Family Visit - Andrew, Amy, Joe & Molly

It has been a while since I updated the Blog so here goes.

A couple of weeks ago we had the first of our Family visits, with Andrew, Amy, Joe and Molly arriving for a week. Molly, Amy's niece, seems to have adopted us as extra grandparents, which we find very pleasing. Over the week, the weather was pretty appalling, which made trips out very hazardous. Even playing in the garden and fields was a recipe for yet more wet clothes and feet. We did spend a day at Cornwall's Crealy, which was OK until fairly late in the afternoon. We still got wet but that was self inflicted on the water slides and log flume. Unfortunately, late on the rain came when we were at the far extremes of the park. Of course, the little train back to the entrance was not running so, hidden under cheap(?) plastic rain covers, we did manage to make it back to the cars. The four of them did manage a couple of trips out, including Padstow but what a shame that they saw Cornwall in this weather. I suppose that, when they came in February, they were lucky in that we spent time on the beach and the children even got into the sea.

Because they were leaving on Saturday, and Nick and family arrived on Friday, I asked Andrew to take a Family photograph on Saturday morning, the result of which is below. It is not often that the opportunity arises when the whole of my current family are all in the same place, so thanks to Andrew for organising it and for Clive who came along especially before dashing off to another engagement.

Left to right as you look

Standing at back:

Amy, Andrew, John, Karen, Nick, Clive

Standing Middle:

Charlotte, Connor, Curtis

Seated:

Maria, Annette

Front:

Joe with Brandy and Tia

July Update

So far July has been a time of consolidation in the garden but today saw a step forward with regard to our conifer patch, which has now been covered in gravel; hopefully, this will keep down the weeds and make upkeep that much easier. Compare the following photograph with the one in June.

17 Jul 2008

One other "improvement" has been the introduction of a 'Rabbit Fence' in front of the large conifers but behind the other bushes. This hasn't stopped Public Enemy Number 1 completely as I still have to seal off the space under the lower gate but I will get there in the end. Fortunately the couple that still find their way in haven't destroyed the "lawn", which is progressing reasonably well.

Now we are waiting for the families to arrive and fill up the house for three weeks. Let's hope that the weather improves so that the grandchildren can spend lots of time out of doors searching for Snakes, Frogs and Toads.

Horticultural Question

I have managed to identify a large number of the plants in the garden but this one has beaten me, so far. Any ideas anyone? (The Red Fluffy Flower)


July has started with some rain then some more rain followed by the odd downpour so I have spent a lot of time reorganising the pictures on the Blog. I also found some missing links. If anyone reads any of the archives and finds anything missing, or wrong - spelling etc, then please let me know and I will do the corrections.