pumpkinstrokemarrow

The first visit was on a cold grey afternoon and the daffodils were only just coming into flower. Oddly, all very impressive (see also December 28th). Onto to the privy garden which really did look good. A symphony in green. Even the sunken gardens managed to look special. Some trick of the cold grey light. Maybe related to the habit of arty people having their studios facing north.

The second visit was today, which started off very warm and balmy. Daffodils full on, in various shapes and sizes. With variety, mainly in blue. For example, some very pretty blue wood anenomes. Pushed on past a herd of Russians, into the east garden and on down the long walk. An austere version of the long pond at Versailles - presumably a crib. Fountains at the end came on every ten minutes to keep us on the move, and we rounded the end to find a herd of male deer, complete with antlers. BH explained that at this time of year the lady deer will be dropping the young started in the autumn while the men keep out of the way. Male bonding rather than male display time of year. Certainly not into being present at the birth. Quite a different timetable from the ducks on the water who were into male display. Back up the south side of the long water paying a visit to the ancient oak, which might have been planted by King John to impress the natives when on the way to Runnymede, just up the road. Just about alive the last time we saw it, but now rather dead. Hopefully the sapling is from one of its own acorns. A trick which does not work with some trees, where one cannot plant one in the wreck of another; one has to go to clean ground.

To complete the rustic scene we had a skylark skylarking above. Couldn't see it but no doubt about what it was. First time we have heard such a thing there. This was followed by a couple of Egyptian geese on a visit from Hyde Park (March 16th). On through the ancient hummocks, alleged to be ancient ant hills and back into Hampton Court proper.

Over the road to Blubeckers for lunch, perhaps for the second time in 20 years. Near empty, but entirely satisfactory lunch. Nice little bottle of Macon-Villages Dom de la Grange Magnien (some less expensive white Burgundy can get a bit ponderous, but not this little number with its figure-hugging cloak of oak) to go with it. A stroll down Bridge Street, just above the River Ember, to wind down. Butcher still there and still presenting beef rib on a plate. Fishmonger still there and we now possess two Arbroath smokies. Various junk shops still there and we now possess a bugle. £12 when Mr. G. tells me that I can get a new one from anything between £20 and £200. I guess this one is near the bottom end of that range but there still looks to be a fair amount of work in the making. Plenty of brazing. I shall now learn how to make reliable noises on it so that I can impress sprog 1.1 when he next visits. I can already do loud; more than one note and reliable are going to take a bit longer. FIL can do soft.