A pause.

 I'm settled down in my living room, watching the wind and the rain outside. It isn't a day for going out.

 It might be a day for a cup of coffee and a chapter of 'Winter Solstice'. I'm rationing myself because it would be too easy to just read and read, and I want to make the book last!

I am going to be away over Christmas, so this will probably be my last post. 

Thank you for all the lovely posts, the interesting reading and the friendship.  I do wish all my friends, near and far, a blessed and peaceful Christmas, with moments to just sit and enjoy.

Christmas decorations.

 The entrance to Trelissick House has been adorned with this lovely wreath.

Every year, the house is decorated for Christmas by a professional designer. Each room has its own tree, each mantel has a mass of greenery.

The cafe is open and under pressure from eager people who have travelled to see the decorations. One can take a coffee into the lounge, find an armchair and enjoy gazing. 

Or even visit with Father Christmas, or listen to one of the many festive Choir performances. Christmas at Trelissick is a vibrant time. It's so lovely to be only a mile or so away. I can visit whenever I feel like it!

Power out.

It has been one of the worst weekends in Britain due to Storm Darragh, Cornwall has had a bad time with 90 mile an hour gales, huge coastal waves and flooding. 

The wind was too powerful to even think about walking anywhere.

Shops were quickly closed, local garages shut down, and Christmas weekend fairs were cancelled.

My power went down completely on Saturday, no heat, no light, no phone, no laptop, nothing, and I don't have an alternative such as gas or open fire. The temperature in the house soon fell below safe levels.

 Fortunately I have a mobile phone and my daughter rescued me, sent a taxi as neither of us would dare to drive in the howling gale, and I stayed the weekend with her.

It seemed to be half our village without any power, but neighbours were very kind, offering flasks of hot drinks etc.

Back home now, and my garden doesn't seem to have suffered apart from a few things being blown down. A friend has lost all the glass in her greenhouse. It does make one realise the incredible power of the wind.

Carols

Next week there will be Carol singers on our road. There is little more lovely than the sound of singing on a cold night, people clustered round a lantern, nestled in to scarves and gloves. There might only be half a dozen, but when those clear voices ring out into the night you can feel the expectation of Christmas.

 

While I was doing a bit of research about Carol singers, I discovered that Cornwall came into the equation. The first Carol service is said to have been held in Truro cathedral in 1888, organised by Bishop White Benson, who later became Archbishop of Canterbury.

Carol singers, or Wassailers, in Victorian times.

Banned by Oliver Cromwell and the Puritans, it was felt that Christmas was 'a pagan festival'. I'm so glad that Carols survived. Long before they were known as Carols, people would sing, or wassail,  traditionally on Twelfth night. This was to bless the orchards to ensure a good harvest.

 Many of the traditional songs were collected from Cornish country villages by Sandys and Gilbert, two men who wanted to save our heritage of old Christmas songs and who produced a song book.

It's very much part of my Christmas. Do you have 'wassailers' or Carol singers?

Little trees

Twice a month I volunteer at our local 'Wellbeing hub', run for older  and housebound people. Usually around fifteen to twenty folk come, some brought by family, some by special transport. We meet between 11am and 1o'clock, and the session includes an activity and lunch.

Activities vary, sometimes there is a singer, sometimes a quiz or a talk. But every now and then we include a Craft session, and today I was organising it.

We made decorative Christmas trees . I cut out the basic shapes in green card, stuck some backing on and glued a 'lollipop' stick between the two.

Over the years, like so many of you, I have hoarded, sorry , collected, masses of useful things. Boxes of sequins, ribbons, lace, sparkly string, stick on labels and more and more.

This is what we produced.

(poor photos, sorry.)

Many of our ladies and gentlemen are in their 80s and 90s and hands don't always work so well. But everyone seemed to be delighted to be chasing sequins round the table, sticking on sparkly bits, gluing themselves to the table and comparing notes with each other.

The finished trees were then hot glued into cotton reels and 'finished' with a touch of snow.

I have to say that it reminded me somewhat of days spent in school overseeing 'cutting and sticking'! 

It was fascinating seeing the differences in the way people approached this. One gentleman's was very precise, another lady's was' throw it all on and enjoy the Bling'.

They all had something to take home to show to friends. Then they settled down to a very good lunch.

For some of them it will have been the only day when they have been able to come out and mingle with friends.

 It's good to be a part of such a morning.

 

A burst of pink.

 It's so lovely to see a burst of pink on my kitchen worktop. Every year this Christmas cactus seems to be bigger and better.

 It was given to me many years ago by an elderly lady who had won it in a Raffle! She said she couldn't cope with house plants.

 It is a perennial joy.

Autumn leaves

 This is all that remains of my lovely cherry tree, which stands bare and leafless. I planted Snowdrops round the base of it, so it won't be too long before their loveliness reappears.

The garden is 'put to bed' now. Roses, still a few flowering, are cut back and mulched. Perennials have died back, Clematis have shed leaves.

 But, and this heartens me, under the earth the bulbs are growing, and I look forward to the tiny green shoots which herald Spring flowers.

 I am slightly envious of my son in Australia who tells me about his Summer garden, and shows photos of vegetables bursting with growth. Even his Winter won't be as cold as ours.

'There are far better things ahead than any we leave behind'. C.S Lewis

Festival of Remembrance. thoughts

 

Every year, The Royal British Legion leads the Festival of Remembrance at the Albert Hall, London.

I wasnt going to watch all of it, but found that I couldn't really leave it. It is much the same format each year, with performances from military bands, processions and songs from well known singers.

This year, however, seemed  much more 'memory based' . There were so many tales of bravery and sacrifice. We saw service personnel or their families narrating some sad and horrific tales. There were stories of pride , stories of sorrow and grief. But in all of this the resounding feeling was of hope for the future, and of never letting the memories disappear.

Near to the end, a lady. Marie Scott, an ex Wren, said

'.....we'll all be gone. and the children will have no living person to ask 'What happened to us?' or to hear about our experiences. Therefore it is so important to pass on the message ro future generations.'

I so wish that I had asked more questions of my grandfather, who served in the First World War. All I can remember is him telling me of his horse which he rode in France. Why didn't I ask more? I suppose, as a child, I took time for granted, always thinking that there would be other days.

They gave their tomorrows for our todays.

Remembrance Day

 'We will remember them'.

November.

 Days go by and here we are in November. My mind is blank, and writing anything seems to be a non starter. How do other people find something interesting to write about daily?

This week I have been busy finding little things to go in my 'Operation Christmas Child' shoebox. We do this through our local Church, as I expect many of you do also. I try to get a varied collection of toys, books, pens, gloves, etc. I'd love to be there watching the children open their boxes. The children that receive these boxes may never have known the joy of opening a box of presents.

I've also been to a local Fundraiser today for the Cats Protection League. You can see what an exciting life I lead! I forgot to take my camera, very silly, as there was a wonderful table full of over a hundred Teddies to be raffled. Everybody who bought a ticket won a teddy!

I think mine will go in one of the boxes to be sent as a gift!

In the garden I am surprised to find roses still flowering. 

Aren't they lovely?

The last leaves on my Cherry tree, ready to fall, but still providing a lovely Autumnal colour to the garden.

I'm sending very few Christmas cards this year, as the cost of postage here is so high. It's sad, as I love choosing Charity cards and writing a little message to a friend. There will be plenty of local ones to deliver by hand which is always a pleasure.

"Autumn is a second Spring, when every leaf is a flower."

Albert Camus

Looking ahead

Now that the garden is Autumnal and bare, it's the time to think about Bulb planting. My box of bulbs from Sarah Raven has just arrived.

 There are bags of Tulips, Daffodils, Iris and Crocus. Foxtrot is the Tulip variety this year, a shorter stem but with gorgeous pink flowers. I'm planning a terra cotta pot of these, mixed with some white Narcissi and maybe just a few blue tiny Iris.

I've also bought some Indoor Hyacinths. I always use the same blue and white bowl for these, and must soon get it out of its cupboard. These are from last year.

It's a joyful thing to do. knowing that in not too many weeks time there will be green shoots appearing. Then Spring will be on the horizon!

Safely gathered in.

Last year I made the mistake of leaving Geraniums in the Greenhouse over Winter. Cornwall doesn't often get severe frosts, but there were a couple. I lost quite a few lovely plants, so this year I have brought them into the Conservatory, where they will have light and warmth.

 

The pale pink one above, not showing very pink in the photo, is a beauty. She is dainty, delicate and flowers profusely when she is happy.

There is a scented Pelargonium, which has a lemony/minty scent. Next to it is a deep carmine one which makes a statement when in full flower.

Then there is Stripey. I never know what will appear with this one. The petals are striped pink and red, and sometimes I have a completely red one. I have taken so many cuttings for friends.

The white one, which you can just see below, is precious, as it grew from a cutting taken by my husband from a plant in France. I would have been sad to have lost it.

Cuttings are happy to be in the warmth. I am always being begged for little plants!

I hope this year that I shan't lose any. They are such a joy in the Summer.

August flowering.

Time goes by

I've had a weekend 'away'.

 It's just two years since my lovely husband passed away. Anniversaries are hard and somehow it's best to be doing something different, rather than sitting at home feeling sad. 

I gathered some sewing, walking boots and my trusty Kindle.

I didnt go too far, just to a lovely country hotel outside Falmouth. It is set in tropical gardens with Wollemi pines and Fern trees. There's a long path, stony and a bit rocky that leads down to the beach, and I feel very pleased that I managed the walk.

When you reach the end of the walk, there's the sea. 

The little hut was closed, but in the Summer sells ice creams and drinks, and is very popular after the long walk down.

Friday and Saturday were quiet and sunny and having a lovely room with a balcony meant I could relax and watch squirrels playing on the lawns. It was a real treat to have meals prepared for me too!

Cornwall has these little patches of micro climate, where unexpected things grow. Here you will find magnificently tall rare Rhododendrons, Magnolias and the Jurassic looking Tree ferns, some of which are 200 years old.

https://www.meudon.co.uk/gardens

Back home now in torrential rain, with a busy week ahead.

There is a season....

 These Hydrangeas were once a beautiful blue. Autumn came and changed them into this dark red.

It never ceases to surprise and sadden me slightly. Seasons come and go so quickly these days.

 I'm going to dry some to use in a Christmas wreath.

Here's a very late rose, photographed with accompanying view of damp garden. She makes me smile.

The garden is creeping towards its end now. Roses have been cut back, perennials are finished for another year, and its time to order my Spring bulbs, Tulips and Narcissi.

And then it will be Spring!

The cyber world

 

Poor little laptop has been in hospital this week.

It picked up a nasty virus, from where I do not know, and had to go to the people who know all about these things.

It was interesting to see how attached one is to the internet world, and to realise how often during a day I check for messages etc. Very few of which are important. 

I don't do social media, unless a Blog counts as that? But Facebook, Twitter and any others dont figure in my life. My phone is a very basic model.

 Do I need cyber?

The problem is that so many more areas of life are now almost totally connected to the internet. To have my Covid injection I am bossily told to 'go on line' to book it. To choose my tulip bulbs I am told to check the varieties 'on line'. To sort out a problem with a Bank it's the same. 

Does no one realise that there must be hundreds of people who are not computer literate for all sorts of reasons?

What I would miss is the contact with nice people that I have got to 'know' in the Blogging world. I might miss the ability to order something, or send a note to a friend. But I could do that without using the laptop.

What do you think? Are we being overtaken by the cyber world?

PS. I loved hearing about your cups/mugs stories. Thank you.

Mugs

Thank you so much! I was so touched by your many messages of encouragement after the fall I had recently. I've been surprised just how long it took me to feel really well again, but apparently the effects of concussion, however mild, can linger on.

Mugs may be an odd things to write about, but why not? As a child I don't remember using mugs, always cups and saucers. Maybe they weren't as popular then?

I have some lovely mugs, almost all Bone china. Years ago I joined a 'mug/cup swap' and had some interesting exchanges. This one has lasted so many years and is my absolute favourite. It came from Denmark, and I use it every day for my coffee.

My daughter in law leaves her mug here and uses it when she comes for tea. It's got her favourite cats on!

Then there is a lovely Sanderson design, my blue and white colours,

All my mugs seem to have flowers.

This pair is the last of a Laura Ashley collection, very pale blue and white.

Here they are. There are others tucked away in a cupboard, but these are my favourites.

Do you prefer your tea/coffee in a mug or a cup?

Flop

Years ago there was an advertisement for a 'panic button' that one could wear in case of a fall or accident. The ad showed a lady, hair just so, lying on the floor, but smiling happily. She was wearing the helpline pendant, of course, and waiting for lovely paramedics to rescue her.

It came to my mind last week as I lay on the floor, not smiling, having lost my balance and fallen backwards, somehow taking a chair with me. It wasn't a happy moment. I have a pendant but chose to ring a friend.

Thanks to my good friend who came and bandaged my arm, helped me up etc etc, and took me to our surgery. There to be told that I had probably cracked a rib. Or two. And had mild concussion. And a very black bruise where the chair had attacked me.

So I've spent the last week doing very little except enjoying the good things, like my geraniums. (and muttering about old age and its frailties)

You think it can never happen to you, but somehow it does, and I'm more than grateful that I didn't crack a hip or worse.

Tomato time

Thank you for all your lovely Birthday wishes. It was a very happy weekend, with family and friends visiting.

Now back to the garden, and my Tomatoes are just beginning to ripen.

 I picked the first few this week. The crop is not nearly as good as in previous years, and I don't know why. They have been lovingly fed, watered, talked to, but the trusses are sparse and unlike previous years I shall have much fewer tomatoes. 

I'm taking a break for a while, being busy processing tomatoes and making sauce, but will still read your posts, just won't be writing anything for the moment.

Just once a year.

 Birthdays come round every year, and every year I try to pretend that I'm not getting older. Sadly, I am!

But with a lovely family, who arrive with lunch and Cake, age doesn't seem to matter. Just enjoy the moments that are so good.

This, in more detail, is what I'm looking at!

Very yummy. Lots of little boxes went home with them, as I really don't think I could eat a cake that size! We were fortunate with lovely weather, and managed to sit outside.

Just a few of these blooms every day and I'm very happy. The scent is unbelievably strong. I think the seeds were from Sarah raven and they are the best sweet peas I have ever grown.

Cards and flowers. What more do I need?

Yes, you can see the age on one of the cards.....(could it be a misprint?)