Rain

A week ago I was walking at Osmaston, with the club. The sky threatened rain, but we were lucky to get to be able to enjoy our lunch, sitting under the trees at the edge of a wood, before the dark clouds overhead sneaked up on us from behind, the temperature dropped by a few degrees, the wind got up and the rain started. Setting off again, all protected against the wet, the shower was soon over, and we were soon too warm in our waterproofs. The trees were just bursting into fresh, new foliage, and the field boundaries a froth of white blossom. Marsh marigolds brought a splash of gold to the marshy edges of a brook.

Potato planting has continued across the road from our house. Just look at that clear blue sky - just a couple of days ago.

Today it's grey and wet, but the water butts are full and the veg seeds on my plot are getting a good watering. As I write, it's becoming lighter and the sun is trying to come out. After all, it is April.

Yesterday was our youngest son's birthday. As he is gradually recovering from a sports related injury he has now just sustained a finger injury whilst disposing of rubbish down at his local tip, and is looking a little like ET with his digit supported by a splint. At this early stage, the jokes must already be wearing a bit thin, as I know he is rather p.....d off. Still, last night we celebrated at home, with the meal of his choice, prepared by mum. This included rhubarb and plum crumble - made with the new season's rhubarb from the plot, and plums that I'd bottled last year. Actually, when I opened this jar of plums, they rose to the top and the liquid suddenly began to flood out everywhere. Luckily I was working near the sink, where I'd just placed a handy pyrex bowl. The plums tasted fine, but it looks like the liquid was beginning to ferment. Perhaps, if left until the weather had warmed up, the jar could possibly have exploded in my pantry. I can't bear to think what a mess it would have made. A quick check revealed that it was the last of the bottled fruit. I think I'll freeze all of it this year.

Tomorrow my nephew Ali and his wife Sarah are flying to the USA, and the following week, on their first wedding anniversary, start out on an awfully big adventure. Starting in Southern California at the Mexican border, they will spend six months walking 2,650 miles along the Pacific Trail Crest, until they reach the Canadian border. We wish them all the very best, as they tackle everything from high mountains, snow and ice, to hot and dry deserts, plus all types of wildlife from bears to snakes. Their progress can be followed on Ali's website afowler.co.uk (Alasdair Fowler Photography). Stay safe Ali and Sarah and we are expecting some even more amazing photos from you.

Now it's grey and pouring down.

A right royal treat

It's been potato planting time around here. The field across from us is deeply ridged, and looking like chunky corduroy.

On Saturday, Mike spent four hours at the QE having a blood transfusion, so our youngest son and I enjoyed some quality time together, visiting the Barber Institute, and wandering around the University campus, and along the canal towpath, before returning to the hospital.

The following day our grandchildren arrived, to spend a couple of days with us, while R & S were down in London, attending the very last Hamster gig (a band we have followed for many years). So, on Sunday, as it was fine, I took A & W to the allotments, where they helped me plant our potatoes. There are quite a few chitted potatoes left over - enough to go in some potato bags, and a few more to cram in somewhere on the plot. I was pleased to see the new cherry tree bursting into blossom, and the plum tree is already covered in flowers.

Monday was a very busy day. We made and decorated cakes, baked bread, set some seeds in the greenhouse, and A & W constructed hot-air balloons from strips of coloured card, with cake cases as baskets. Later, after our evening meal, the travellers returned. I don't know who was the most tired - them or us! But we had all enjoyed our day.

Tuesday morning our friend Dave arrived from Leeds, to take us by car to Norfolk, where we were to stay for two nights at the Neptune Restaurant (Michelin Star) in Hunstanton, run by his son Kevin and wife Jacki. What a lovely couple. What a comfortable room. And what superb food and service. To be highly recommended. On our way to Hunstanton we stopped off at the church in the village of Harpley, where Mike's ancestors once lived, and left some flowers on the grave of the last one to have lived in the village, and who we had met briefly before she died. There is quite a story connected with all this as, after her death, we had ended up having to arrange this lady's funeral and eventually the erection of her headstone. Otherwise, she would never had been buried along with the rest of her family, in the village, but would have had to have a pauper's burial, which could have been anywhere in Norfolk. It was only as the result of my family history research that this all came about. After driving through another village, with ancestral connections, we called on our friends John & Von, who moved from Shipley some time ago, to live in Norfolk. What a gathering - Dave had never med J & V before, but it appeared that they had all lived in the same area once and knew lots of the same places and people, so there was a lot of reminiscing.

The weather wasn't kind to us (although we didn't have snow!) so Dave's plans to take us to some interesting places didn't quite work out, as we were reluctant to get out of the car, due to the icy wind and rain. Still, we did visit Sandringham, and took the opportunity to look around the house, which we thoroughly enjoyed, and as it wasn't too busy we had plenty of time to chat to the guides. Both Dave and Mike had family members who had worked at Sandringham in the past. We even found a bronze sculpture of a horse with our surname! Must do more research when I have the time. When our sons were younger, we spent a number of holidays in Norfolk and, despite the grim weather, it still looked as good as ever. I love the architecture - the flint walled cottages with their red, tiled roofs. The villages look so neat and tidy.

On Thursday morning, after thanking Kevin and Jacki for their wonderful hospitality, and leaving the Neptune, we met up once again with J & V, at the cafe on the Sandringham estate, and for the men there was more catching up and chatting about their mutual friends, places they knew and college days (they were all at the same college in Durham). In the meantime, we girls caught up on family news and, naturally, things to do with plants and gardening.

As we headed home, we didn't envy all those caravanners heading towards the Norfolk coast. We passed one caravan, on its side, and blocking three lanes on the opposite carriageway, with miles of tail-back. When we arrived home, the first thing I noticed were the daffodils - no longer looking their best, but bent double, as a result of the cold, snowy weather.

We can't thank Dave (and K & J) enough for treating us to such a super two days, during which we really did feel like royalty. It's just a pity he won't be reading all this on his computer - unless we show him how to use it!