In addition to the weekend shopping chores Mr C and I factored in a lunchtime visit to David Austin Roses where we hoped to find a rose or two for the next stage of our garden project. On arrival we wandered around the sales area to see what roses were available to buy. Then we headed to the cafe for a sandwich which we enjoyed sitting outside in the sunshine.

After lunch we wandered around the gardens to see the displays of roses in different settings. The display of roses was spectacular so we found it difficult to settle on just one or two; eventually we plumped for Olivia Rose Austin and Lady Emma Hamilton. I have some other roses in mind to continue on with our garden project.

The weather remained kind so we were able to enjoy our evening meal; ginger and orange baked salmon with a glass of Rose wine on the patio. As we lingered after the meal the sun started to set proving an almost rainbow like glow in the sky.

After Storm Doris damaged some of our neighbours fence panels they  removed almost all their fence panels and replaced them with something more robust. The new fencing has improved the look of our garden and has advanced our garden project

There is however one small unsightly panel left in the corner. This part of our garden I plan to be a small seating area, under the Hawthorn Tree above. So now I need to think of the best way to hide this part of their garden fence…

The fence before Storm Doris at the time our Garden Project was beginning to take shape.

I couldn’t resist one last photo of this evening’s meal; Smoked Salmon, Prawn & Dill Risotto.

I know, I know I have posted too many food photos this week. But it is a week that despite Mr C having some long days commuting away from his office; We, I, He were able to experiment with some new recipes

When I got up this morning Mr C was peering out of one of the back bedroom windows and I wondered what he was doing. He informed me that one of next doors fence panels had blown out. A little while later he announced that two more panels had blown out. Storm Doris was swirling in different directions and I was a little worried that the panels might get blown about and cause some damage.

I was not able to give this problem as much thought and attention as it needed because Mr C had booked an early morning appointment with the company who had fitted our new back door. Before the door was fitted we discussed in length our exact requirements with the person who came to measure and assess the fitting; he knew exactly what we wanted. He suggested that a blank panel was fitted so that exact measurement could be taken when the door was in place. When the  top glass panel arrived it was not at all what we wanted or asked for,and was something that we could not live with.

The door should have had Georgian bars to match the windows. The new glass panel had huge squares at the bottom with smaller ones at the top. It seems to have been a miscommunication (and a badly drawn diagram by the fitter) between Mr C and the fitter who came to measure the window. Apparently the glassmaker had queried the design when asked to make the unit!  The best laid plans… Now we await a new glass panel at additional expenditure!!

After the fitter had gone, just as I was leaving for work there was a knock at the door. It was our next door neighbour who had noticed that the fence panel nearest to his house had blown into our garden. Mr C took him to assess the situation. Our neighbour was quite surprised to find that two other panels, which were obscured by shrubs in his garden had also blown into our garden. He had come round to say that his son was coming later in the day when the wind had subsided to help him move the panel. After seeing the extent of the damage he was also considering that all the fence panels need replacing.

I was rather preoccupied in the morning so I didn’t think of taking photographs. When I had regained my equilibrium I texted Mr C asking if he could take some when he got home, if it was still light enough. You can’t see the extent of the damage from these photos that Mr C took. Two of the panels had partly collapsed, the two that are missing from these photos. The third panel has for now, been put back in place.

This photo of mine from last autumn shows two of the panels are ready to disintegrate.

Aeschylus

Galatians 5:22 (KJV)

Albert Camus

…for me

As you can see my blog has now been restored to its former glory. Thank you Tech Support.

The recent garden work is now complete and the next stage of the project will be to work on the borders and add some more colour for all seasons. The sun was out yesterday and I took full advantage of a little bit of gardening and a lot of sitting Some of the photos show that ‘my oak tree’ is making a come back, which is very welcome.

The bricklayer came first thing this morning with two of the workmen who had been working on the garden earlier in the week. He got to work on the two retaining walls including finishing off the incomplete footings for the wall at the end of the garden and organised the laying of the footpath.

I love the new wall around the patio area

The shed needs building and placing in the right position and there are a few rough edges that need sorting out. This work is scheduled for Monday, so tomorrow, we need to tackle the ivy that is invading the back fence…

The weather was favourable, allowing us to dine on the patio and enjoy our garden.

And the bees are loving the sunflower that was a gift from one of our resident birds

PS: The photos are less than perfect because the lighting had dropped before I had chance to go and take some photographs.