I’m sitting in the garden writing this and the sun is beating down on me so it feels more like mid summer than the beginning of spring! The photo above though isn’t my garden it’s Savil Gardens in Windsor where I walked last week 🙂 Judging by the weather forecast it seems as though most of us have seen the sun, so I do hope you’ve been able to get out and about in it. There have been some pretty clear nights too which is when I got this photo of the moon – hardly ever see the crescent!
Thank you very much for getting in touch on the last blog and for my birthday wishes. I can’t believe it’s almost a month since we were in Malta, but as always, we have filled our time with family, friends and trying to find time to finish the refurb! Work has begun on the front garden now as it’s going to be almost completely gravelled over. We’ve had a disaster trying to grow a lawn on a very dry and rough patch of ground and so we think this is the best option. I currently have one flower bed at the end closest to the house and that will be extended so that it’s the full width of the garden – any ideas on what I could put in there? I currently have a fabulous cone headed hydrangea that was a present from Richard Jackson when Colin and I got married 10 years ago! I also have two rather beautiful purple leaf bushes that have these frilly pink flowers and I may well get another one just so it’s symmetrical but I don’t remember the name of it! Any idea what it’s called? If you do, I’d be really grateful if you could drop me a line at the end of the blog – thank you!
Talking of names, is it just me, or have you been a little blindsided by the change in pronunciation for some of the major retailers? IKEA was the first, then Hyundai and now Skoda! It seems odd to me that nobody mentioned the pronunciation before because branding is key to a successful advertising campaign. It reminded me of when I worked in advertising and our agency created a series of bus side posters to celebrate BT’s new rates for phoning Europe. Our copywriter used the Spanish word Bueno on the Italian poster when it should have been Buono! No one spotted it for the first few weeks and then there was an uproar and all the posters had to be scraped off the buses! The copywriter luckily kept his job but he was a jolly sight more vigilant after that!
Colin and I have been back to see baby Florence several times since I last wrote and as you’ll see from the photographs, she is changing all the time! She’s gaining weight and much more alert now with such huge eyes! Sam and Elise gave me a beautiful framed photo of her and I for my Birthday present which is lovely, and I’ve had several others printed out and reframed so my collection is growing! Last weekend all but two of the children came to join us for lunch, with our grandsons Corey and Rhys, and baby Florence! It was the first time Richard and Jordana had met her, and as you can see they loved her on sight.
We had a belated birthday celebration for me and our soon to be son-in-law Will, but also an early get together for Corey’s 4th birthday! We also celebrated Mother’s Day and I had some beautiful cards and thoughtful gifts from the children and grandchildren and it compounded my constant belief that I am truly fortunate to have so many wonderful people in my life. I travelled to Swindon on Sunday as Lucy had organised a massage course for my Mother’s Day gift for her, Honey and me at a place called The Zen Den. We all learned the various techniques by practising on each other, and are now quite proficient in giving a foot, hand massage or head massage! Colin is very pleased with my new found skills!
Since I last wrote I’ve also met up again with Kathy Tayler – we had a walk and then lunch as our birthdays are just one week apart. We chose Savil Gardens in Englefield Green and saw the most glorious Magnolia and Camellia trees (that’s the photo at the top of the blog). Some of the blooms were as big as our hands! I then had a visit from Claire Sutton who came to see me on Friday. Claire and I haven’t seen each other since the 12th March last year and so there was a great deal to catch up on and not enough time really, but we were adamant we’re not going to leave it so long next time. I had a lovely couple of days with my sister too and we walked to Hinton Ampner which was a mighty six and a half mile hike but well worth it.
I’m still listening to the book Truly Madly Deeply by Leanne Moriarty, and I have very much enjoyed it. I’ve downloaded We All Live Here by Jojo Moyes which I think is her latest – have you read it? Colin and I thoroughly enjoyed watching Protection on TV with Siobahn Finnerman in the lead, and I’d highly recommend it. It’s all about Witness Protection and has a great cast and is very well written. I’m also very much looking forward to watching the brand-new series of Grace this Sunday based on the best-selling Peter James novels involving DS Roy Grace played by John Simm. Again, excellent writing and really addictive. Anything new you’ve been enjoying? Do let me know
I’m going to head off now but thank you so much for keeping in touch here, on Instagram and Facebook, and if you enjoy this blog, feel free to share it! Take care and stay well,
With my love,
Ali xx
F Lees says
Lovely picture in Savill Garden. I am in Northumberland so the Magnolia tree just coming out.We are having this lovely sunny weather but if out of the sun rather chilly.
Xx
Alison Keenan says
Hi there! I’ve never been to Northumberland but I would definitely like to visit. I’m glad to know you are also enjoying this fabulous weather!
Thanks for writing to me xx
Madeline Smallman says
Lovely blog Ally, what a beautiful granddaughter and I love the name, the old names are having a revival which is good, take care.
Alison Keenan says
Hi Madeline, and thank you for getting in touch.
I agree the old names are definitely having a revival which I think it’s a wonderful thing. I hope you’ve been enjoying the lovely weather. Love Ali xx
Mary Morphy says
Hi Alison, I’ve just seen your ramble on fb and have decided to delay inputting the tax return for John a bit longer to read and reply to your blog. I collated all the end of year figures yesterday but to spread out the excitement , delayed processing until today..unfortunately, the tax return and seeing the surgeon tomorrow are the highlight of my week! I’m hoping that Beryl can be discarded from tomorrow but we shall have to see what the surgeon says.
The gardens you visited look stunning and although Autumn is my favourite season there’s something special about the blossom appearing as if by magic on the trees and the magnificent blooms of the magnolias ..that said, it usually gets very windy here once the magnolias have come out and then the wind disperses those wonderful flowers.
I do love walking around the garden and seeing new life peeking through..its usually a surprise of what’s in where as I never remember where stuff is..my peonies are coming through at a rate of knots and I’m hoping for lots of flowers. My plum tree which has been baron for 4 years has only got 5 blossoms on it so I’m just going to accept that my idea of making jars of jam is not going to happen and will use it as a growing frame for a clematis!
I’m glad you enjoyed Protection, and I love Grace although I’m doing my best not to binge watch it in my times of boredam which is quite a lot of the time..I cannot wait to not rely on anyone to take me out.
I’m so pleased you’ve had lots of time with your grandchildren, Arthur has been away with his mum and her partner this week so we haven’t seen him for 2 weeks and I’ve missed him so much. We have been sent some wonderful videos and pictures of him and he’s having a great time. Looking forward to lots of cuddles at the weekend when we see him again.
Enjoy the sunshine..my long washing line is full of billowing sheets, and bedding. Simple pleasures!
Love Mary x
Alison Keenan says
Dear Mary, Lovely to hear from you and I am sorry it’s taken me so long to get back to you but there’s been a lot going on with the family and time has run away with me. I can’t believe it’s already May and I very much hope that your surgeon’s visit was positive and you will have had almost a full month of being mobile again 🙂 how are your Peonies? I was bought one last year and it only had one flower then but it’s looking a lot more promising this year! Sam and Elise bought me a beautiful rhododendron for my birthday and it’s blooming with the most amazing bergundy flowers. Like you, I really enjoy the garden at this time of the year. Colin and I have been enjoying Slow Horses on Apple TV – it’s really clever and well acted, and I’m listening to Anthony Horowitz’s latest murder mystery The Marble Hall Murders. He’s such a clever author and I thoroughly enjoyed The Magpie Murders and The Moonflower Murders – this is the final in the trilogy. I do hope you’ve seen much more of Arthur since he returned from his holiday and that you are sharing the May Bank Holiday with Jack too. I hope you’ve enjoyed the sunshine – it’s been glorious here. Take care, and I’ll have a new blog for you soon. Love Ali xx
Tina T says
Hi Ali, lovely photos as always (especially of little Florence who sure is growing fast)!
The weather has been truly glorious but, as you say, a little chilly out of the sun! It’s been great to feel the sun on your face.
I,too, enjoyed Protection but haven’t been watching Grace so far. I’ve been watching The Americas (narrated by Tom Hanks) which I’ve really been enjoying!😊
I hope you enjoy lots more cuddles with Florence and long may the good weather continue!
Take care Ali and enjoy Easter!🐣
Love Tina xx
Alison Keenan says
Hi Tina, I’m so sorry it’s taken me so long to get back to you, as I said to Mary we’ve had a lot going on with the family and the month seems to have slipped by before I noticed! Yes, I’ve been able to see Florence quite a lot which has been lovely and we’re hoping to visit this weekend too. Certainly a lot wamer this week than it was at the beginning of April – definitely feels as though summer is on its way. Do hope you’re well, and I’ll have a new blog for you very soon, love Ali xx
Sonia Hughes says
Lovely blog Ali.
You pictures are great too. Lovely hear what you been up to. Clair Sutton was one of my favourite presenters. Was sad when she left but she wanted to spend more time with her family and I don’t blame her.
Our little grandson Leo is doing well, he’s 5 weeks already.💙
We are all getting together on Easter Sunday. I am making a roast which we will have at my daughters house in Trelogan. She has just finished putting in her new kitchen. It looks fabulous.
Keep the blogs coming. We enjoy them.
Love from Sonia xxx😘🐣🐣🐤🐤🐥🌷
Alison Keenan says
Hi Sonia, your little grandson will be two months old by now and I’m so glad you were together for Easter Sunday. How did the roast do? We had Sam and Elise with baby Florence on Easter weekend and that was lovely too – roast chicken with all the trimmings went down well. 🙂
Yes, Claire was very much missed but she is incredibly busy with her three children and elderly mum her feet barely touch the floor! I do hope you’re well and enjoying this glorious weather – there’ll be a new blog next week I promise. With love, Ali xx
Tommygom says
hi
Alison Keenan says
Hi there Tommy – hope you’re having a good weekend. 🙂 XX