A holiday in Southern Spain

We spent a holiday in June this year at The Finca el Cerrillo a restored 200 year old farmhouse situated high in the foothills of the Sierra Almijara region of southern Spain. A beautiful place to relax with friends new and old and like minded people.  we were a group of 15 people all local to Essex and the object of the holiday was to improve our painting and sketching skills.  We were also able to go sight seeing and walk the many trails in the area.  And if you forgot your sun hat well there were plenty here to choose from!  There were many corners and nooks which were an artists paradise, especially the Moorish courtyard which looked as if it had been standing there for years but had been designed and built by the owner

of the Finca.  We dined on the terrace in the evening with wonderful views over the mountainside and the warm balmy evenings well we  were a bit barmy when we had partaken of the delicious wine from the honesty bar, just sign out your bottle or your measure of spirit and it is all assigned to your bar bill. 

The Finca is a couple of miles from the nearest village and some evenings we were taken out to enjoy the ambiance of the locals, on this occasion there was Spanish entertainment laid on the square was ablaze with lights and music with TV camera men and entertainers locals

and visitors mingling together, these four likely lads were the Flamenco   dancers,  and so was this one,

    and here is the waiter totting up our bill.

Another day out we went to the Caves at Nerja, the largest caves in Europe they hold classical and pop concerts there the acoustics are so good this is just one example of the stalactites which are beautifully lit to show of the natural colours deposited over thousands of years. Nerja is also famous as a seaside town and has the famous Balcon de Europe like a short but very glamorous pier open air cafes and wonderful                     views.  Lots of sketching opportunities here and a chance to sit on the beach or drink a glass of wine.

On Sunday there was a festival going on in the National Park, the locals in there best clothes loaded the holy statues onto decorated carts and took them up into the mountains for   a picnic.

      Everyone seemed to have a good time and the horses were left to graze beside the river in

           the shade, a very peaceful setting

There are more photos in the Album, I hope you have enjoyed this little visit to Spain with me

Suki x

A Visit to London

It started out a beautiful day and we had been promising ourselves a visit it London for some time.  We took the train to the O2 and there we boarded the   Thames Clipper a super catamaran  commuter service which goes from the O2 to the Eye. By this time the weather had clouded over though it was not cold just cloudy and dull not what you want for photos on the Thames. We left the pier and started up towards the city.  The Fleet Air Arm were celebrating 100 years of service a so HMS Illustrious an air craft carrier was moored at Greenwich.  There was a fly past of helicopters over London at twelve noon.   It all looks pretty dull and gray doesn't it? Well I did my best to capture dramatic skies.  Well now we have some colour for you, we disembarked at the Tower of London, And these Fellers are The Yeoman  Warders more commonly known as Beef Eaters. Traditionally their duty is to guard the crown jewels but they are guides and make sure all is running smoothly with the visitors and dignitaries alike.    Here is an example the soldiers who guard the Tower are not allowed to move a muscle except in the execution of their duty, and the visitors take advantage of this and some quite unkindly.  A group of visitors were being quite rude and troublesome I was pleased to see a warder  take them to one side and read them the riot act        I think they all felt quite small as the tables were turned and everyone was looking at them!

This is the view from the Tower looking towards Tower Bridge as you can see the weather began to brighten up, and it was nearly time for home.  But one last jaunt for my camera,  I could see the Gherkin quite clearly from the river and from the Tower and as we walked towards it it kept disappearing behind other tall buildings, eventually we got there and here is one view of it still partly hiding. We walked on to the train station and sooooooo relieved to sit down, but it was a good day out I hope you have enjoyed it too

Suki x

Wildwood in May

May is the most beautiful time of the year, the dawn chorus wakes us earlier and earlier, and this year so far the weather has been kind to us.    The birds have all found suitable nesting places and are busy hatching their babies or feeding hungry young beaks with worms caterpillars and what ever else they can find.    The spring blossom and flowers are bursting out and this is why I want to take you for a walk in the Wildwood.   You may think it strange to have apple blossom in the woods but this is the first tree you see, we hare hoping

             to get a good crop this year.  We follow the path and here the bluebells unfold before you, they are as far as the eye can see and the fragrance hits you the light floral of the bluebells along with the sweet mossy smell of the woodland floor.  There many species of wild flowers here for all to see and        

At there best just now are the wild orchids, they are in a clearing which

       is quite difficult to get to and surrounded by trees and bluebells.

You must watch where you walk in the Wildwood for fear of crushing a           delicate flower or plant, if you are very quiet and still  you may spot one of these.  I will bring you more news of the Wildwood as the seasons change, I hope you have enjoyed your walk with me.

Suki x

The Wildwood in April

What has been happening in the Wildwood just recently?  Well Spring

   has well and truly arrived with the cheerful daffodils, and the shy and

retiring (like me) little wind flowers otherwise known as Wood Anemone.

My daughter gave me a bunch of Tulips and when I looked closely see what I found. She jumped out and ran away before I could catch her, I was lucky to get a picture as she doesn't often stay this still.

More lilies, which I love for their beauty and colour

A quick visit to Morgan's garden but he was nowhere to be seen, I spotted this beautiful flowering cherry tree.             On the way out there he was guarding the gate and with a friendly wave of his paw he howled his regards to Cherno!

Abbottsbury Swannery

Over the Easter break we went to visit my Brother BOB who lives in Dorset on the South Coast, We went to visit Abbottsbury, which is a truly amazing place, you can walk right up to the swans on their nests, the sanctuary is situated close to the Chesil Beach where there is plenty of room for them to fly in                    This impressive flapping of wings is by the young males who have not yet found a mate and they are signaling to the girls to show them how great they are.

I hope you liked your visit to a small part of the South Coast, join me again soon

Love Suki x

Morgan the Garden Supervisor

Here you can see that Morgan takes a very keen interest in what goes on in the garden, many large bamboos have     been divided and Morgan checks that the hole is large enough and no bones have been buried there by mistake.   More news on Morgan's activities as it comes in!!

Suki x

A new Friend

I have yet to discover his name but he is obviously a poser!

This was the first shot and he gave me a beautiful profile!

  He belongs to the gardeners at my friends house, I have seen him lots of times but with the nicer weather I was able to walk around the garden, more on this beauty later

Suki x 

Flask Seedlings

During our visit to the London Orchid show I bought some seedlings in flasks to grow on, I am either a glutton for hard work, or I like a challenge, I like to think it is the latter! Here is the flask when I first opened it the orchid is Aerides houlettiana and if you follow the link you will see what it should look like in a few years time.  I bought this seedling from a stand run by students from Writhlington School and if you follow the link you will see what an enterprising group they are.  I potted them up on Tuesday (the orchids not the students!) and they seem to have grown already, I took the opportunity to repot my other orchids at the same time, I have a large pot bound Cymbidium and a Slipper Orchid , the Cymbidium has just finished re-flowering so it seems according to the books a good time to repot.  The Slipper was in flower when I bought it but has never obliged since, so far both look good and are not suffering from shock.  While we were at the show I also bought  a  Parviflora – Lesser Tongued Orchid, which is supposed to be hardy and stay in the ground all year around, this cost £10 and there were about 20 plants contained in the flask, I think this was quickly out growing it’s container as some of the leaves looked very sad, how ever it seems to enjoy being potted on and has put on some growth.  I have no intention of putting it in the ground as it is like taking a £10 note and burying it in the garden never to be seen again, I will nurture and cosset it until it hopefully grows into a fine specimen. 

Here are some examples of the beautiful orchids on view here at the show,

   this one was awarded ‘best in show by an amateur grower’.

And this one I loved just because it is PINK

This blog is for my personal record, but happy to share it with anyone who like me is nutty about Orchids or just loves their sheer beauty, there will be further updates as time goes by and you can see how successful (or not) I have been

Suki x

Spring has arrived

Spring has arrived and last Saturday we made out first visit of the year to Warley place.  This is the remains of a garden which used to be owned by the Willmot family,who moved there in 1875 but it was the daughter   Ellen Anne who inherited in 1891 who really transformed the grounds into one of the most celebrated gardens in the country.   She soon made a name for herself and had many royal visitors and received RHS Medal of Honour in Queen Victoria’s Jubilee Year, 1897. The other was Gertrude Jekyll.  Sadly she spent all her money on the garden and died, in 1934, almost penniless.  The gardens were saved at the last moment from going under the builders Jack Hammer by a purchaser who allowed them to fall into disrepair but have now been leased to The Essex Naturalist Trust and every year they get better and better, we were a little late for the Snowdrops

   but there were still many to view, but the main reason for our visit was to see the daffodils, more glorious than ever before they spread like a golden carpet across meadows and between paths  with little stopping places here and there with seats for the weary!! One does not usually think of Essex as having fine hill top views but it does have its moments and here is one of them, a break in the trees  reveals a meadow full of daffodils and in the distance on a fine day you can see the Dome and Canary Wharf, about 20 miles away.    There are also a         couple couple of bird hides there with quite a bit of activity usually but this time I was only lucky enough to catch this Mallard showing off to her mate. This garden is worth a visit all the year around but Spring is probably the best, next month we have the bluebells and they are followed by a magnificent display of fox gloves so watch this space if you would like to see more, come and walk with me and meet Miss Ellen Wilmott and see her legacy

 

Suki x

A little angel fell to earth so I took her home and loved

her!

Suki x

I went to visit my friend in her new flat and stopped at the florists to buy her a plant, I so fell in love with it that I bought one for myself, clearly it                           had to have it’s photo taken.

But spring is on its way in the garden too, the hellebores are out and I caught this one on

    Wednesday morning after an overnight deluge. These beautiful hardy plants come in all colours, I have a beautiful dark red variety but with the present lighting I cannot get a decent shot of it however I will keep trying. The Snowdrops are nearly over now and making way for the daffodils, Spring is on its way we will all be glad to see the end of this long cold damp winter.

On a lighter note it’s daughter’s birthday tomorrow and she requested a Hedgehog cake!!! hello! 41 and you still want a hedgehog!! but I made it for her anyway!

It looks as if it is being beamed down from a space ship, well may be it comes from Europa, and is afraid of Ice wolves! 

Take care and follow your dreams

Suki x

Tropical Extravaganza at Kew

We made our first visit of the year to the Botanical Gardens at Kew this week. They are holding a ‘Tropical Extravaganza which will last until the beginning of  March, well worth a visit if you are in the area.         The Princess of Wales   greenhouse was full of beautiful Orchid displays.    Some were still being built as you can se here, what can I say about these beautiful flowers      I will let you make your own judgment the pictures  are all in the album!

A lovely week end to you all and enjoy Valentines Day

Love Suki x

I started Blogging on Spaces Live in November 2005 and below you will see my very first blog

Warning by Jenny Joseph

When I am old I shall wear purple

With a red hat which doesn't go.   and doesn't suit me.

And I shall spend my pension on brandy and summer gloves

And satin sandals.   and say we've no money for butter.

I shall sit down on the pavement when I'm tired

And gobble up samples in shops and press alarm bells

And run my stick along the public railings

And make up for the sobriety of my youth.

I shall go out in my slippers in the rain

And pick flowers in other people's gardens

And learn to spit.

You can wear terrible shirts and grow more fat

And eat three pounds of sausages at a go

or only bread and pickle for a week

And hoard pens and pencils and beer mats and things in boxes.

But now we must have clothes that keep us dry

And pay our rent and not swear in the street

And set a good example for the children.

We must have friends to dinner and read the papers.

But maybe I ought to practice a little now?

So people who know me are not too shocked and surprised

When suddenly I am old.   and start to wear purple.

Now 4 and a bit years on I still love this poem by Jenny Joseph

And as it is my Birthday on Saturday and I will be 167 years old I will celebrate by not wearing purple!!

Happy Valentines' to All

Love Suki x

Essex or St. Moritz?

All the Essex schools were closed on Tuesday, Why?  Not enough staff could get in or perhaps the heating had broken down?  I can’t remember ever missing school when the weather was bad, but then it was a long time ago!!  However we got called in for child care, and decided to take them to    South Weald Park, where the snow lay deep and soft and the gentle slopes made ideal toboggan runs.

You can see the overview of the park this shot is taken from the site of the old house which was taken down in the 1950s to avoid paying death duties!        This is all that remains and is the entrance to the house with a staircase up either side great fun to play there at any time of the year! as you can see quite a good slope which got quite fast, and if you look carefully you can see Rory’s blood soaked jacket but not enough damage to stop the fun!

Racing start!  Do you go faster with your eyes closed or with your mouth          

open? 

The deer looked on with amusement benefitting from the extra  

visitors and carrots being handed out.  Now what I like about this picture is the way the light is reflected in the ice, the ducks are out of focus but who cares by the time Live Writer has finished with my pictures you won’t even notice!

Two take a tumble 

  Brilliant this speed blur in PS

And now heading for McD’s Honestly a Big Mac tastes quite nice when you are hungry

     And lastly I think I have found the next Christmas card!!

I hope you all have enjoyed the snow as much as we have but I am glad to say the schools are open today!

I got caught by a speed camera just before Christmas and have to attend a Speed Awareness Course this afternoon, watch this space and I will tell you all abut it!!

Suki x

Cold here in the Wildwood

Suki x

Who’s got control?

Last year I bought a remote control for my camera, I got it at a good price from an Ebay shop, I took it to my grandsons birthday party and thought I would share with you the fun everyone had with it. This is Russell our daughters husband, see how much he loves his Mother-in-Law! 

Here we are all together but can you guess who has got control?  Russell again he thinks he has everything under control!           Now this is our daughter Angela and I can tell you she does have everything under control.            Auntie Peggy! pillar of society and advocate of good manners with her tongue out!! Pumpkin Pete seriously influencing the youth of today!        Rory, Birthday boy seriously influenced by his granddad.                 Fun time Suki totally out of control, here with Hannah in control.

So surprising such a little thing (as a remote control) can give so much fun! I got this little gizmo from

 http://stores.ebay.co.uk/John-Camera-Store

 I hope you enjoyed Rory’s Birthday party I will be back again soon!

Suki x

Well three blogs in 2 days!  This is for Kenny who asked for a blue lily!

Here is the same Lily with a bit more ZING!!

SUKI X

Just to let you know that I am still here! It wont be long before I am blogging again regularly, till then my I hope you enjoy this flower

Suki x

Wishing you al a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New year

from me and all my family.

Also Peace Health Love and Happiness

Suki x

From Niagara we took a flight from Buffalo Airport to Boston where we collected our car, although anxious about driving on the wrong side of the road Peter did well and we found the Toll road route 90 having paid the toll right through to West Stockbridge at the very end we then exited through the wrong gate, unable to hand in our receipt and on returning home found we had a ‘Traffic Violation’ oh well something else to brag about!!  Our Hotel her was the Shaker Mill Inn a small B & B run by   Bob and Mary and their beautiful little dog Annie

from here we drove around some of the most beautiful New England countryside, and witnessed the changing colours of the Fall (Autumn as we know it LOL)     We also visited a Shaker village who were celebrating Halloween, and viewed some of their exhibits but always the star of the show was the colours of Nature all around us.

Eventually we were on our way to Boston and this is where the ‘FUN’ began! We had a Sat-Nav but there are so many tunnels, underpasses and bridges in Boston that it was most difficult to get around twice we saw our hotel and were whisked right passed it in the fast lane!! Well we eventually arrive and the wonderful man on reception upgraded our room to the top floor with this wonderful view of Boston.  From Boston we visited The landing site of the Pilgrim Fathers, originally inhabited by Native American Indians, this is a view from the top of the church in a room where they kept the canon!    we also visited a replica of the Mayflower docked in Plymouth Harbor The following day we went to Cape Cod and visited Chatham. This is a most beautiful place, but remember we are now outside the holiday season very few people around soft white sand blue sea and lagoons inhabited by sea birds, the light  was absolutely perfect for photography,   the weather was so warm for the end of October.

The last day was spent Whale watching,   we were not so lucky with the weather!  It tipped down with rain and and a gale blew and the little boat rocked this way and that,    but we saw some whales, the pictures are not as good as I hoped but that's an excuse to go back and take some more.

Thank you for accompanying me whilst I remember my holiday in the USA, if you have enjoyed it please visit again

Love Suki x