Tuesday 26 June 2007

Thank you

Hello dear people, thank you for the encouragement. I had a momentary blank as to how to get back to this space, but, here I am and the fingers are flying. See how many typos you can find. No prizes!
We have had a wonderful weekend around Geelong with Ray's native plant group, which I forgot to mention in the 'about me' area. We saw some fabulous gardens and had some great old fashioned country food, including the passionfruit sponges! I don't know that I will ever find my waistline again. It has been some years since I saw it, but hey..! I have been amazed by what plants have survived the drought and that are still donning their spring florals. Just wonderful! Needless to say, we purchased some more, hoping that the blessing of rain will continue to keep the earth thriving. We stayed a couple of nights with a friend at Point Lonsdale.
I ams till reading as much as I can but I think I have started on 'Claytons books' you know? - the ones you read when you are not really concentrating! Hoping to read something a bit more worthwhile in the near future.
I find I am accessing books,not necessarily of my choice, when I go to the library to select titles for my housebound lady, so my horizons are broadening in different fields. I am surprised by what I enjoy. Liz Byrski is an author I have discovered recently and I find her very enjoyable. Her stories are all about ladies of a certain age finding themselves!
Sorry about the change of typeface, I have hit a key that I shouldn't have!
Well, overseas was its usual buzz! But, I am so over London. I just couldn't cope with the crowds of people this time - and it was FREEZING cold. It actually snowed one day. Not enough to settle, but snow all the same. But London never fails to suprise with the odd enchantment, including a nightingale in the square where we stayed on our first night. (No, not Berkley) And Boston? Well, absolutely wonderful, beautiful, peaceful, and I really would like to go back. I still suspect that the plane took a wrong turning somewhere in the wild blue yonder, and landed in a 1950s Hollywood movie set. I think I mentioned 'By the light of the silvery moon' on my first post, and now I think of White Christmas, the lovely snow scene in Meet me in St. Louis, and all those old movies that feature snow and lovely old Cape Cod style houses.
Then back to Britain to tour around. We got to see a lot of East Anglia this time, and it is totally charming. Different to some of the other areas, but just as lovely in its own way.
We saw - well I don't know how many - wonderful gardens around the country. Spring in all its glory was happening everywhere, but I didn't hear a cuckoo. I did read somewhere that cuckoos are almost an endangered species. I did get to see and Enlish woodpecker though - the great spotted woodpecker. All a pristine black and white with a brilliant scarlet spot on the back of his neck, and on his rump. It was just gorgeous, pecking away at a feeder full of nuts in my cousin's back garden. It was also apple blossom time in this garden, and various other gardens around the country. I just love apple blossom, and can see why it is sometimes associated with weddings, as is orange blossom of course.
Meantime, I think I am still happy just to be at home, able to access friends whenever I wish, and just generally reclaim my own ground. I just wish I could get photos onto this blog, but Gina is working on showing me how. I guess I will get it one day!
Meantime, happy whatever to all of you! (I love to use apostrophes!)

3 comments:

Gina E. said...

Well done, Helen! I was in the middle of composing an email to guide you through finding your blog again, when I discovered you had already done it! Hope you have clicked on the links to your visitors to say hi to them - that is Blog Protocol...
As for your photos, until I get back to your place and have another go, there is nothing I can do from here, so let's do it soon. Did you see Ken's new toy on my blog?

Pam said...

Hi Helen,

It snowed in London?? Are you sure? It's certainly been wet in Britain, and unseasonably cool, but snow??

Welcome to blogland, anyway. Next time you come to Britain, you should come to Scotland - much better than England... or so we Scots think. Though our family does love Norfolk in East Anglia.

Helen said...

Hi Isabella,
Yes, it did snow in London and was absolutely freezing cold. We have been to Scotland several times and adore it. Last time we went up the west coast, via Ft William and Skye (where I believe I have some connections with Dunvegan, via a sept of Clan McLeod. MacNicoll of Lewis.) Then up to the Orkneys, across the Cairngorms and (forgotten if that was before or after Orkney) and down the east coast and back into England. It was so warm we had to make a special stop at Inverness so that the men could purchase short sleeved shirts. Unbelievable! My forbeas were Scots and Yorkshiremen so I certainly feel an affinity with the tartan.
Have just read your latest blog entry and intend to enjoy the rest of it this evening.