Author Archives: JDO

I had one of those days today – I seemed to be endlessly busy, but got almost nothing done. Never mind – tomorrow’s another day. I had errands to run in Stratford in the afternoon, and as the River Avon … Continued

Thanks to all of you who said kind things yesterday – your nice thoughts are much appreciated! I got up this morning coughing and sneezing, and feeling as though some unfriendly elf spent last night sandpapering the back of my … Continued

This paperweight usually lives on CH’s desk, but I had fun this afternoon photographing it on various surfaces and in different lights. I’ve made good progress with the rose bed today – one more session should see it finished so … Continued

Those of you who were around last autumn may remember this piece of wanton destruction. I replaced the unloved weeping pear with some shrubs which I thought might cope with life in this dingy part of the front garden, and … Continued

I walked into my study this morning, glanced out of the window and thought “What the…??” In fifteen years of living here, I have never seen the sun rise over our neighbour’s farm before – it always crests the hill … Continued

Mmmmm…. liver treats…… This isn’t the best photo I took today, but it is the first, and the one that makes me laugh when I look at it, so I thought it would be sad not to use it. Neither … Continued

I think this is Erysimum cheiri, though the classification seems a little uncertain. But anyway, it’s a wallflower – supposedly biennial, but in my garden it’s a wandering short-lived perennial, flowering in vivid tones from yellow through orange to red. … Continued

Middle Earth, in this case. It’s widely believed that Meon Hill on the Warks/Glos/Worcs border was the inspiration for Weathertop in J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings.  This isn’t as far-fetched a claim as you might think – though born … Continued

After several days on sick dog watch, and with Arthur Hound seemingly fully recovered, I was distinctly stir-crazy this morning.  CH suggested that after breakfast (colomba – delicious, and very moreish) we should drive over to Kenilworth to visit the … Continued

After a day yesterday when I was able to work in the garden without a jacket, today was cold, damp and grey. On the plus side, Arthur Hound made it through the night without accident, and was essentially his normal … Continued