Christmas comes early in Suffolk

The theme of the WI marquee at Suffolk Show this year was Christmas.  Well of course!  So I arrived on Tuesday morning to find a bunch of stockings hanging up by the hearth, ready for Santa to deliver the goods.  He was there too, with a sleigh full of toys - just the thing for a chilly May morning!

I was there to judge the competition for a Nativity scene and was thrilled to find 28 beautifully made exhibits displayed in the middle of the marquee alongside some lovely flower arrangements. So many talented and enthusiastic people about, ready and willing to take up the challenge and provide visitors to the show with plenty of inspiration.

The following morning, it was time to head home via a concert in Birmingham that evening.  Identifying a couple of interesting places to stop off en route, our first fresh air was in Northamptonshire, at Lyveden New Bield - and my goodness, was that air "fresh"!  Almost blown away by the force of the cold East wind, we didn't linger long.

We managed a quick peek inside this framework of a building having learned a little from the custodian who was snug in her warm shed.

The building had never been completed, so the empty shell sits out on this open field.  On a warmer day, it would be tempting to explore a little more of the surroundings but we chose to head back to the car.

We appreciated the fly past by this Red Kite as we walked back to the car and noticed that we were not the only ones getting blown about.

Just down the road, we paid a visit to the scene of the Battle of Naseby but sadly found little there to enlighten me, the hopeless historian, about the context.  Thankfully, google can facilitate a few details for me now I'm home!

Highlight of the day had to be the concert, then.  The photo shows the rather unconventional layout for the UK premiere of Jörg Widmann's Antiphon, a piece of music I found to be rather challenging (to say the least).  The main work was that of Mahler's 2nd Symphony and we joined an almost capacity audience to hear a stunning performance of a favourite piece.

Wow.

A day at the seaside

We've just returned from a few days away in Suffolk, a part of England which neither of us had explored before.  I had a commitment in Ipswich on Tuesday (more later) and it was a great chance to book ourselves into an interesting hotel and enjoy a few days fun.  

Here in the Cotswolds, we don't see much of the sea, so watching folks messing about in boats was interesting and the fresh air invigorating.

The English seaside on a Bank Holiday Monday was the perfect place to be, and where better than Southwold?  Though we had heard of this little gem of a place, we were captivated by its charms from the minute we arrived.

We loved Tim Hunkin's crazy machines on the Pier

and spent ages reading the little brass plaques along the handrail, each one telling a little story in a few heartfelt words.

Moving on to Aldeburgh in the afternoon, we braved a chill wind to walk along to the Benjamin Britten memorial

Created by Maggie Hambling in 2003, it's created quite some controversy but putting the environmental issues aside, we thought it an imaginative and fitting tribute to someone who features so prominently in this part of the world.

Feeling cold and more than a little windswept, we returned to Orford and took a look inside St Bartholemews church where we found a great set of kneelers.  Of course, I had to go and find this one (one of several with a WI theme, actually)

We got back to the hotel to find our best Aussie mate John had arrived - what fun!

First time

My first visit to Chelsea Flower Show yesterday with my good Aussie friend Sandie.  We had such fun, discovering many similar loves/loathes, catching up with our news and sometimes looking at flowers!  Sadly, we did not have the place to ourselves.

At times it was difficult to get anywhere near the gardens, especially the small courtyards.  But we got some small peeks, our reward for patience and persistence in weedling our way to the front of the crowd from time to time.

But all the gardens have been well recorded elsewhere, so instead of posting photos of those, I'll stick with a few images which took my fancy when I uploaded them all.  Others can be found on my Flickr page.

We both loved this stand and I'm now trying to work out how to find a place for a ruin in our garden.

Somehow, I didn't imagine that corners of a show garden might look like this - remarkably like home.

I'm not sure if this gentleman had the easiest or the most challenging role in the show.  I'm not sure I could have stood still all day.

The queue for the Ladies loo was extremely long but moved surprisingly fast.  Not only that, but they were immaculate, offered lovely soap and handcream and friendly staff.  Excellent.

The Grand Pavilion was huge - far larger than I imagined, whereas the show itself was somewhat smaller than I'd thought.

I loved this calm, creamy white display created by Zita Elze

and though I expected to see all kinds of flowers out of season, this display of daffodils was somehow particularly extraordinary.

Not to mention hyacinths in May - I wonder how they bred the one with a little face?

We had a lovely, lovely day and were on our best behaviour the whole time, unlike another couple of ladies who appear to have been put in the naughty corner

 

 Never mind.  At least they've got a pretty view!

Thank you Sandie (and John) for a marvellous day.  We had such fun.

Have you seen this?

I'm intrigued and have downloaded to give it a try.  Find out more and download here

Rain

Quite some downpours here in the last 24 hours, but fortunately we are able to walk in the dry to the next village and back last night, to our friends' Eurovision party.  The air this morning is fresh and warm, however, and a walk in the garden was therapeutic after a late night.

Clearly we weren't the only ones who had a party last night.  The slugs and snails have had a feast!

I love the way the water droplets stay on the petals and catch the sunshine.

Even some of the scruffier plants look better for a shower.

The pond is full and there is a bit of activity under those lily leaves.

Looks like it might be a good year for plums

But many of the cherries have bitten the dust already.

The apples are looking good and we'll look forward to those later in the year

and we love gooseberries.

The N&P flight (World Famous in New Zealand) is looking good and ready to go.

Which is just as well, for the next shower is coming in and will start soon!