Half term break

Had a little trip away this half term to Fuerterventura, our first time to any of the Canary islands. It was lovely to get some warm autumn sunshine. We hired a car for the week, so that we weren't tied to just one part of the island, although public transport was excellent.
The scenery was absolutely superb and changed virtually every time you turned a corner.


Lichens covered the rocks like a green carpet!














Most of the centre of the island is barren and mountainous.




The west coast was really rugged, and the waves were great for surfing or just getting battered!






We were based in the East and so witnessed the sunrise daily as it was a very sociable 8.00.

What a week

It's been a horrible week!
AND it wasn't because of bumping into Jamie at the fish counter in Sainsburys on a Sunday morning.
My son started High School last week, so we are all living through the traumas of his every emotion of trying to cope with a million class changes in a day, let alone find the required classroom, the huge quantities of homework everynight and making sure he has the right books for the right day and looks as presentable as I can get him when he walks out of the door at 8.15 every morning. (Now I know what they went through while I was studying!)
Or my husbands problems of working for a large organisation which just seems to build up massive piles of cr*p to throw at him every now and then (and far too frequently), and especially last week.
NO! But the absolute crescendo for last week was that 'Fish' (the gold goldfish) died last Thursday. My son was bereft. As were we, as he had been a family member for some years. So days of tearful eyes and woeful hearts, my son decided that a new friend for 'Bear' (the comet and sole survivor) might ease the pain. So on Sunday we purchased a new goldfish.
Great, we thought, everything back to normal.
The next day Bear starts to act a bit huffy. We thought he was just being a Thespian and he would get used to his new companion. The pair of them just skulked at the bottom of the tank looking thoroughly miserable.
Anyway, the next day he perked up, which confirmed our earlier suspicions. Then at tea time he gasped his last breath and died!
WHY?
So yet another evening of tears and 'why am I so cursed?' from my son, as well as one of the most violent thunderstorms of the year, which knocked Sky off, Vodafone and then finally the power.
To end this great tale, tonight it is Friday night, the start of the weekend, which will hopefully be tranquil and serene. The remaining fish (now called 'Fish 3') is looking well, so far, and has stopped skulking. We have promised my son that we will get another comet, BUT only if Fish reamins healthy over the next few weeks.
Fingers crossed.

Just back from Prague

Had another break away, this time to Prague. Lovely city! Been trying to get there for the last three years but other city breaks have always pipped this one to the post!
Anyway, despite flight cancellations and terrorist threats we made it. Our hotel was just off Wencelas Square, which isn't a square but more of a promenade, but perfectly located.

The astronomical clock, in the Old Town, chimes on the hour and twelve apostles pass by the two top windows, attracting crowds by the hundreds. I was a little disappointed that that was all that happened. Anyway the clock tower dates back to the 15th century.

The main bridge across the river is the Charles bridge, of stone construction and very ornate, as well as full of tourists and sellers. Its the one with all of the arches! Sixteen in total.

The architecture was amazing. Alot of the buildings have been given face lifts, with the money generated from joining the EU. Alot of the suburbs are alot less glam.


















The finish appears to be sandblasted plaster - the darker being the rough exposed finish. Must have been stenciled as its so precise?

From Prague castle the views were stunning. I'm not sure if this was a cemetry or a memorial sculpture, as apparently the Czech are buried standing up due to lack of space!

Finally a 'funky' building, called the dancing building.

Can't imagine why? But very innovative!

Art exhibition at Michelham Priory

Following my recent visit to Michelham Priory, I thought I would enter the art exhibition, which starts on the 29th August in the Great Barn. The theme is the Priory and its grounds, so I knocked out a couple of watercolours.

However, on finding out more information you have to pay to register, and then your paintings go up for sale. But with the cost of mounting and framing I felt that my meagre efforts were not worth enough in value to make the whole exercise worthwhile.

So instead, for it not to be a total waste of time, I am posting my own private exhibition!




I think I'll go to the exhibition, to see what the standard is like, and then maybe next year?

A mini trip to Belgium

Popped over to Belgium last week for a few days break (from being on holiday!). It was our first city(ies) break with our 11 year old, Reece. So a test for all. We went to Ghent first which was lovely, stayed there for two nights but popped over to Antwerp for the day, then finished off staying in Brugges, but had a day trip to Ypres.
Considering its so close to home, I can't believe we've never been before, and the cities are so close to each other.
We found Brugges very touristy, and full of tourists, causing large queues, whereas Gent and Antwerp were much quieter.
The architecture was lovely. Some piccys:-


These were taken from a boat trip around Gent.


The Town Hall at Antwerp.

And the tourists of Brugges (excluding ourselves of course!).

Some grassy plants

Went shopping at Coblands a little while ago. Met up with Richard who very kindly showed me around and I was totally seduced by the grasses. They were stunning on mass. I managed to fit as many as I could into my car, with roof up as its terribly turbulent on the back seat, and I would have had to have driven back from Tonbridge at about 15mph!
Anyway I've managed to get them all planted and they look fab!

Stipa gigantea, is so airy and transparent. Excellent to look through, so a good front to middle of the border plant.

Deschampsia cespitosa 'Goldtau' forms a great, dense backdrop, framing my new Cercis canadensis perfectly.

Calamagrotis x acutiflora 'Karl Foerster' is really linear and its seed heads have seasonal changes.

This one had seeded itself in a pot, but is actually an annual called Hordeum jubatum, and I got it for free (but will save some seeds for Richard!!)

Graduates in the daft hats!

We finally made it! Me and some of my fellow long sufferers. Today was the finale in the four year long course...Graduation! It was great to catch up with everyone! Despite searing temperatures in black gowns it was a great occasion. Good luck to everyone in following their chosen career path. I'm taking a little while to suss mine out, and in the meantime I'm enjoying this fabby weather.
Here is a photo of some of my marras on the great day. Stay in touch everyone. K