Uncategorized

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

Many thanks for your kind messages yesterday on the subject of Arthur Hound. Sadly the poor old chap had another accident overnight, though there was less of it, thank goodness. Apart from that the runes were mildly encouraging this morning … Continued

It’s been a rather worrying day today. Arthur, our senior hound, had a somewhat upset gut yesterday, and CH woke me before 7 this morning to tell me that the poor old chap had redecorated the kitchen overnight – we … Continued

For some reason, hobbs appears to have forgotten that I suffer slightly with vertigo, and has chosen “looking down” as the theme of his challenge this week. I’ll be having a word with him later. This is a photo of … Continued

I was taking photos by the Avon at Stratford this morning, when this cob suddenly began behaving quite aggressively. I couldn’t see any reason for it – he wasn’t apparently defending a female or competing for food – but he … Continued

This is a shot of a pair of Robert Welch candlesticks which CH and I bought last year to mark our 25th wedding anniversary – before you all start getting out your picklocks I should point out that they’re polished … Continued

Many thanks to everyone who wished me well for last night’s performance of Messiah  – you’re lovely people. I thoroughly enjoyed myself: a few things went wrong, as they usually do, but the orchestra and soloists were great, and on … Continued