Halfpom

Struck down...

I was living on borrowed time anyway given that the media reports a swine flu pandemic....I managed to dodge it in New York when the news first broke but have been struck down in Worcester, UK. I spent most of last week in bed due to the dreaded virus.....symptoms are a massive headache, temperature, a few aches & pains and just feeling as though you could sleep forever & a day which is just about what I did ....sleep & then more sleep. Back at work now but still feeling a bit wobbly. Spent the weekend in Nottingham being nursed back to health by the lovely Carla & Andrew....chicken soup anyone?

On Saturday I thought I was well on the way to recovery so we attempted an excursion to Newark nr Nottingham...a gentle wander around the market, a spot of tea and then another ramble along the 'Riverside Walk' which just about finished me so had to take to my bed again & miss a birthday dinner (sorry....).

 

Some interesting doorways down a side street....I like that...a bit of the old with some contemporary elements..nice!

 

I think this is the Corn Exchange.....brain a bit addled by this stage...apologies to Newark if I'm wrong.

Homegrown cornflowers for the sickly...on a beautifully embroidered cloth...

Thursday evening..

The weather had been okay all day but at about five o'clock the heavens opened and you could just see that the rain had set in for the evening. When I got home I found that even the chooks had retreated to the hen house in disgust...

 

What to do.....I have some bananas that need using up and making banana bread seems to be the perfect antidote to the depressing weather.

Working in a strange kitchen without my normal recipe and kit is a bit of a challenge but eventually it comes out of the oven. A little flatter than normal but am told it tastes delicious....

The Egg Squad..

Time to meet the Egg Squad....at the moment things are quietish on the egg front but I do get at least one every day. This is the gang.....

 

There are 2 Araucana's which lay the most beautiful blue eggs - about the size of a small hen's egg.

  

and then only 1 Maran (for dark brown eggs) - sadly her little friend is in chicken heaven...

 

and last, but certainly not least, the 2 LBJ's who rule the roost....and lay your normal bog standard brown eggs...

Sunnycroft

On Sunday I started the day with a proper English breakfast - bacon and yes, you guessed it....

 

Please note how nice & plump the whites are.....makes you wonder just how old those supermarket eggs are, doesn't it?? Even if you buy organic eggs they never look like this!!

After that I made my way to Wellington near Telford to meet up with cousin Carla & hubbie Andrew. Andrew's family had, at one time, owned a house called Sunnycroft which is now managed by the National Trust & NT had invited family members of previous owners up for a special day and as aangenaaide familie I got invited too. The weather was perfect and after a lovely lunch at The Old Orleton (thanks Janet & Gerry) we had a wander around the lovely house & grounds of Sunnycroft which was living up to it's name this particular Sunday..

 

Coming from a family where my great grandmother, grandmother and great aunt were good at embroidery I particularly enjoyed an exhibition of work by Joan Lander, who was Sunnycroft's last owner and who worked on the embroidery of the Queen's Coronation robes for the coronation in 1953. She has quite inspired me although I don't know if my eyesight can cope with such small stictching!!

101 Chickens for Beginners

I'm house & chicken sitting for a week - initially a bit nervous of the huge responsibility of caring for their five feathered friends (what if a fox gets them??) but after a crash course in chicken husbandry from Katie I'm now well on my way. On Saturday - my first day at the house - I got this little haul...thanks ladies!!

 

It is lovely being in the countryside....just look at the views (when it isn't raining)...

Bonny Scotland

I always love coming north of the border....it has a much more European feel than England. Perth, where we were staying, is beautiful with some lovely independent shops (always a bonus with me) as well as all the high street chains and some excellent restaurants. Some of our favorite eateries this time included The Manzil (Indian), Cafe Breizh (fab French) and Paco's Retaurant.

We came up for the Scottish Game Fair - heaven on earth for all you hunting, shooting, fishing types out there. The setting just below Scone Palace (pronounced Skoon) is fantastic - right on the river Tay.

   

Okay, so the weather wasn't fab on the first afternoon but it cleared up nicely for the next couple of days. So much for weatherman Pete's predictions....

One of the highlights of the show this year was The Sheep Show (no pic unfortunately as he was always mobbed by enthusiastic punters & I was laughing so hard that camera shake became an issue). It was brilliant and well worth seeing if he comes to a county show near you (dates & venues are on their website). It is educational but with typical Kiwi humour (ie very rude aimed at the adults but which goes way over the heads of the younger audience). 

Every day the show is opened by a traditional highland pipe band - always makes me go weak at the knees (men in skirts - how could it not!!!). The photo is of the Blairgowrie, Rattray and District Pipe Band playing on Saturday morning.

 

Check out the leopard skin on the drummer - maybe some connection to the South African Rattay's of Fugitive's Drift???

 

Also on the daily programme is the Elaine Hill Sheep Dog Display - mostly smooth & rough coated border collies but also a bearded collie / border collie cross herding geese, Indian runner ducks and ducklings. Very funny as the birds don't make it easy!!!

 

 

The Scottish Game Fair really is a great day out for the whole family - gun dog demonstrations, airplane flying displays, terrier racing (you could die laughing at these little chaps - they are so keen to catch that rabbit that they plow through all the obstacles and cause absolute mayhem), falconry & ferret displays and last but certainly not least Clann an Drumma (an unusual Scottish band using unique pipe & drumming combinations). Quite a primal performance - do listen to them here .

On the road again tomorrow..

I'm driving up to Perth in Scotland tomorrow for the next 5 days.......and just look at the weather forecast......slightly damp (and that's English understatement at it's best).

Last updated at 08:35 on Wednesday 1st July

All times are BST (Europe/London, GMT+0100)

Thursday day weather

• Heavy Rain Shower
• Max: 19°C 66°F
• Sunrise: 04:28

Friday day weather

• Heavy Rain Shower
• Max: 16°C 61°F
• Sunrise: 04:29

Saturday day weather

• Heavy Rain Shower
• Max: 17°C 63°F
• Sunrise: 04:30

Sunday day weather

• Heavy Rain Shower
• Max: 16°C 61°F
• Sunrise: 04:31

I think that means I should pack my wellies!! Or maybe I can borrow some of those full on waders that fisherman wear - the ones that come up to your armpits.... 

Welcome back...

My predictions of cloud and rain were well founded when I landed at the airport. Do not believe the weather you are seeing on the television for Wimbledon is true for the rest of the country.....however, it is warm. That combination of heat and moisture is just what the doctor ordered when it comes to plants.....a real hothouse effect and everything on the allotment is just loving it. The artichokes are reaching for the sky...

 

and the poppies are going mad....

 

For all non-British out there...this is what an English allotment looks like..basically a plot you hire from your local council/municipality (although this can be quite hard due to inefficiency of said local council)on an annual basis where you can plant all sorts of veggies & fruit. Some allotments also allow you to keep smaller livestock such as bees and chickens.

and walking walk to the house we passed some lovely gardens - aren't the hollyhocks superb?

and then back at the house for sundowners were called for...

Fresh Goods Market - Stellenbosch..

By now you all know my penchant for a good market. Another one to tick off (and go back to in the future) is the  Stellenbosch Fresh Goods Market at Bosman's Crossing behing the Oude Libertas theatre. An amazing vibe....everybody chilling out in the winter sunshine with steaming latte's or cappuccino's and tucking into their preferred breakfast...from suchi to crepes filled with Nutella & bananas. No prizes for guessing which option I chose.... Nice music too!

 

 

And then back home for one last braai with the family! I can't believe my 6 weeks in South Africa are nearly over...& i've still got so much I want to do.

My new nephew (okay nearly new) is displaying worrying tendencies - the change that came over him the moment someone points a camera in his direction...definite camera tart....maybe practising for later in life???

 

And his big sister is no slouch either..

Look what I found in Barrydale..

 

Fynbos (proteas, leucodendrons and need to look up the fluffy cream flowers) at it's finest and all for ZAR 35....bargain!