I was looking on ebay recently at various ornamental hinges and escutcheons etc for tarting up the gates. Some of them are works of art. Are we losing all the skilled people who made these beautiful obects? Sad.
LG - they've officially announced that Scotland's had it's warmest year on record. I could have told them that for nowt! I said to someone at work the other day that we were having an English winter . If it gets to four or five that's a mild winter day here, but it's usually accompanied by wind and rain, so it's not as warm as that. It's often been 7 or 8 degrees or higherthis winter. We've had several bouts of heavy frost from October onwards, and we've had a couple of falls of snow, but nothing major compared to previous winters. It's made for a short winter, although we could have done with more snow for the hills!
Dove - I felt I earned an extra helping of raspberries with the porridge
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Thanks for the ideas for what to do with the brass bits. I'm strongly tempted to go back this afternoon for some little hinges... ...though I suspect I won't be able to resist other bits too...
Since 2019 I've lived in east Clare, in the west of Ireland.
We went to the Maire's funeral this morning. It was freezing, -9° in the village at 10am. Everyone gathered outside the Mairie for tributes and speeches then we walked down the road to the church, but the church is very small so a lot, including us, couldn't fit in. There were loudspeakers outside but they didn't work very well. I thought he would be buried in the village cemetery, but he is being cremated this afternoon, family only. He was such a nice man, been Maire since 1983, only 64 yrs old.
This evening we are going to an ecumenical service for Christian Unity Week in the French Protestant Temple. It's usually packed with everyone from the French Catholic bishop to the English C of E. Refreshments afterwards and lots of chatter (in French).
Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
Scenes of chaos at the airport, but everyone: passengers, ground staff, reps etc remained pretty calm under the circumstances and we left around 5pm. We had to stop to refuel at Fuertaventura and then landed at Gatwick at midnight.
We stopped with friends in Hants for a bit of sleep then headed off at 8am.
Hubby still a bit grumpy about the whole thing, but , on balance, glad we're out of it. Thanks again for the warm wishes and messages.
There were about 8 couples on our flight back who hadn't even been in the country for 24 hours before heading home. 2 honeymoon couples, one couple due to get married on Friday and another group there to celebrate a 50th birthday. At least we had a fortnight.
We'll hopefully get something back , from someone.
The holiday company had letters waiting for us at Gatwick saying they'll be in touch early next week about their " refund policy" ,if not, I suppose we need to go through our insurance.
This afternoon has been a non-event dealing with French bureaucracy but, on the way home we stopped at France Agricole to pick up some potting compost for my new bulbs and they had a lovely taupe coloured terracotta pot at half price and also sunflower hearts in the bird food section. First time I've seen those here or in Belgium.
Won't be going dancing. As requested, I left the organising to OH and he managed to walk us round 3 long sides of a big square od streets and boulevards before we found the prefecture on the last side about 500 yards from the car park. By then my broken toe was whimpering, loudly. Stupid Boy!
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
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Lovely Liri
I was looking on ebay recently at various ornamental hinges and escutcheons etc for tarting up the gates. Some of them are works of art. Are we losing all the skilled people who made these beautiful obects? Sad.
LG - they've officially announced that Scotland's had it's warmest year on record. I could have told them that for nowt! I said to someone at work the other day that we were having an English winter . If it gets to four or five that's a mild winter day here, but it's usually accompanied by wind and rain, so it's not as warm as that. It's often been 7 or 8 degrees or higherthis winter. We've had several bouts of heavy frost from October onwards, and we've had a couple of falls of snow, but nothing major compared to previous winters. It's made for a short winter, although we could have done with more snow for the hills!
Dove - I felt I earned an extra helping of raspberries with the porridge
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Topbird - so we did
So much went on last year I had it in my head thatOxburgh was 2015 
We'll have to do some research re snowdrop locations ... Anglesey Abbey certainly was lovely - you're right - the Winter Garden is gorgeous
Last edited: 19 January 2017 12:45:06
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Fairy - we have previously had snow in April!!!
Last edited: 19 January 2017 12:44:01
Thanks for the ideas for what to do with the brass bits. I'm strongly tempted to go back this afternoon for some little hinges...
...though I suspect I won't be able to resist other bits too... 
They are so pretty Liri.
It was -12° here at 8.15am.
We went to the Maire's funeral this morning. It was freezing, -9° in the village at 10am. Everyone gathered outside the Mairie for tributes and speeches then we walked down the road to the church, but the church is very small so a lot, including us, couldn't fit in. There were loudspeakers outside but they didn't work very well. I thought he would be buried in the village cemetery, but he is being cremated this afternoon, family only. He was such a nice man, been Maire since 1983, only 64 yrs old.
This evening we are going to an ecumenical service for Christian Unity Week in the French Protestant Temple. It's usually packed with everyone from the French Catholic bishop to the English C of E. Refreshments afterwards and lots of chatter (in French).
Right.. Home at last.
Scenes of chaos at the airport, but everyone: passengers, ground staff, reps etc remained pretty calm under the circumstances and we left around 5pm. We had to stop to refuel at Fuertaventura and then landed at Gatwick at midnight.
We stopped with friends in Hants for a bit of sleep then headed off at 8am.
Hubby still a bit grumpy about the whole thing, but , on balance, glad we're out of it.
Thanks again for the warm wishes and messages.
There were about 8 couples on our flight back who hadn't even been in the country for 24 hours before heading home. 2 honeymoon couples, one couple due to get married on Friday and another group there to celebrate a 50th birthday. At least we had a fortnight.
((Hosta and Lovely Hub)) so glad you're home safe and sound. Now wrap up warm - put an extra vest on or you'll catch a chill xx
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Welcome back, Hosta. Will you get your money back? You won't be coming to Dordogne in winter I think, it was -12° this morning.
We'll hopefully get something back , from someone.
The holiday company had letters waiting for us at Gatwick saying they'll be in touch early next week about their " refund policy" ,if not, I suppose we need to go through our insurance.
Welcome home hugs to warm you both up Hosta.
Liri - love those brass bits.
This afternoon has been a non-event dealing with French bureaucracy but, on the way home we stopped at France Agricole to pick up some potting compost for my new bulbs and they had a lovely taupe coloured terracotta pot at half price and also sunflower hearts in the bird food section. First time I've seen those here or in Belgium.
Won't be going dancing. As requested, I left the organising to OH and he managed to walk us round 3 long sides of a big square od streets and boulevards before we found the prefecture on the last side about 500 yards from the car park. By then my broken toe was whimpering, loudly. Stupid Boy!