pumpkinstrokemarrow

I used to visit the Purcell Room at the South Bank reasonably often, but have not been there now for ages, probably because their chamber music programme has been badly squeezed by other programmes: spoken word, dance, world music, experimental music and contemporary music. All that sort of thing. One wonders how the attempt to broaden the appeal of the South Bank is panning out - and one hopes that it has done more than kill off the audience it used to have without finding a new one. But, as it happens, today we were scheduled to go there and hear some Bach solo violin - and it would have been the first time I have heard any such live. Sadly, we decided that in the circumstances attendance would be foolhardy and I have had to settle for Mozart violin sonata in C, K296, on the hifi instead. But a respectable substitution.

Followed by a very warm afternoon in the garden. Anniversary clematis now shooting well. King cups starting in one of the ponds. Lots of violets, small but brilliantly coloured in the bright sun light. Some purple snake's head fritillaries, a late addition to the new daffodil bed looking well and the daffodils themselves looking well too; not at all bad for a first year - and a few barrow loads of compost have been spread behind the bed to help them on their way for next year, a spreading which resulted in much jumping around and sniffing on the part of the beagle puppy next door. There was clearly something in the compost which turned her on good and proper - but it was not worms because there were few if any of the red jobs with which proper compost is supposed to be full to be seen.