Some pink rose pictures to cheer...

Roses always cheer me up. In fact I think I am going to go and buy me a bunch today. White I think from the florist; nice and expensive!
Here are some pictures of roses from Nymans (again!) from our June visit.
Enjoy and go buy some roses...

Rose Sorbet

When I was a little girl I loved orange sorbet. It would be scooped out of plastic tubs from the ice cream cabinet in the local sweet shop. 'Lemonade Sparkles' and 'Orange Maid' lollies - those were the days.

The roses I saw yesterday match this memory of bright sorbet colours. Mango, peach, raspberry all mingled in one delicious image in the Nymans Rose Garden.

Enjoy...

This one would have to be strawberries and cream  ice-cream.

Books, sunshine and flowers...Summer.

Today we have been to Nymans and what a beautiful morning. Looking up ...

The sky was so blue you could be mistaken we were in England. Take a look at this tree below. It is called a Trachycarpus Fortunei and looks like one of those palm tree umbrellas I imagine on the beaches of the Caribbean. The trunk was almost furry but I expect if it was touched it would be spiky. A very unusual sight and one we had not noticed before. That's the beauty of these gardens here; they evolve.

The rock garden area has come on well since our visit earlier in the spring but the show-stopper as ever had to be the rose garden. In full bloom and inviting; I could sit there for hours in my imagination. So many species it is somewhat intoxicating. 

Another bonus today - two bookshops. The Potting Shed had been set aside today for donations for their bargain books, whilst the other little bookshop sells with a more eclectic collection of second hand books . We found a great little local history book and I got a great novel for a pound. There are even collectable editions there now. Take a look at their website page at http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/nymans/eating-and-shopping/. 

The gift shop has some lovely ideas - I got a few bits including two stones; one for me, one for my daughter. I chose 'Hope' and she chose 'Happy'. The stone attracted me by it's coolness and calming aura on such a hot day. I love it and it was a bargain for only two pounds. It's amazing what you can find at these places. Whatever you do if you visit - you must eat cake! I can highly recommend their scones, lemon drizzle and carrot cupcakes. 

I will post some more rose pictures later once I have decided which ones - so many to choose from. Sending more sunny days...

Pictures - Polesden Lacey

We are lucky members of the National Trust and have been now for many years; for which we are grateful. It gets us out of the house and provides beautiful walks, historical education and some amazing breath-taking views that kind ancestors of this country have passed onto the public.

I can highly recommend this as maybe a gift for a loved one or a gift to yourself and family. It is worth it; the only further cost then is tea and cakes; which I have to say are my downfall... You have to treat yourself though don't you; otherwise life is not worth living.You can read more about membership here

Lambing season at the Polesden Lacey fields

I thought I'd share these photos. On Sunday, there was a vintage Bentley car collection on view down by the house. Unexpected and a nice surprise for many. The cars were decked out and sparkling. Picnic baskets as per vintage times; left on the back seats added a special feel to the display - especially as it was set outside the front door of Mrs Greville's front door.

I can just imagine sports cars pulling up for parties and picnics ; I would have loved to be living like that in those days.

Many people were having picnics on the large lawn in front of the house; children running down the hills with delight. Very British or English scene; I prefer to say. There is more information about Polesden Lacey on the National Trust website here .

Looking up through a huge tree at the entrance. Sun filtering rays captured.

Beach-comber

Last Friday we visited Worthing on the South Coast. We love it there and go there quite a few times a year. It is not busy like Brighton and we got a parking space on the coast road amazingly easily (well, we did get there at 9.30am - a mean feat with a fourteen year old I can tell you !) It was free parking too being a Bank Holiday - it was lucky all round!

The sea was quite calm and it had the same effect on us too. There is something magical about the seaside to me. Maybe it is because of my love for holidays there as a child or just a place to escape to in my mind. I picked up many character observations on my travels that day. Maybe to use for writing; maybe not. I am yet undecided. Perhaps I should try 'beach-combing' my mind as I cannot focus this week; cannot decide to leave something out of a piece or add it in... I dislike editing sometimes. It's knowing when to 'let it go'...

I took this picture. The husband sees it as just a load of dead seaweed. I think it is beautiful for some strong reason as I spy shells, white chalky pebbles and sponges all mixed up. I love the colours of the stones and the glistening shells opened up to the sky.

I have been reading Iris Murdoch books after being enthralled by her husband's biography as noted in my previous post in March (My Current Reading). She too loved stones and the sea. I love her use of language. When I first started A Fairly Honourable Defeat, I was confused but the story unravels to a surprising ending. It is a story of various aspects of love and how it can mess up so many lives. That's how I read it anyhow.


I am about to start her book the sea, the sea (Murdoch,1999,[1978]). I've been finding these Vintage Series books in excellent quality too at my local Oxfam Bookshop; another of my regular favourite places. There must be another person who likes her work too. I have returned the said other for the shop to make some more cash from it. See my Life Poetry page for my poem on my 'book' philosophy.  I must finish my library book too and MUST get on with my assessments...next week; next week... ;D

References:
A Fairly Honourable Defeat, (Murdoch, I., (1975 [1999]), London,Vintage (Random House).
the sea, the sea, (Murdoch, I., (1978 [1999]), London, Vintage (Random House).


Here are some photos of the day at the beach last week.

Seagull posing - close up.

A little collection I made - I left it there for someone else to find...

That seagull again - what a poser!

National Trust / Weather - Spring is Here!

We went to the fantastic gardens at Nymans and Wakehurst Place on Sunday. They were heaving with people and we only just managed to scrape into a place in the car-park at Wakehurst...

It was beautiful. As I have said before Nymans is our favourite National Trust place to visit. Judging by the number of cars queing when we left at about 11.30am so did everyone else love it. Lots of coffee and cakes with a lunch thrown in - a lovely way to spend a spring day. My phone camera managed to snap a few shots but then died on me. I am not lucky with gadgets - I seem to have some aura of messing them up. Same with watches!

Here is the National Trust site for Wakehurst :
https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/wakehurst-place/

Here are a couple of pictures of our lovely sunny day.

Amazingly strong sunlight through trees by a waterfall

Rhododendrons at Nymans March 2014

Roses and Noses

I love roses. Whatever bunch I buy generally has a few in there. My favourite colours are white or pink.

Delicate Rose at Nymans 2013

Last year in the sweltering summer we visited our favourite National Trust place at Nymans.

They have a lovely rose garden that was abundantly fragrant, much longer than the normal June season. We went there in August on a boiling hot day. The scent was heady.

Unfortunately I have ended up allergic to a lot of flowers. Probably after I stuck my nose into so many blooms that day! A very large bumble bee came and rested very near my heart; which not only shocked me a bit but was also quite a beautiful moment. Once my daughter and husband had noted my shouts of 'hey-look' it was too late to snap and off she flew. A nice memory though.

I took many photos on my phone as you do and amazingly they came out really well. I am still the owner of a very standard phone. Even my newest one is still not a proper android! I will get there. Anyhow the phone used has since 'died a death' and my new one takes amazing pictures. Will invest in better phone one day I am sure. My daughter and husband think I am so not "techy". I would agree that I am very 'tetchy' at times excuse the pun! But hey I'm blogging now so ...

Here's my favourite rose photo taken on that old phone ;D.

Rose in Suspension, Nymans Rose Garden 2013