Easter and The Royal Wedding

The River Severn at Evesham

The Magnificent Seafood Platter

                                                                   
                         
1st May 2011


The beginning of May, I can now prune the bushes and dig in the bedding pants and not be afraid of frost. Famous last words as it has been a glorious April so sunny and warm the warmest April in 350 years, more like Summer than Spring so it makes me somewhat cautious as to what the weather has in store for us next. Last week I received my postal vote for the local Council Elections with an extra vote For or Against changing the way we choose our government. I have duly posted it, we will see if the Alternative Vote (AV) wins or loses. Over the Easter weekend I drove down to Pershore to spend a few days with my brother and his wife, it was glorious. I had to go in to Worcester to buy a memory card for my camera. I realised after I arrived that I had inadvertently left the card slotted into my computer when I downloaded some photos. Still one can never have enough memory, really could do with a memory card slotted into me at times. I set off early on Friday fearing the usual motorway delays over the Easter holidays and it worked, I was down in Pershore within two hours, no delays and was witness to a glorious sunrise. Saturday morning we took a trip into Evesham, a nearby market town buzzing with life, plenty shops, market stalls and visitors. We walked down to the river and around the town before returning to Pershore for a rather special lunch at the Belle House Restaurant in part celebration of their Ruby wedding. We enjoyed a magnificent Seafood Platter by Sue Ellis, the Chef who is presently on TV competing in the Great British Menu stakes and a personal friend of my sister in law. How great was that!!. http://www.belle-house.co.uk/


Then Friday we had the Royal Wedding what a magnificent event ,everything was perfect. The bride and groom looked fantastic and the 100’s of guests looked amazing in their elegant clothes and amazing hats. The huge crowds that lined the streets where so organised and happy having a wonderful time. Not that I am a dutiful Royalist, but they did us proud, no one can do this kind of grand stand event quite like our Royal Family.
http://www.officialroyalwedding2011.org/

Easter sunshine

Rivington Pike

We have been having a brilliant Easter Weekend the sun has shone and the gardens are filling with colour so quickly.So different to last year when it snowed. I mowed the grass, what a job, it took me ages to get it decent it was so thick and lush. Thankfully I am feeling so much better now my cough has gone. I didn’t realise how low I had gone until I started feeling better.
At the beginning of April we had such a terrible wind it kept me awake I could hear the wheelie bins (big bins)that had been left out for the collection in the morning, being blown over . I popped down and brought mine back inside the garage. I didn’t feel like facing the mess that could have been in the morning. We have three bins, Grey for general household rubbish, Green for garden waste and Beige for paper and card. Some also have a Burgundy bin for tins and plastic bottles. I don’t have space for one of those so I have a box instead. It’s a complete charade as the recycling plants can`t keep up with the amount collected and the paper is being shipped out to far distant lands and dumped. I wish the government would sort it out. I believe in recycling, the concept is excellent but there has to be a better system than we have at present. Drove up to Harrogate on Thursday to see my lads, Stue and Sam ,weather was overcast but warm. We had lunch in the local Pub and then a mooch around the town centre shops. I really enjoyed being with them it felt good. After the bank holiday when all the crowds had gone Betty and I decided to climb Rivington Pike. This is a tradition by many at Easter time. It was a nice bright day but windy so we wrapped up warm and set off through the Chinese Gardens built by Lord Leverhulme around his bungalow, now gone, half way up the hillside. The gardens are being renovated and are much improved. After climbing 480 + steps we lost count, the wind was force 7 at the top and fairly took our breath away. If there had not been a fence at the top of the climb we would have been swept away. Brilliant day loved the climb and managed well, with the aid of walking poles it is so much easier. Forgot my camera so found these online.

http://web.ukonline.co.uk/jed/chinese%20gardens/chinese_gardens.htm Go take a look

Sunshine and Snow on Easter Sunday

Woke yesterday to snow and sunshine as promised So I was out early to capture the event before it melted and by midday it was nearly gone. I usually go to the gym on Sunday mornings but gave it a miss as the roads had not been gritted, even though snow had been predicted all week. And I don’t think I will be going to the Middleton poetry evening as it’s a fair distance on the motorway and it may snow again . Being a lone female, its not the going it’s the coming home that worries me . We have had some wonderful blue skies last week which can really lift the spirit. I was able to peg out some washing Saturday and it felt good to be out in the garden again so I took the opportunity to tidy up the patio and the greenhouse. Next weekend British Summer time starts when we put the clocks forward an hour to increase our daylight hours. Winter is so depressing with the long dark days and the unremitting rain I am so relieved to see the Spring. Lots of colour returning to the gardens and the trees are in bud, the Forsythia is always the first to show its bright yellow flowers just before my daffs show their face. Made my wonderful delicious vegetable soup as I need to detox for a few days, I have eaten so much chocolate and hot cross buns over the weekend, I feel quite yucky.