Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Wonderful Spring day.
I drew back the curtains and instantly could see that this would be a special day.
Today was spring verging into summer.
I wanted to see bluebells…. rather aware that our time in Thailand will cause us to miss some of the little changes in nature which become so precious to the western European eye.
Of course there will be compensations.
Two years ago we went for a short walk in the forest at the end of Parish Lane and by chance came upon the most magnificent carpets of blue.
And so we went for another look today.
It has become a strange area - once it would have been entirely forest and farming; but now there are industrial units and places to make you wonder ….. who lives in the scruffy caravans surrounding the grand house at the end of the lane?
We walked down the track to the bridge over the main London to Brighton railway line. There are frequent trains hurtling along.
The track is narrow and uneven so how and why did a person bother to drive down and dump an old washing machine? It would be less far, and there is no charge to take them to the council dump.
Once over the bridge we wandered into the scruffy, ill-managed woods and could see that the bluebells there were later than others we have seen. We were perhaps 10 days too early.
Unfortunately our eyes fell on an abandoned cooker instead of beauty. Now, we had reached a point where it would have been more than difficult to drive – it would have been impossible. Somebody thought it better to heave this heavy piece of equipment and old kitchen cupboards and throw them in the woods, rather than deposit them at the fine new refuse centre.
Sad and stupid!
So after an hour we were back at home, a little disappointed that we had not made best use of the wonderful weather.
And we planned other expeditions.
This afternoon we returned to our old favourite Wakehurst Place – a National Trust garden; so it was just as “free” for us to enjoy as any woodland.
And there we saw wonderful trees and flowers and views.
And there were bluebells!
Today was spring verging into summer.
I wanted to see bluebells…. rather aware that our time in Thailand will cause us to miss some of the little changes in nature which become so precious to the western European eye.
Of course there will be compensations.
Two years ago we went for a short walk in the forest at the end of Parish Lane and by chance came upon the most magnificent carpets of blue.
And so we went for another look today.
It has become a strange area - once it would have been entirely forest and farming; but now there are industrial units and places to make you wonder ….. who lives in the scruffy caravans surrounding the grand house at the end of the lane?
We walked down the track to the bridge over the main London to Brighton railway line. There are frequent trains hurtling along.
The track is narrow and uneven so how and why did a person bother to drive down and dump an old washing machine? It would be less far, and there is no charge to take them to the council dump.
Once over the bridge we wandered into the scruffy, ill-managed woods and could see that the bluebells there were later than others we have seen. We were perhaps 10 days too early.
Unfortunately our eyes fell on an abandoned cooker instead of beauty. Now, we had reached a point where it would have been more than difficult to drive – it would have been impossible. Somebody thought it better to heave this heavy piece of equipment and old kitchen cupboards and throw them in the woods, rather than deposit them at the fine new refuse centre.
Sad and stupid!
So after an hour we were back at home, a little disappointed that we had not made best use of the wonderful weather.
And we planned other expeditions.
This afternoon we returned to our old favourite Wakehurst Place – a National Trust garden; so it was just as “free” for us to enjoy as any woodland.
And there we saw wonderful trees and flowers and views.
And there were bluebells!
And we have planned that tomorrow, which should give us equally good weather we would visit a garden that we have not visited before – Emmet Gardens at Ide Hill in Kent. The web site promises us a famous bluebell walk and also wonderful views from the hillside.
We will leave early and walk in the gardens and then find somewhere for some lunch – either in the gardens or at a village pub.
Later we will visit Bill’s cousin, Ann. We haven’t seen her since Gordon’s funeral. This is not just because we have put off going, but because thankfully Ann is filling her life.
She has been to France to stay with her son – and will go again next week. Her sister is taking her to Ireland soon. At 80 years old she is wisely grasping life.
And now for some of our Wakehurst Place pictures.
The images don't need words.
We hope you enjoy them.
