Bradgate Park

Whilst visiting family in Leicester last weekend we spent Sunday morning enjoying the late September sunshine and wandering around Bradgate Park. Threaded with streams and pools we were treated to plenty of views of the resident deer who were fully engaged in the rut, and the clatter of antler meeting antler rang out over the bracken.

It also houses the ruined remains of Lady Jane Greys former home and birthplace.

The grounds of the ruin are absolutely crawling with Belladonna (or Deadly Nightshade if you prefer) and I like to think it is no coincidence that it grows there and was originally nurtured long ago by a spurned maiden who declared revenge on her feckless lover (possibly!)

All that fresh air and history gave us an appetite and we end ended the morning at the tea house, enjoying a coffee and rather scrummy piece of lemon drizzle cake (despite having polished off a cooked breakfast only 2 hours earlier - ahem!) 

RHS Wisley

We cocked a snook (yes, I really did just use that phrase!!) at the inclement weather today and visited The RHS Gardens at Wisley. Probably not the best time of year to enjoy it's diverse planting but hey, we're mavericks like that.

An added bonus was that the Surrey Sculpture Society was exhibiting there and we followed the trail that included original pieces such as 'Saved' by Michelle Castles (above) and 'Tiger Tail' by Christine Close (below) All sculptures were for sale, some unique and some produced as limited runs.

As the weather turned increasingly windy and wet we passed by the ponds before heading to the balmy conditions created in the Glasshouse

Divided into different zones, you can admire anything from cactus to tropical creepers and my favourite plant flowering there at the moment had to be a type of passionflower called 'Passiflora Alata' -an amazing climber with a lemony scent.

'Passiflora Alata'

Once we'd warmed up sufficiently to brave the outdoors, we hoisted the trusty umbrella and headed for home - storm clouds gathering behind us! 

A Little Memento

 My clever sister found this lovely necklace on Etsy and bought it for me so that I had something to wear permanently in memory of Elf. The pendant is a stamping in silver using an antique wax seal and depicts a tiny greyhound sat by an hourglass which symbolises faithfulness and steadfastness. 

It means so much, thanks Little Sis.

If you are interested in this item (shop contains many other designs) click HERE

Haven't You Grown!

Just a quick update on Kinders (pictured left) progress. As you can see he/she is clearly one of the ex battery hens chicks but Mrs Turvey hasn't noticed the fact that 'her' chick now towers over her. It's quite comical to watch him/her zip around whilst she waddles after.
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Rogues Gallery

The Good, The Bad & The Nonexistent 

I have finally got to the point where I can showcase my gardening acumen re the James Wong trilogy of seeds I grew this year so hold onto your hats and strap your incontinence pads on!

In order of most disappointing and given marks out of 10 I shall start with...

Wild WhiteStrawberries. 

Practically impossible to bring on, I nursed micro seedlings into incredibly tiny 'rosettes' all of which withered away to nothing once I transplanted them into separate cells.

Time wasted on nursing the ungrateful sods: 10/10 

Electric Daisies

Possibly the most evil plant known to mankind. Took blood, sweat and tears to produce seedlings fit to transplant to the allotment and once they'd grown I wish they hadn't.

 Number one, they is u-u-ugly - straggly leaves with yellow nubbin like flowers.

Number two, the edible flower heads do not, I stress DO NOT taste like 'popping candy' as described on the website.

Number three, when you do eventually get the plant to the stage where you can sample it's delights, I can only describe the experience as a betrayal of trust. In short, they make your lips mouth and tongue tingle so badly it's like the onset of anaphylactic shock coupled with the production of enough saliva to float the ark. 

Unexpectedly Upsetting 8/10

Cucamelons

OK, so they look amaze balls but taste just like boring old cucumbers and I'm waiting for enough to mature to grace a salad but we're getting there. Yes they were just as difficult to bring on as a previous post will testify but they certainly get a wiggle on when they put their mind to it! Currently scrambling all over the handrail by the front door I have high hopes for these little puppies.

Novelty Value 9/10

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The End Of The Road Festival Part 3

I challenged Himself to a game of Pucket. Free to enjoy, I paid in other ways - loss of pride mostly! Deceptively simple, the aim is to shoot all the wooden discs through a gateway to the opponents side via a rubber band. I didn't win once and the game nearly had me screaming its namesake by the end! 

Beautiful artwork is a recurring theme at the festival, from its posters to it's art installations and not least it's programme, quality and detail is key.

Moopa looking half asleep outside the Wide Awake Cafe

Sunday morning was spent enjoying breakfast by the still smouldering fire and being treated to the sight of macaws flying over lit by the morning sun (that's right, bloody great parrots flying free!) 

The red socked heroes featured above are the employees of The Secret Postal Service - simply write a letter or postcard using a description of the tent or the person you wish it to be delivered to and let these clever chaps scour the site for the recipient!

Now I am fully aware that I haven't mentioned much about the music, but being rather ignorant in this department (highlighted numerous times when chatting to people in the que for the shower, phone charging, Shepherds ice cream stand etc) I thought I'd leave that to the experts! 

So, to sum up, beautiful surroundings + beautiful weather + beautiful music = recipie for success.

End Of The Road Festival Part 2

Continuing the post on this festival held at The Lamer Tree Gardens, Friday night found us by the Disco in the Woods, complete with lit up dance floor and DJ'd from a wooden boat, then onto the main Woods Stage to enjoy David Byrne & St. Vincent.

As our body clocks haven't adjusted to no 5am wake up calls yet I partook of a Qi Gong session on the lawn in the gardens before driving to Shaftesbury on Saturday morning whilst normal people slumbered in their tents. A breakfast looking onto Gold Hill was the perfect start to the day.

Once back at the festival we took a peep at the area created in the woods for musicians to hold spontaneous performances. Unfortunately there were just a few children tinkling away on the piano as we passed this time.

Need a poetic fix? Just 'Dial A Poet' of course,

The library in the woods, because there is never a bad time for a story! 

Whilst the venue is incredibly laid back it was definitely busier on Saturday, (a combination of late comers and Sigur Ros headling I expect) most of my photos were taken early on to avoid only capturing a sea of faces incase you were wondering where the hell 12,000 people are hiding!

To be continued...

End Of The Road Festival Part 1

We spent this weekend camping at The End of The Road Festival. After the death of  Elf we really needed something to look forward to and this came at just the right time.
Using Tangerine Fields was not without it's problems. My previous attempt to organise our own arrangements is now the stuff of legend so I thought I'd leave it to the professionals this time. Unfortunately, when your air bed goes flat in the middle of the night, it's the professionals who have the foot pump and they were off duty until the morning - ah well!

The Garden Stage

Anyway, the sun shone, people smiled and we relaxed and enjoyed the music. With 4 stages to choose from you are bound to stumble across a little gem and in between gigs there is plenty to explore although as we discovered, just sitting, chatting, whilst the next band set up had it's rewards as a pea hen and her chick wandered by.

We later discovered the peacock admiring himself in the chrome leg of a chair in the Healing Gardens where you can get get anything from Reiki to Reflexology to Sports Massage (helpful for the cricked neck you're bound to get after a couple of nights sleeping on an air bed (inflated or otherwise!)

The Trivial Pursuits Tree where you can test yours and others general knowledge

Product of the origami workshop hung up for passers by to admire. 

There was also a Cinema, Comedy in The Woods, a fairy light woodland walk and a photo booth where a hidden artist drew your picture through a 2 way mirror and posted the results through the slot passport photo style - genius! 

Part 2 to follow ...