For a colour contrast…..
Yesterday it was non stop blackcurrants and today …..
How many chooks do we need at The Gables ?
Another Silkie has gone broody and is sitting on a clutch of eggs
Monday morning
Out of the in the field the sheep are happily eating the grass and Poddy comes for a cuddle
Shallots, garlic and onions
Quite literally “buzzing” with life
The enormous lime tree next to the courtyard is in flower and……..
Out in the field the walnut trees are laden with fruits
Eight years ago
Dad passed away at home with his usual style and lack of fuss. Today we mark his yahrzeit and remember the wonderful son, husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather he was and the great memories we cherish.
He left school during the war when not even 14 and worked as an office boy. He only returned to study when he met mum. First matriculation, then working for accountants and studying accountancy at night. Mum and dad both worked, financially supporting dad’s parents as well as studying and also fitting in friends and sport
Undeterred he played cricket snd tennis
He took us, my brother and me, swimming early Sunday mornings before dropping us at Hebrew classes. His great delight was to watch Michael play football and then to watch both his grandsons when they joined football teams. He shouted encouragement from the touch lines and applauded loudly if they played well
One Friday night we jokingly suggested that dad take us all to Disneyland, Florida during our childrens’ half term holiday. The next week is was booked and two weeks later we were in a crazy Disney land having the time of our lives
Family was everything and dad looked after his parents, mum, all of us to the best of his ability. He could have worked harder and longer hours but instead he showed us how to work and play in equal measure and how to be generous and charitable and dutiful and never to owe anyone a penny.
A glorious walk around Grantchester, along the river,across the meadows and all with the words of Rupert Brooke whispering in my head
“Stands the Church clock at ten to three?
And is there honey still for tea?”
Two lines from Brooke’s sentimental poem The Old Vicarage, Grantchester that I recited to my fellow walkers.
Where’s Nigel?
The mutual love continues
These are the mornings I cherish
Nigel curled up on my lap as I sit under the pergola
All the birds and animals have been let out of their houses, fed and watered and new straw put into the old duck house. Last night, when baby duck and his companion were abed, I changed the water in their bath. They came out for a swim into a clean pool and loved it.
The trees are all heavy with ripening fruit and soon we will be picking and eating and giving away apples and pears and nectarines and plums – late summer and autumn bounty
