Sunday, 25 May 2014

Chelsea 2014

Dr Anne and Greygranite made their expedition to Chelsea this week.  They look forward to this annual get together and enjoy the reflection time as much as the experience.


This year they started with the Artisan Gardens as there was a probability of rain.  Greygranite and Dr Anne had different favourites.  Greygranite fell in love with The DialAFlight Potter's Garden.  Dr Anne  favoured Arita, Togenkyo - A Paradise on Earth and The Topiarist Garden at West Green House.  Which one does she choose as her favourite?


The DialAFlight Potter's Garden


Arita


Togenkyo - A Paradise on Earth


The Topiarist Garden at West Green

From the Artisan Gardens they went to the Show Gardens.  Both liked the RBC Waterscape Garden and Positively Stoke-on-Trent.  Dr Anne loved Hope on the Horizon.  The peace and tranquility ebbed out.  Dr Anne also liked The Massachusetts Garden as it reminded her of times on the East Coast of America.


RBC Waterscape Garden




Moorcroft Ball in
Positively Stoke on Trent


Love on the Horizon
Help for Heroes



The Massachusetts Garden


She is not reading a book.   She is looking at her phone.

The Great Pavilion is central to Greygranite and Dr Anne's day.  They split for two hours and do their own thing.  Greygranite headed to the viola stand while Dr Anne systematically worked the Pavilion.  She was blown by the Waitrose stand, loved the Caribbean stand and of course the City of Birmingham  is always of the highest standard. Dr Anne spent a bit of time at the sustainability stands listening to the music trees make.


The Exotic Caribbean



Dr Anne's favourite  lavenders


Waitrose totally enthralled Dr Anne.









The flower arranging pavilion was a disappointment this year but that was more Dr Anne's frame of mind than the quality of the exhibits.


From the Ruins






Pimms in Ranelagh Gardens was an annual treat.  Greygranite and Dr Anne met up with best friends Peter and Chiku.

The Fresh Gardens was the next stop.  Dr Anne loved The WellChild Garden.  The group of figures would do very nicely in East Neuk's Garden.  Flora by Gucci was an attraction and Reachout was spectacular.


The WellChild Garden

Flora by Gucci


Reachout

There was of course the shopping on the avenue and next day walking around Sloane Square.




Friday, 23 May 2014

Before we met

Whitehouse, L. (2014). Before We Met. London: Bloomsbury.

Greygranite and Dr Anne have been on their annual expedition to Chelsea.  Dr Anne has been out of the reading mode because of stuff.  She picked up a couple of Richard and Judy's Summer Book Club 2014.

Before We Met is definitely a page turner from the moment Dr Anne boarded the flight at Aberdeen until she arrived back home with two chapters to read.  The twists and turns kept Dr Anne on edge from beginning to end.  The lies that Mark worked to keep Hannah in the dark.  Why - his early years.  Give me a boy until he is five and I will give you the man…

Dr Anne awards nearing a 9/10.  This comes near equal to The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas and The Power of One and Tandia. 

Tuesday, 8 April 2014

Selfies

Dr Anne and SS had a go at selfless as they crossed the sea to Staffa.


Monday, 7 April 2014

Iona

Dr Anne and SS were blessed to be accompanied into Iona by a pod of dolphins.


There were at least a dozen dolphins leaping around the boat.

Dr Anne and SS headed on up to the Abbey.  
They enjoyed the tranquility of the place and wished for more time to explore.


The road up to the Abbey.


The shadow of the cross on the chapel of St Columba.


The interior of the Abbey





A live Abbey.


A view from the door of the Abbey.


The Cloisters


The chapel of St Oran




Staffa

Dr Anne and SS have been on their annual trip.

On Friday they sailed to Staffa and the amazing Fingal's Cave.

The weather was bright dull.  

It was awesome.


The first sight of the entrance to Fingal's Cave.


Approaching Fingal's Cave.


The path round to the entrance to the cave.


The entrance to the cave.


The sense of landing at Staffa.


Spring

The garden at East Neuk looks good this spring even although much work has to be done.


The anemones


Spring Heather


The first azalea of the year


Truly beautiful daffodils


The flowering currant.


The top of the garden



Amazing Daffodils this year.