Sunday, April 27, 2008

Burblings

Aside.

It sounds ungracious but I wish MTL weren’t given silk ties; it’s such a fag taking them to be cleaned (and expensive) and the only way one can tell them from their cheaper washable rivals is by reading the label. Even more difficult are the Scottish wool ones which we are both fond of. I have just risked washing quite an old one; gently swishing it in special stuff for delicates, and then had the brainwave of wrapping it round the towel rail heater in the bathroom. Not a bad result.

Karen, our gardener suggested Top Rose for the garden roses. At the nursery I asked a female assistant,

P ‘ Excuse me - where will I find Top Rose?’

FA ‘ Who?’

The trouble with having been a war child one hangs on to anything with a spark of life in it. As a result most of my tubs are full of half dead plants, so today I am being ruthless and starting afresh. I still can’t actually consign them to the garden bin so am tossing them in wooded bits where, at least they have a chance to recover and flourish amongst the ivy and periwinkles.

On our return we were amazed to see a new gate in place. Seems we have actually found a work-man who does what he says. Next week the sun room roof. – after he’s painted the gate. And I get to choose a house sign. It never has had a number and we had to choose a new name when we came 27 years ago. I think a simple white on black probably.

It was so lovely having an evening drink in the garden today; perfect temperature and a divine zephyr which stirred the bronze grasses in time to the birdsong. Priceless.

25 comments:

kenju said...

I have a hard time throwing out any plant, no matter how ugly it is. I have 2 poinsettias left from Christmas, both of which I am trying to keep alive until I can put them outside full time, in May. My neighbor took one look at them and said "You need to get rid of those!" I, very proudly, said I don't throw away a plant just because it looks bad at the moment (knowing full well that she does). I can't wait until mid July, when I show her a beautiful deck plant and tell her that it's the one she wanted me to toss out in April!!

Pat said...

Yay Judy! Way to go!

Daphne Wayne-Bough said...

My new residence has some sadly neglected roses in the garden, which I plan to coax back to life with my secateurs and some TLC. I did some light gardening yesterday for the first time in over 3 years, it was very relaxing. I also have lily of the valleys about to flower in time for the 1st May, bluebells and burgeoning peonies, a couple of what look like very young Japanese maples, a big as yet unidentified leafy bush in the corner and a sort of snowball tree overhanging the kitchen balcony with the most beautifully perfumed blossoms. I am an exhausted but very happy bunny!

Pat said...

Daphne: sounds like a photo call is due. You may regret not doing a 'before' when you restore it to its full glory. One of my weaknesses : I stuff plants in willy nilly and you meke me realise my lily of the valley (from France) has dis appeared, and Johng reminds me my fritillaries have vanished. I bought a beautiful peony (in embryo)with the girls - about 6 years ago. I was told the first year it sleeps, the second year it creeps and the third year it leaps.
I'm still waiting - so good on your burgeoning!

Kim Ayres said...

I have some rather nice silk ties from my business days, and considering how much they cost I do someties feel a bit peeved that polyester ones now look identical.

However, in the last year or so of my business I stopped wearing them. I overheard someone saying it was like going to work with a noose around your neck and something in that took hold. It must be 4 years or more since I last wore one

Pat said...

Kim: is that four years since you wore a silk one or four years since you wore a tie. I'm guessing the latter. I think it's an age group thing. My sons never wear a tie unless they have to whereas MTL wears one every day unless he's indoors all day, or in the garden. Just checked: he isn't going out and he's tieless.
What gets me is - with the expensive silk ones, you can bet your bottom dollar there will be a stain on its first outing.

Unknown said...

Well burbled!

Kim Ayres said...

You're right, it is 4 years since I last wore a tie. If I was to wear one though, I would pull out one of the silk ones. I guess in the end that even if no one else could tell the difference, I would know. A sort of personal indulgence.

Anonymous said...

I've always admired the English habit of naming one's house. I'm afraid I wouldn't know where to start, although my subdivision is known as "Camelot." In truth, however, the old-timers call it what it was, "The Niebauer Farm."

Cheers.

Pat said...

Johng: I practise a lot.

Kim: if you have to have a noose I suppose a silk one is preferable.

Randall: I used to think it was a bit pretentious - but with our present house we didn't have any choice and I'm happy with it now.

Anonymous said...

Great burbles! I loved your story about the garden centre assistant. Just can't get the staff these days!

Glad you enjoyed your evening drink outside! For the last couple of days we've been serving meals 'al fresco' at my pub in Sussex which has been a real treat.

I've been looking at your garden photos. They are really lovely. Three weks ago today we had snow and now it's virtually summer. You might like to see the photos I took that Sunday. I've linked them to my name

neena maiya (guyana gyal) said...

Me too, I feel sad for the 'bad' plants, I can't throw them out, and even though I don't know much about gardening, I try and try and pray they'll do well.

My mother grew up during WW2, it affected them here, so many shortages and other things, mines found on our shores, our men fought in the war too.

But while I was growing up we were affected by the then govt., shortages & fear galore...it's left many of us unwilling to throw out anything.

apprentice said...

Compost Pat, be ruthless and compost them.

I used to try and over winter greaniums biut they always rottedd off. Seems bad to by new ones each year, but then the heat that goes into keeping lame ducks going isn't worth it.

It was a beautiful day yesterday,
I gutted my shed now that the field mouse has decanted for summer!

Anonymous said...

I brought some windowsill lettuce back from the brink the other week and last night I dreamt they were back to their sprightly, scrummy selves. I don't know if I dreamt it mind you, I might just be remembering looking at it yesterday, I can't be sure!

It's 6.30am here so I haven't been downstairs to take a look yet and find out.

Pat said...

KeithH: thank you I enjoyed your flowers peeping through the snow.

GG: Mind you I am nothing compared to MTL; he is the world's greatest hoarder and I have a routine where I sneak things up to the attic for 6 months and, if he doesn't notice, sneak it out of the house. I should have been in the wartime underground.

Anna: thank you! If a Scots gal tells me to bin something I know its OK:) Another trip to the nursery.

Sam: I do that all the time:find it difficult to distinguish between dreams and reality. I hope they are alive and well.

zoe said...

randall, my favourite aunt's house was called "Camelot" and resided on King Arthur road .... which made it a bit tacky. She now lives somewhere else and names her house "Wigwam" - or something equally silly. I must look up her address.

re: silk ties ... I adore them. Pat, get a friend who visits Bangkok often and you'll be inundated with the things - just throw out the old and in with new. What's washing to modern women anyway? ;)

Pat said...

Zoe: I am getting better; I throw out holey socks now but silk ties...

OldLady Of The Hills said...

I have no expeeience with Ties at all...So your description of what you did with the Wool one was fascinating!
We rarely throw out any plants here in my Cacctus and Succulent Garden....You know when it is time to give them up because they are usually quite dead with no chance of revival. You can save arms of plants and plant them and as long as whatever "disease" the mother plant had hasn't infected the 'arm'..It will grow BEAUTIFULLY! BUT, when something is really systemically sickly...Well....that is Cactus Heaven, I'm afraid.
It sounds like a lovely evening, my dear....Balmy and sweet!

Pat said...

Naomi: I wish my plants had healthy arms on them. Now I've got Karen the plants have got to shape up or it's curtains for them. I'm going to get a big floppy hat and a long skirt and drift round the garden, gently dead- heading the roses - for all the world like Vita Sackville West.

OldHorsetailSnake said...

Well, aren't you in the lap of luxury. Did you forget the green tea (or is that what was in the evening drink?)

Pat said...

Hoss: at time of going to press the evening drink is a glass of white wine with a dash of cassis, thus making a kir - according to our French connection.

Marjolein said...

I actually tend to throw plants out when I suspect they're dead, but my boyfriend never lets me. He never bothers with the plants, except when I want to get rid of them! ;)

I really want a garden... Hopefully we can buy a house with a garden in a few years. We only have a balcony now. This weekend we went away with a group of friends to a detached holiday home with quite a large garden. The weather was amazing so it was a real delight to be able to spend the whole day outside on the patio.

Pat said...

Marjolein: welcome! Men can be a problem in the garden - that's why I so appreciate having a lady gardener. Your weekend sound lovely and I know you will have your own garden one of these days.

Anonymous said...

a late comer, I know, but I have a miraculous restorant (?) for silk ties ...
any stains on them, immediately rub in loads of talcum powder. Leave overnight, or longer, if possible. Brush off and hey presto, stain has gone!

belle

Pat said...

Belle: thanks. I can't wait to try it out.