Those are old pictures of past common ridings Pat. This years starts on Wed night with ladies night then ends on Sunday with the Final fling. Not going to see my bed much.
Much excitement folks. When I opened the door to the polytunnel, there was a grass snake lurking on the edge of one of the "beds" where I have waterlilies. He scurried up over the edge and into the water.
I've never seen one here before, so I'm very happy about that.
Well I can probably beat being sick on the sofa. I was sick on HRH front door steps, at Highgrove house.
Amazing how fast a buggy was dispatched to pick me up and whisk me back to the restaurant area, out of the way.
Nightmare journey there. A two hour each way journey took five hours each way.
A man decided to climb a gantry on the M1 on Sunday afternoon, and was there until 5pm last night, so the M1 was closed in both directions from 23a to 22. That of course caused trouble at the connection with the M42, where the download festival at Castle Donington was turning out. Basically the east Midlands was at Gridlock. we went A38 to Birmingham, then managed to pick up the M42 and M5. We stopped at Strensham services to use the facilities, a place I normally avoid. Because of queues, we had a costa coffee and a sandwich each, then pressed on. The west Midland seems to be cone city. Roadworks everywhere. I must buy shares in the company that makes traffic cones.
We arrived at Highgrove,went in the tradesmans entrance, got security checked,warned to leave cameras and phones in the car, and then grouped for the tour. The sun had even tried to come out and the rain stayed away.
I have to say the garden is beautiful. His delphiniums are 8 ft high,and he has hundreds. The cottage garden is looking gorgeous, which you would expect at this time of year. Lots of golden leaved Philadelphus in flower. Over the thyme walk past the topiary, we got to the terrace area where a cedar that had honeyfungus has been transformed into a sculpture to echo the church spire at Tetbury, and I had a sudden wave of dizziness. I sat down on a wall. Guide was very worried, said I had gone white as a sheet,did I need help?. A minute or two and the dizziness went and we pressed on. The bird feeders over the pristine hostas are a nice touch. The terrace garden adjacent to the house we were not allowed in but could look at from outside. Four large olive trees, and pots containing Salvia patens in full bloom. Lovely splash of colour.
The rose garden has been ripped out, roses do not do well because the air is too good, they get riddled with blackspot. It had been planted with aquilegias, lots of large yellow lupins and more 8 ft delphiniums.
We moved around to the front door, to see the wildflower meadow with the orchids in, and then I was sick as a dog on the front door step. I was dispatched back to base, mum continued the tour. I continued to deteriorate, needing the facilities again, and being given water. The lady looking after me was very good, but when I started shaking, she was getting ready to call an ambulance. Hot water with highgrove oganic honey in seemed to stop that, I was running on empty by this time and I think my blood sugar level must have been through the floor. An hour later, when mum had walked two miles around the garden, the tour arrived back for supper. Mum saw the stumpery, the childrens tree house, the acre walled kitchen garden with lettuces the size of footballs, and the rhodos that grow on a stripe of acid soil that just one part of the 15 acre garden has.
Pimms on the terrace was served. The gift shop was open, and the plants in the plant area were excellent. We were served salmon and tiny new potatoes and mixed veg out of the garden, followed by a rich chocolate torte with cherries in a sauce.I couldn't eat much, but the quality was excellent. One lady on our table has been four times, and was telling us that the menu has been different every time,depending on what is in season. Tea and coffee was served and then we left for home, quite late, just as it was getting dark.
The M5 was shut, detours were signposted, traffic slowed until we came to a flood. Big lorries were pushing through, up to the
Anyway to summarise. Nightmare journey around the West Midlands. Floods, cone city, detours on detours, roads closed with no detour and not a toilet from Birmingham to Derby, where we ended up in Macdonalds at 2 am.
Nightmare journeys!!!! I'm glad that you were able to see some of Highgrove and that your mum could continue the tour. Hope you feel lots better today.
Oh my goodness Fidget. What a shame. I hope you're feeling a lot better today. Lots of flat coke and the odd paracetamol for you my lady. At least now you have an excuse to go back again....if you can face it.
Anyway its a good excuse to go again, but I may book a hotel and stay overnight I think, for an evening tour. I thought, a two hour journey and we would be back just after midnight.
At least I didnt flood the car. In the middle of the floods was a car with water past the sills, his hazards going, and lorries creating a bow wave washing over the bonnet. That was the point I turned around to find another route.
Half a tank of petrol and two hours or risk having to buy a new car... no contest really.Of course hubby said I had gone completely the wrong way, I should have done Evesham to Coventry to Leicester to Nottingham. Next time I'll take his car with the sat nav.
Posts
Those are old pictures of past common ridings Pat. This years starts on Wed night with ladies night then ends on Sunday with the Final fling. Not going to see my bed much.
Bushman
I will try to behave Honest Pat
Morning all.
Hazel, I'm sorry to hear you had such sad news last night.
Still sofa surfing this morning, but feeling a bit better....hopefully the rest of the sofa surfers are too!
Blue skies peeking through the clouds here, no rain yet either. Will resist gardening this morning though, I have work to be getting on with.
Much excitement folks. When I opened the door to the polytunnel, there was a grass snake lurking on the edge of one of the "beds" where I have waterlilies. He scurried up over the edge and into the water.
I've never seen one here before, so I'm very happy about that.
Having a cuppa then off to work
Well I can probably beat being sick on the sofa. I was sick on HRH front door steps, at Highgrove house.
Amazing how fast a buggy was dispatched to pick me up and whisk me back to the restaurant area, out of the way.
Nightmare journey there. A two hour each way journey took five hours each way.
A man decided to climb a gantry on the M1 on Sunday afternoon, and was there until 5pm last night, so the M1 was closed in both directions from 23a to 22. That of course caused trouble at the connection with the M42, where the download festival at Castle Donington was turning out. Basically the east Midlands was at Gridlock. we went A38 to Birmingham, then managed to pick up the M42 and M5. We stopped at Strensham services to use the facilities, a place I normally avoid. Because of queues, we had a costa coffee and a sandwich each, then pressed on. The west Midland seems to be cone city. Roadworks everywhere. I must buy shares in the company that makes traffic cones.
We arrived at Highgrove,went in the tradesmans entrance, got security checked,warned to leave cameras and phones in the car, and then grouped for the tour. The sun had even tried to come out and the rain stayed away.
I have to say the garden is beautiful. His delphiniums are 8 ft high,and he has hundreds. The cottage garden is looking gorgeous, which you would expect at this time of year. Lots of golden leaved Philadelphus in flower. Over the thyme walk past the topiary, we got to the terrace area where a cedar that had honeyfungus has been transformed into a sculpture to echo the church spire at Tetbury, and I had a sudden wave of dizziness. I sat down on a wall. Guide was very worried, said I had gone white as a sheet,did I need help?. A minute or two and the dizziness went and we pressed on. The bird feeders over the pristine hostas are a nice touch. The terrace garden adjacent to the house we were not allowed in but could look at from outside. Four large olive trees, and pots containing Salvia patens in full bloom. Lovely splash of colour.
The rose garden has been ripped out, roses do not do well because the air is too good, they get riddled with blackspot. It had been planted with aquilegias, lots of large yellow lupins and more 8 ft delphiniums.
We moved around to the front door, to see the wildflower meadow with the orchids in, and then I was sick as a dog on the front door step. I was dispatched back to base, mum continued the tour. I continued to deteriorate, needing the facilities again, and being given water. The lady looking after me was very good, but when I started shaking, she was getting ready to call an ambulance. Hot water with highgrove oganic honey in seemed to stop that, I was running on empty by this time and I think my blood sugar level must have been through the floor. An hour later, when mum had walked two miles around the garden, the tour arrived back for supper. Mum saw the stumpery, the childrens tree house, the acre walled kitchen garden with lettuces the size of footballs, and the rhodos that grow on a stripe of acid soil that just one part of the 15 acre garden has.
Pimms on the terrace was served. The gift shop was open, and the plants in the plant area were excellent. We were served salmon and tiny new potatoes and mixed veg out of the garden, followed by a rich chocolate torte with cherries in a sauce.I couldn't eat much, but the quality was excellent. One lady on our table has been four times, and was telling us that the menu has been different every time,depending on what is in season. Tea and coffee was served and then we left for home, quite late, just as it was getting dark.
The M5 was shut, detours were signposted, traffic slowed until we came to a flood. Big lorries were pushing through, up to the
just lost half a page of typing
Anyway to summarise. Nightmare journey around the West Midlands. Floods, cone city, detours on detours, roads closed with no detour and not a toilet from Birmingham to Derby, where we ended up in Macdonalds at 2 am.
Home at 3 30.am.
Lazy day for me today.
Nightmare journeys!!!!
I'm glad that you were able to see some of Highgrove and that your mum could continue the tour. Hope you feel lots better today.
Puking on the royal doorstep
Your claim to fame.
Oh my goodness Fidget. What a shame. I hope you're feeling a lot better today. Lots of flat coke and the odd paracetamol for you my lady. At least now you have an excuse to go back again....if you can face it.
At last I didn't get locked up in the Tower.
Anyway its a good excuse to go again, but I may book a hotel and stay overnight I think, for an evening tour. I thought, a two hour journey and we would be back just after midnight.
At least I didnt flood the car. In the middle of the floods was a car with water past the sills, his hazards going, and lorries creating a bow wave washing over the bonnet. That was the point I turned around to find another route.
Half a tank of petrol and two hours or risk having to buy a new car... no contest really.Of course hubby said I had gone completely the wrong way, I should have done Evesham to Coventry to Leicester to Nottingham. Next time I'll take his car with the sat nav.