A very nice week with some decent weather for a change. Yes, although it’s hard to believe, we’ve had some days this week which could almost be considered summer-like. Temperatures “soaring” into the low 20s (high 60s to low 70s), a generally gentle breeze with mainly sunny skies with the occasional fluffy cloud. After the rain and cold weather we’ve been enduring all year (it seems), it’s made a pleasant change.
We’ve also had some lovely visitors at the end of the week and an excellent outing to the theatre in Stratford. What could be better?
Our good and dear friends Dave & Sue Walton along with Sue & Stuart Kelly-Brown came up for a couple of nights. It’s always so much fun when they visit. (And, of course, I get to eat lots and lots of very tasty food whenever they come.)
Friday morning we took them all off to visit Coton Manor Gardens near the Northamptonshire/Leicester border, about half an hour from ours. It’s a lovely, privately owned garden and nursery which we’ve visited many times before but which is always a nice morning/afternoon outing, especially in the different seasons. Friday was a lovely, sunny day and the wander around the gardens was excellent, as always.
This beautiful garden at Coton Manor occupies a hillside position extending down from the 17th century manor house constructed of mellow Northamptonshire stone. The 10-acre garden has luxuriant borders that will delight the plant enthusiast while everyone will enjoy the garden’s charm and special atmosphere, with colour and interest throughout the seasons. Beyond the garden is a magical five-acre bluebell wood and a wildflower meadow.
I’m always impressed with what they achieve in the gardens with only three full-time gardening staff (and some volunteers from time to time).
Back home for a quick dog walk and off to Stratford for dinner at the Encore and then the evening performance of The Merry Wives of Windsor which was terrific. It’s a funny play, of course, but this production was especially good and the chap playing Sir John Falstaff was made for the part. I don’t think, in all the years we’ve been going to Stratford, we’ve ever enjoyed a play which generated so much laughter. I think the atmosphere of hilarity was encouraged by a group of about twenty young women who clearly were (a) well-lubricated and (b) acquainted with the lad who played Master Fenton (who ends up eloping with Anne Page).
And finally, breakfast on the patio – two mornings in a row! (Sorry about the shadows – too much sun)!
And finally, finally, just a few more photos of some of the glorious flowers in Penelope’s garden.
Meanwhile, keep happy, keep smiling, keep exercising, be good, be careful, and keep safe. And be gentle to wasps and bees.
Lots of love to you all,
Greg