Old Year, New Year

New Year's Eve and A's Birthday. We celebrated with a lovely dinner at Las Casas del Rey de Baeza, Seville.


At midnight we tried to eat a grape for each 'bong' - that's 12 grapes in as many seconds - didn't quite make it even though the hotel staff had provided everyone with a tin of peeled, stoneless ones to make it as easy as possible.


Happy New Year, everyone.

Lumiere at RHS Garden Wisley

Time for a rest!

Happy Christmas

Horseshoes for good luck!

Dougal and Soazig - the cake

Snow in the garden

Snow in the new garden looks very pretty. The birds are enjoying the feeders although water is scarce as the water bowls are frozen and the pond doesn't have any convenient 'shores' for them to bob along! Glad the sun is shining and the snow is really just a sprinkling.

And yes, a splendid sign

Whale spotting

And splendid dragon

Splendid moose

River of fire

Cartier's Christmas Decorations on Bond Street

Watching the wax  train advancing
Anish Kapoor at the Royal Academy

Anish Kapoor at the Royal Academy

Garden Day 32

I've been trying to take this photo for a couple of days, but the weather has been pretty awful, so here is a slightly blurry picture, due to it being so dark and wet. Anyway, its done - water will eventually fill the pond (quite quickly if it continues raining) and planting will be done in the spring in case things get carried off by a frosty night before they get established.
We tried out the Japanese bits, but need to do some work on positioning etc. The birds are glad of the peace and quiet and the squirrel is back trying to get up and around the baffle.

Rocky fig

Heart of stone

Garden Day 31

It's pretty much all there, now. The gloopy mud for the bog garden was disgusting to put in and the lads wore waders to trample it down! A bit more top soil for the beds to finish them off, and an unveiling of the steps and major construction is over.

Garden Day 30

More finishing hidden under the tarpaulin and the grab lorry came to take away loads of rubbish. The path around the house is clean(er) and much equipment, tools etc have either gone or are in the garage awaiting transport.

Garden Day 29

Still some parts under wraps! But the path has appeared and much progress on the steps and the pond under the tarpaulin. Thursday is going to be a 'big push' day, too as Dan wants to be finished by the weekend.

Garden Day 27 & 28

Monday was something of a wash out, but today Wayne has worked very hard laying bits of path and making walls. Its all under the blue tarpaulin in case of overnight rain.

Rainbows in glass

Garden Day 26

A huge effort went into finishing the drive and now we can park the car 'inside' again! Some progress in the back, too.

Garden Day 25

Unbelievable! The stones have more or less been done. Great work by Dan, Chris and Wayne. They only have to cut in the edges to finish the driveway.

Garden Day 24

The fine gravel layer is being laid.

Garden Days 22 & 23

These two days have been very busy, with the front garden now ready for the stones to be laid - probably on Wednesday. The borders are looking great - just enough room for an extra parking space where the grass used to be. Dan is busy making the steps up into the back garden, then Trevor will be along to do the lighting.

Beach Angel 2