| Mon 1 |
Mayday – or more traditionally the pagan Sabbat Beltane – a Pagan holiday, which is strongly associated with fertility and the beginning of summer. Beltane is a Celtic word, meaning “the fires of Bel” – probably the Celtic sun god, Belenus. The Celts used to light two bonfires because they believed it would purify them and increase their fertility; they would pass cattle between the two fires, believing it would purify the cattle, and ensure the fertility of the herd. This has now been replaced by more mundane fun like dancing round Maypoles and by Morris Men. |
| Tue 2 |
Once more the gardener cometh, and we get nothing done. Mind this was not helped by the fact that we both seem to have slept badly; and it’s already being one of those weeks. But looking at the Alder Buckthorn, which is only just beginning to show leaves, there were quite a few tiny yellow steeples: Brimstone butterfly eggs. Let’s hope the leaves open before the eggs hatch, so we have a chance of more butterflies next year. |
| Wed 3 |
Squirrels. We appear to have three baby squirrels; about half grown. They were seen this evening running around in the trees like 5-year-olds on speed. At one point all three were running full speed, nose-to-tail, along a long branch of the oak tree, just as if they were a train. |
| Thu 4 |
So I get to have new hearing aids – because yes, my hearing has deteriorated in the last 5 years. That’s not surprising: my mother had hearing aids at about my age and was stone deaf when she died at 99, and her next sister was the same; my father’s kid sister had hearing aids in her 40s! The audiologist and I opted for ones which are moulded to the shape of the ear, so I had to have impressions taken. That’s not as bad as it sounds, and definitely much much less unpleasant than dental impressions. But why does it take 6 weeks to make them? That seems crazy. I can only think its poor supplier management. |
| Fri 5 |
Today was the day we were supposed to be building our new office chairs: as expected they’d arrived flat-packed. But we didn’t. So we consoled ourselves making Coronation Terrine [which I did blog about later]. |
| Sat 6 |
Coronation of King Charles III. Very wet. Flypast by only Red Arrows, disappointing. You have to feel for all the military in heavy full dress uniform, and bearskins for the guardsmen, in the pouring rain. I remember talking to the then Richmond Herald after the Queen’s Golden Jubilee, when he’d been on one of the barges in the pageant on the Thames in the pouring rain – he said it took days get get his tabard dry; and marvelling that he hadn’t caught his death of cold. |
| Sun 7 |
It started out a dull bank holiday weekend, but yay … The sun came out after lunch! The first dog rose is out – well it’s a sucker from a cultivated rose which scrambles madly up and round the silver birch tree – small single flowers in pretty pale pink with rich yellow anthers. The hawthorn is in full flower. And we knackered ourselves putting our new office chairs together. |
| Mon 8 |
Oh what a surprise! It’s bank holiday and it’s been peeing with rain almost all day. At least one of our baby squirrels (it’s about half grown) is getting more secure: this evening it came tripping along the fence and over onto the bird feeder up near the house for a good feed of peanuts. I’ve not seen more than one at a time in the last couple of days, so I know not how many we still have. |
| Tue 9 |
“Hi Ho, Hi Ho, It’s Back to Work We Go.” Well actually we never really stopped. |
| Wed 10 |
They obviously know something we don’t … About 19:00 there began a massive noise of crows. Many crows. They were flying over, going roughly East-West. I stopped and counted. They just kept coming, and I quickly got to 35. But I reckon there were at least 50; we must have had every crow for a 20 mile radius! Now they used to hold a parliament in the nearby Lombardy Poplars (though I never saw more than a couple of dozen) – but those three trees were felled a couple of years ago. An hour later there were still a few odd crows flying around (mostly going away) and calling. Boy do they make a racket en masse. And they all sound subtly different. |
| Thu 11 |
Dear God! Some neighbour has let the jackals out again. Someone not far up the road has an obviously small, very yippy canine – I think it is only one dog. When let out it does nothing but bark and yip; what at, who knows. Obviously a badly trained animal belonging to a badly trained human. Gah! |
| Fri 12 |
Guys if you’re going to turn up early with the supermarket delivery (as you did today), it would help if you texted or called to warn us, so we’re ready. Otherwise you could be kept waiting for us for 5 or 10 minutes – thus screwing your schedule. |
| Sat 13 |
It just shows how things are changing. Had a notice today that we have a couple of ISAs which mature soon. Currently they’re paying only about 1%. But roll them over for a fixed rate 2-year term and you get 4.5%. That’s a no-brainer as it’s more than most of the comparison websites are quoting as the best available rates. |
| Sun 14 |
It was lovely and sunny in the middle of the day. Going down the garden to look at the pond and all the goldfish were resting on the surface in a patch of sun. And who should blame them! We followed their example for a while, accompanied by the Rosie cat. |
| Mon 15 |
Accompanied N this afternoon to see her nephrology consultant. Another really nice guy, who listens, explains, is humane, and personable. Another that the NHS could do with many more of. And spent a nice half hour sitting in the sun, on a bench on a small area of green with wildflowers in the grass and the holly and elder in flower – spoilt only by a view of the arse-side of a 1970s brutal-ish piece of concrete architecture.   |
| Tue 16 |
Wandering round the garden after lunch to discover the first of the rambler roses has its first bloom. It’s Albrighton Rambler; a Bourbon alike which was bred by David Austin in 2013. The flowers are fully double, medium sized and pale blush pink – although sadly it doesn’t seem to be scented.  |
| Wed 17 |
The pond man cometh; finally, after a couple of rearrangements. Everything cleaned over and fettled for the summer, and a load of new plants installed. Blimey he works quickly; all done in little over an hour! He says no-one’s water lilies are moving much yet (not enough sun); and he’s seen hardly any frogspawn this year, presumably due to two very cold snaps and a dry February. |
| Thu 18 |
Fairly big delivery from the Somerset Smokery (https://www.brownandforrest.co.uk/) today. Not cheap; but worth the quality. It all comes well chilled; vacuum packed; on overnight delivery; and with decent Use By dates. And it can all be frozen, so there’s a nice piece of traditionally smoked haddock in the freezer and we enjoyed another for tea tonight. Waiting in the wings there’s kippers, smoked duck breasts and a whole smoked chicken. There’ll be some good food over the next couple of weeks. |
| Fri 19 |
Eating dinner this evening and to the NE there was a picture book rainbow. No rain here, nor any sun, but both must have been nearby. Although only a small segment (maybe 30°.) was visible, it really was picture book: bright colours, wide, and all 7 colours discernible. It’s a long time since I’ve seen such an impressive performance. Impossible to photograph. |
| Sat 20 |
Nice surprise at the end of this morning’s PPG meeting – in person for the first time in over 3 years. A friend at the meeting, who had returned just this morning from the Bahamas, not only offered us a lift home, but gave us a small Bahamian Rum Cake. Devoured this evening with strawberries and ice-cream. Yummy!  |
| Sun 21 |
Eating dinner about 20:15 (yes, late as usual) glad to see one of our foxes in the garden. I knew from the trail camera they were visiting in evening daylight. But this is I think a new one – certainly not one I’ve seen before this week on the camera. It’s quite distinctive with a circular dark mark (slightly paler centre) on its left flank. It looks very unnatural, so I’ve no idea how it may have occurred. |
| Mon 22 |
 Who knew that the Israelis made good wine? Well of course you would if you’ve read the Bible! But today? Yes, they still make good wine. This evening we tried a bottle of Canaan, which was an odd bottle I picked up in Waitrose some while ago. And very drinkable it was too; with the slight sweetness of hock but not quite as aromatic. It went well with smoked chicken (see above). Will I try it again? At £15 a bottle, maybe. Give me 25% off then more likely. |
| Tue 23 |
Oh joy! Trip to the dentist for check-ups and hygienist. Hygienist was good, sensible and quick; which is refreshing. Saw the head man for the check-up and he’s not happy. No fillings etc. needed. But he doesn’t like the crown his young lady colleague did for me earlier in the year and insists it is redone – at their expense; again! While it’s nice not to have the cost, I did represent to him I didn’t feel this was fair given that the crown has already been replaced free of charge once. But no, he insists; he sees it as all being part of a service industry to get these things right! At the end of the day that’s between him and his young lady colleague; but I can’t think she’s going to be too happy. So another trip to the dentist in 8 weeks time. |
| Wed 24 |
Last evening there was some delightful sunset, with a widely dispersed gorgeously peachy-pink contrail running west-east. Sadly it didn’t last long. But it was followed a while later in the western sky with a lovely crescent moon and Venus shining bright at about 5 o’clock to the moon. It was great to have a super clear sky for once.  |
| Thu 25 |
It was one of those days. The gardener didn’t come – he has a “cold”; told him to test for Covid. Shed loads to do, and it just keeps coming, so not everything got done; including preparation for the talk I’m giving on Saturday afternoon. And the NHS send me a bowel cancer screening test – joy! So I ended up miserable and depressed. |
| Fri 26 |
Is it Thursday? Is it Saturday? No I’m led to believe it’s Friday. Really? But then the continuation of yesterday’s depression doesn’t help, so much so that Noreen was out for lunch and I just couldn’t make myself get out of my chair and fix myself lunch. And that is pretty much an all-time low for me. |
| Sat 27 |
This evening I finally gave my talk to the literary society: a very quick run through of all the places our hero had lived during his long life. There’s quite a bit we don’t know in detail, mainly following his father’s and then his own peripatetic life in the army. But even without that there’s a lot to cover. It seemed to go well, although it was 10 minutes longer than I’d planned. Good Q&A afterwards. |
| Sun 28 |
As usual on a Sunday, I unloaded this week’s images from the trail camera. They provided a small amusement. One evening earlier in the week Noreen had put out a bunch of pretty life-expired grapes. We know the squirrels like grapes, but would they get them? Well no, they didn’t. Who knew that foxes liked grapes too? One of our foxes was caught on camera trotting off with the whole bunch of grapes in it’s mouth! |
| Mon 29 |
The third bank holiday Monday this month; and it was a lovely sunny day, although still unenticingly windy. We need more of these. But not if they’re going to be days like this when everything conspires against one. I spent a chunk of the day interrogating Googler Maps to work out a tour round London – and swearing about the Byzantine one-way systems. Then the day culminated in Noreen’s PC resolutely refusing to talk to the printer: it could see it, but not print to it. An hour of trying to fiddle the software ended with having to do an uninstall and reinstall. And after such a day, what to do but console oneself with well stuffed smoked salmon sandwiches and extra strong G&T. |
| Tue 30 |
If anything happened, I didn’t notice. |
| Wed 31 |
I’ll leave you this month with a photograph of a ear of grass from the garden I photographed. |
