Enjoying the blue skies

"Cancel everything - we are going out!" After all the miserable weather, last Thursday turned out fine and sunny, so Mike and I set off to spend a day in Kenilworth - a return visit for me, as I'd enjoyed my recent day there with the walking club. We did the tourist thing, walking around admiring the buildings, enjoying lunch in a cafe, sitting by the lake in the Abbey grounds and, finally, exploring the castle. I must say I was impressed with the historical information and displays. English Heritage haven't overdone or over-dressed the place, unlike some of the National Trust properties we have visited. What I can't get over is the amount of money lavished on Queen Elizabeth's visits there, by Robert Dudley. In particular, it is said that it cost him around £1,000 a day, during her her last visit of 19 days in July 1575, which almost bankrupted him at the time. I've included the photo of flowers on the mature ivy, growing up some of the large trees in the area. The air was heavy with their perfume, and the bees were loving it.

Yesterday turned out to be another good, fine day, in between the wet ones, so I spent a good part of it clearing out large clumps of day lilies, that have taken over part of the front garden. They look good when in flower, but there are too many strappy leaved plants there now, and I've decided that more colour is needed, particularly as there are already quite a few ornamental grasses. It was hard work, but now I'm left with a decent space where I can plant some suitable brightly coloured flowers. I had hoped to start harvesting some of the grapes, but that will have to wait for another day. Instead I joined Mike, sitting in the sun, under a clear blue sky. I couldn't resist taking photos of the heavily laden vines at the side of our house. The black grapes, in particular, looked so good against the blue sky.

And here we were, feeling very sorry for my sister and her husband, spending two weeks in an isolated cottage on Mull. What a holiday - in all that rain (we'd been watching the clouds over the West coast of Scotland, on the weather forecast). Then we received a card from them, telling us what a great time they were having, and no mention of bad weather. Last night my sister K rang me to tell me again about their wonderful holiday on the island, and that they can't wait to go back.