Weekly Chat, Sunday 24 April 2011

OG, That is a beautiful azalea. Our's are in bud, but none have flowered as yet.

OG : Lovely Azalea. I have tried growing them in pots using ericaceous compost but eventually they just die. Soil and water are just not acidic enough for them here. I do like Azaleas and Rhododendrons a lot. We will be visiting Bodnant Gardens when we are in Wales in a couple of weeks time. They have a fantastic display there. Also we will say hello to George the peacock if he is still around.

Just got back from Stamford which was quite busy. Did the usual rounds of the charity shops but did not find anything interesting. Had lunch at the Elton Hall garden shop and then came home and took Hamish for a short walk.

Morning all: Have to say, I couldn't get over some of the hats and headgear worn by The Wedding guests - sort of ruined the effect in some cases, distracting from otherwise nice outfits and not exactly flattering the wearers.  Still nobody ever accused me of being a fashion plate, so what do I know!!   :-)

OG: Azaleas gone mad!  We have them here - they're not native of course - and do need water. Thought I recognized the flower but those imposter leaves threw me!   Planning breakfast with friend (another friend) this morning then a "gentle" as you put it, day in the garden.

A gentle day to you all....

Brenda, Alan & Annette - that Azalea is only about 50cm high and 70cm across - it started as a pot plant given to us by one-time neighbours, and we had it in gradually increasing pots until we came here.  We now have slightly acid soil, and we also added ericacious compost when planting them out.  Here is the other one - similar beginnings, a bit younger and a bit smaller, with pretty two-tone flowers:

Son phoned - he is accepting the part-time work option which he was offered.  Sounded well on the phone.  His doctor appointment isn't this coming week, it's the following week when he will be working afternoons only.

Dundee 2 Partick 0 after 70 minutes. Attendance 7,746. Not bad for a 'nothing at stake' game.

Afternoon all ... another glorious day here ... been popping in and out of the garden most of the day.

I have to say I did enjoy "The Wedding" yesterday ... I hadn't intended to watch much of it, as those formal 'do's' don't really appeal to me ... but the enjoyment of everyone involved was very infectious! I just hope the photographers give them some privacy now. I loved the cart-wheeling clegyman ... thanks for the link! I also agree with the comments about the 'ugly sisters'!

Well done to Dundee Alan! I'm afraid my team, Sunderland got beaten again ... but what can you expect when they have not got a single uninjured striker :-((

OG - those azalea phots are beautiful. I have an azalea in a large tub and can see the pink colour  showing, but the flowers are not open yet. It actually belonged to my next door neighbour who sadly died two years ago. When his partner sold the bungalow she asked me if I would like it ... so I can't take any credit for the planting etc!

Thanks to everyone for chat etc.

Take care.

Hello everyone: Also hooked on wedding yesterday....so good to see a new monarchy emerging. At least Fergies 2 girls will never be out of work over the Christmas period!!!

Super hot sunny day up here. Shopping mission to Inverness via Dava Moor and a detour around Lochindorb. Mission done bought some sandwiches and went to Fort George. Decided to join Historic Scotland whilst there and then spent 2 hours on the ramparts watching the Moray Firth Dolphins...amazing. Chanonry Point is a 40 odd mile trip extra so we have now decided this is the place to go. So 4 visits and we have paid for our year and saved loads of fuel. Fort George is also a nice place to visit even if the dolphins aren't playing. Oh it was 20.5 degress!!!

Hello everyone.  Been out all day today.  OH was asked to join his college's alumni crew in the Head of the River event in Cambridge.  Weather was glorious.  The crew, given their age and the fact they hadn't rowed together before, enjoyed themselves, and the cox was pleased.  There were even slower boats that theirs!  I cycled up the tow path to the start and cycled along with them to the finish.    Knee muscles were OK until I had to stop suddenly and put my foot down, now I feel I have taken a few steps backwards in recovery.  Bother.  Crew, cox and supporters (which included the daughter of one crew member who rows herself, and is a member of Leander, so I was mixing in illustrious rowing company!!)  retreated to the Fort St George on the river for a few pints and something to eat in the sunshine - service was appalling sadly and those were were eating waited nearly 1.5 hrs for their food. Two pints of bitter sufficed for me!

One US networks at the wedding apparently had 94 cameras out on the London streets yesterday.  I was surprised that the happy couple have not left on their honeymoon after all, but are enjoying a quiet weekend in the UK, and Wills will return to work next week.

Lucky those able to grow azalea and rhododendron in their gardens.  I have visited some gardens, particularly in Scotland, where they grow abundantly.  We have rented Leckmelm House near Ullapool, complete with its arboretum which is open to the public.  Inverewe Gardens are stunning too.  I just about managed to keep my camellia alive by giving it some appropriate feed and keeping it moist.  At least that was one plant, albeit in a pot, which survived the winter!

I cannot believe how lovely the weather still is at LG.  Odin is on the nest at present and it all looks beautiful.  I have one crowing cock and  three female pheasants outside at present, along with one chaffinch, two partridge, one stock dove and a collared dove.

Enjoy your evening.

Evening all just back after taking Bobbie out for the day today first time out and she loved it