg Omelette, pitta, radish and cucumber Supper: Quorn Steak & Kidney Pies, sauteed carrots, peas and Dazzling Blue Kale sprouts (as they’re going to flower now)  The usual Saturday… up early though no alarm set, breakfast and then making the list for Sunday Chat! Filming takes place in the morning, then I get lunch ready and do a few things around the kitchen, including making an Instant Pot Bolognese as we have Sophie of Sophie Stock Art staying overnight, so this will make a tasty and quick supper for later.
After lunch I do a post for the 6th birthday of For Earth's Sake, then get to the plot and plough on (almost literally!) with the front area I uncovered on Wednesday; lots of bindweed, grasses and Cinque Foil, three whole 30 litre planters full in fact. It’s really taken me far, far too long to get on with this area, though the job is being done now… coulda, woulda, shoulda get no one anywhere! Obviously, I go through what I did in this week’s upload of A Week at the Plot, though you’ll have to wait for the Sunday segment to see what I did, though the above photo shows the work that’s been done, even if in a little bit of shade!. When I got home having spent longer at the allotment than anticipated, Sophie’d arrived, and it was lovely to see her and give her a hug, albeit I didn’t squeeze her as I had dirty allotment hands still. After a thorough hand wash, I popped on the pasta, heated up the sauce in the microwave, grated some Cheddar, and we had supper on our laps in the front room chatting away, as we continued to do all evening. Off to bed around 10.30, and a few chapters of The Woman who Walked into the Sea. Weather: Warm and sunny, much of the day. Cooler again overnight. Breakfast: Bran sticks, yogurt, banana Lunch: Last night’s leftover pasta bake added to a tin of Minestrone soup, pitta, thin slices of cheese and some leftover coleslaw Supper: Instant Pot Bolognese with wholewheat spaghetti and grated cheese With the meeting with the Greeks at the Great Green Barn yesterday I had work to do at my desk, so this takes up much of the day till mid-afternoon, though an early morning trip to Lidl did also happen! A brief visit to the plot to water, and then back home for Richard’s Live, which goes well.
Weather: Slightly cooler than yesterday, though lots of sun and feeling even cooler when the wind is blowing. Cooler overnight. Breakfast: Bran sticks, yogurt, banana Lunch: Lidl demi baguette, Quorn ham, homemade coleslaw Supper: A pasta bake with the remainder of Richard's Chilli and grated cheese, plus some radish and cucumber Up early as off to Vanessa.
The drive down wasn't too bad, though again it was roughly two hours all told. I listened to Radio 4, though I can't really remember what it was on, apart from the Minister for Business talking about the tariffs that the orange twat has brought in for the UK and all countries around the globe, including a 10% tariff for an island that is occupied only by penguins and scientists… clearly well targeted! A busy day ensued, changing prices for a few of the shop's products that I can only do onsite, and adding fresh turmeric to the till - it’s now freighted by boat rather than plane. A customer is keen to buy in bulk and freeze, and we aim to please, whilst also thinking about the environment! We also met a lovely couple who do woodcut and linocut hand printing, as a workshop. They live near Chichester and had come up to meet us and look at the Great Green Barn. Interestingly, I learned that the linoleum they use is totally natural, made of clay, oils and a natural binder that attached it to the hessian net backing. We learn new things each day! Other jobs needed to be done, including planting up new borders that Vanessa's gardener has put in recently; Vanessa had bought flowers at the local garden centre yesterday and she and her gardener had not had time to do the planting the same day, so today she and I did it. They will need watering in thoroughly tomorrow again; of course we watered them in well soon after planting. The afternoon saw a meeting that could be important for the Great Green Barn. Giorgos of London's The Life Goddess in Store Street (with his family, a tenant of Vanessa at her house next door) led the meeting with various people from the Greek tourist board; we discussed a Greek full day event at and in the grounds of FES and GGB. It will be a day for the people of Surrey to have a taste of the wines, food and culture of Greece. They’ll be a lot of work to do, and I need to cost quite a few things, though it looks like the event will happen. I left nine hours after I arrived, and the drive home was swifter than getting down to Shamley Green, as per usual. Getting back Richard had made a lovely chilli, which we had with wholemeal couscous. After some watching of Digging for Britain, and rewatching another episode of Endeavour, it was time for bed. A shave will be needed tomorrow, as my bristles are getting a little too itchy. Weather: Definitely warm this morning, 7° overnight and warm throughout as sunny all day. Breakfast: Bran sticks, yogurt, banana Lunch: Vanessa Omelette, mushrooms and lemon potatoes Supper: Richard's Chilli with wholemeal couscous  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 It’s April Fool’s Day, and a few technical things flummoxed me as part of my work work day - now the Great Green Barn has a registered address which means one thing I used to do regularly still needs to be done regularly though in a slightly different way. What’s that saying about learning something new each day!
Richard’s doing more filming; yesterday it was scarves and today it’s shirts! To the plot mid-afternoon for a quick visit, though ended up filming; removing nets from the brassica beds and weeding, plus weeding other beds and marking new watering cans with a permanent black marker. Weather: Definitely feeling warmer first thing. Very sunny, though chilling gusty winds - blossom winds! Breakfast: Bran sticks, yogurt, banana Lunch: Homemade Minestrone Soup (from freezer), cottage cheese, yeast extract, crackers, radish and cucumber Supper: Quorn Mushroom Escalope, chips and red cabbage coleslaw |
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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