Obsession re Windows

Dr Anne is obsessed with her window cleaning. Her mother had very high standards regarding windows. Car owners used to be scared of her as she stepped out onto the street with the hose early in the morning. As she grew older she decided to get a window cleaner - £10 for 10 minutes. He didn't wash the woodwork, his water was dirty and the windows did not sparkle. When Dr Anne quit her job four years ago. the window cleaner was cancelled. Dr Anne had to undergo training then close supervision before she achieved the standards required.

Now on her own, Dr Anne has the voice of Mrs McArthur in her head. She hoses the windows (glass and woodwork) to get rid of the dust before hosing the cobbles. The windows are then given a soapy water using car wash in hot water. The windows are then hosed to get rid of all remnants of the soap. The windows are dried using an absorbant cloth. When dry the windows are given a buff up with Betterware's Stay Clean. This was how she passed the test...

Dr Anne has now spent four hours at the windows today and how she would love Mrs McArthur to give the seal of approval. Alas.

Crows and Starlings

There are two crows who like to live at East Neuk. They sit on the dyke cawing and fly into the birch tree. They are seen with bread in their beaks and yesterday Dr Anne found their cache under some flowers. She removed it. Today they are back with bread in their beaks with a new cache among the roses.

Yesterday a flock of at least 30 starlings landed on the grass and spent some time picking out worms then they disappeared as quickly as they arrived.

Two blue tits are in the box at the top of the garden. They spend a lot of time in the birch tree. Unfortunately the new neighbour has a cat and it can be seen in the dell under the birch tree.

The collar doves spend much of their time in the birch tree or on the arch. Where is their nest? The holly tree?

The blackbirds are in the garden but the nest is next door behind the Wendy house.

A robin has appeared. It looks very thin.

First Fruit of the Year

Dr Anne cut the first fruit of the year today. With no cloches, the three clumps of rhubarb had grown considerably over the last three weeks bearing large thick red stalks. Dr Anne gave them a good mucking towards the end of last year and this has certainly produced great fruit. She cut enough for 5 large foil cartons for the freezer then it will be rhubarb crumble, rhubarb compot, rhubarb jam. Any other ideas?

Ivy and Hostas

The ivy on the big dyke and the hostas required attention. Dr Anne kept putting the task off blaming the rain and cool weather but it was really the challenge of the job. Anna Pavord's column in the Independent today said advised that the jobs not tackled in May never get caught up. Out came the ladder today and the trimming scissors and Dr Anne did her best to trim the ivy. The hostas were then fed. Anna Pavord advised mulching so Dr Anne decided to give the hostas some additional compost to keep down the weeds and give an extra feed. When in NZ Dr Anne was advised to put copper tape round the hostas to keep the slugs at bay. She bought some in the local garden centre. Tonight there is a long line of copper tape along the top of the dyke. Will it stick? Will it be effective? Watch this space.

The Gab of May

Sunset Apple Blossom
Grape Hyacinths and Tulips

Bergenias in the Dell

The Tibetan Cherry

Since Dr Anne's return from Cambo there has been three days of rain and although today is sunny it has been very cold. There is the threat of snow next week. However, spring is here. The apple trees are in blossom. The grape hyacinths provide an amazing show especially with yellow tulips. The bergenias are in full flower. The trees are in leaf. The ferns are uncurling. The hostas are a couple of centimetres above the earth. The begonias have at last peeped throught the soil in the little greenhouse. There is hope...

Glendoick

Hellebores at Glendoick

Glendoick House Gardens at Glendoick

When the garden at East Neuk was landscaped in 1984 Robin Currie of the Banff and Buchan Nurseries advised Mrs McArthur to buy her rhododendrons and azaleas from Glendoick as their hybrids would suit the seaside garden.

To date Dr Anne has visited the Garden Centre on numerous occasions always buying but had never been at the gardens. Anne and Sandra bought tickets at the Garden Centre and walked up the drive to the gardens which are open between April and June each year. The rhododendrons and azaleas were coming into bloom. The hellebores were magnificent. The underplantings of anemones, bluebells and grape hyacinths were amazing. It was definitely a garden to be seen.

Dinner at the Peat Inn, Fife

Dr Anne's Starter

Sandra at the Peat Inn

Dr Anne and her friend Sandra went for dinner at Scotland's Restaurant of the Year 2010, the Peat Inn near Cupar in Fife. Staying in Cambo Castle near St Andrews they decided to travel by taxi so that they might enjoy the evening to the full.

They received a very warm welcome enjoying an appetizer with some smoked almonds, olives and a parmesan twist while they studied the menu. Dr Anne chose a bottle of Koura Bay (2008), a sauvignon blanc from the Malborough region of New Zealand to accompany the meal.

The ambiance of the restaurant was warm and friendly. The staff were efficient and very attentive. First of all Sandra chose a parmesan and onion roll while Dr Anne chose a date and sesame seed roll. They received an amouze bouche of celery soup with walnut oil, compliments of the chef.

Sandra chose a warm salad of wood pigeon, apple and fennel with a prune and Armagnac puree. Dr Anne decided on the home cured salmon on a dill blini with dill cucumbers, lobster and advocado creme fraiche (photo above). For mains, Sandra chose duck breast while Anne decided on the vegetarian option -rosemary polenta, open ravioli of gem and celariac, wild mushrooms and walnut veloute. All were enjoyed to the full. To end they had coffee and petit fours.