Saturday 21 March 2009

Three days in the life of..........

Up till a few days ago, there were two Bird Cherries outside our back gate, that looked like magpie's nests and came to the ground. They were dying back and we feared that we would lose them. A man from the Council came to see them and decided that if they were given a thorough hair-cut, they might get a new lease of life. The picture shows them as they are now. The one on the left is still rather a birds nest and only a couple of feet have been trimmed off the bottom, though the hight has been considerably reduced as well as the diameter. The one on the right is the faintest shaddow of its former self. They formed a solid barrier before!


Yesterday, I walked round the garden early and found this violet out. It is so tiny I did not think I would manage to take its picture, but the macro setting worked its magic. And then I found the first of the Cellandines. We are inundated with them but have to admit that they have a lovely flower. Also the very first of the Aubretia is showing colour.
I know that those who live in the South will be bored by these flowers by now - only 60 miles south of here today, all sorts of things are blooming - daffodils fully out and such like. But, hey-ho, we have to be happy with what we get and enjoy them regardless.

And so we reach today. I drove down to my old home and had lunch with my brother who lives there. Later I walked up the village to the brand new Village Hall, which was to be opened by Tanni Gray-Thompson. It is a very handsome building and very green. It is heated by a borehole - brother explained how it works but I am not a lot wiser! I can just tell you that there are 2, (or was it 3?), bore holes over 300ft deep, in which a liquid is heated. It circulates up and down and heats the water that heats the building.


The hall was opened by Tanni Gray-Thompson, who lives in the neighbourhood and knows people in the village. What a lovely person she is! I had a long chat with her, which was a great pleasure for me.

I can't show a picture of the main room in the Hall as it was full of people who are recognisable in pictures I took. I will put up this one though. It is of two old things who used to play together, with others, in the village 70 years ago! We had not met for many years, even though Mary has lived in the same house all these years. What a time we had with "Do you remember........?" Oh, so nostalgic! And now she is 79 and I am 78

14 comments:

Norma Murray said...

Ah ha! so now I can put a face to the name. How nice to meet up with old friends.

Calico Kate said...

But which is who? Are you on the right or the left?
I have always thought that TG-T seemed a nice person I am so glad she is!
What a lovely day you had thank you for sharing it with us.
CKx

Withy Brook said...

I think I shall have a poll to see how many of you think which of us is me!

Chris Stovell said...

Now don't be a tease, come on, tell us! I'm glad that T G-T was as nice as she seems on the tv.

Faith said...

We have lots of violets out and I tried to photograph too, but they didnt come out very well. I think you are the lady in the pale green.

Pondside said...

I hope your trees come back, Withy. Lovely violet - not a sign of any flowers here.
Hmmmmmmmm- will the real Withy please step forward?

Elizabethd said...

I know, I know!!

Kitty said...

Well, I know too, but have a bit of an unfair advantage having recently met you. In fact, would be a bit worrying if I didn't recognise you!

Kimberly said...

please Withy tell us?

Exmoorjane said...

Lovely for me, too, to put a face to the person....too late for me to guess as I read the Common Room posts first!

Cait O'Connor said...

Our celandines are out too and the daffs only just out. I thought of taking photos of celandines yesterday.
I was wrong about which one was you in the pic, shows how we have a picture/idea in our minds about someone that is often completely wrong.

Withy Brook said...

I find it most amusing that only Zoe got it right!! As you say, Cait, we get a picture of someone in our minds eye. It often spoils it when you see the real person!!!!!

Frances said...

Withy, I am delighted to not know just what you look like. I hope that you'll let your friend Mary know how many of us thought you were she!

What I really see in that picture is two grand friends!

xo

S said...

Bit late on here...
I don't often have time to read blogs, but my curiosity was aroused by your post in the common room!! However, I'm delighted to find your blog, and the flower photography is wonderful...we only have daffs out at the mo.

I guess that is you on the left (cheating..sorry.... read the comments in the poll first!!). It's always good to put a face to a name...or do I mean a name to a face?