The week of Colin's birthday and after the event, we met up with some friends here (the ones of 6-bypass fame) for more birthday cake - well, what was left of it (sugar free and gluten free). Then the day after it was off to Droitwich to see another couple of friends over lunch in one of their local haunts. There we had the 'garden room' all to ourselves except for those trying to get to and from the garden - but hey! the sun was shining so who cares! We had a very leisurely lunch and a good long chat as we hadn't seen them in ages. The day was memorable if only because, in his excitement, Colin managed to knock over his bottle of 'Appeltise' so carefully that it emptied itself into Jane's bag - thanks Colin!
By this time the weather had become considerably sunnier and hotter. Jane has been trying to get the back garden in order and has done some serious work digging out shrubs which have got too boisterous or thuggy. But the heat got too much on most days so it has taken her ages. And then, of course, there was the spring (or late summer) cleaning......
And so it was lovely to be invited on Thursday last week to have afternoon tea with another couple of friends in Malvern on the eve of his 70th birthday. We sat outside in their back garden admiring the lovely blooms in the pots which had obviously been planted with some care. And my, was it hot!
This last week has been no less busy and thankfully the heat has dissipated somewhat leaving a more pleasant and bearable temperature. On Wednesday a couple of friends came over to Malvern from Greet and we lunched in the Bluebird. We followed this with a very pleasant saunter around Croome Court and pleasure gardens, (which included a tea and cake stop, of course). Colin managed the afternoon well, and it was only on return to the shrubbery on the way to the shop/exit did he start listing! It was not surprising tho', as it had been quite a warm afternoon with a fair bit of walking.
Yesterday, we went over to Powick to another couple of friends for onward travel into Worcester with the intention of taking a boat trip on the river after lunch. However, we were enjoying taking lunch and having a good old chin wag so much that we 'missed the boat' as it were! But it was lovely food and company, which was a shame to rush so we decided the boat trip will be another planned outing on another day. We did get extremely drenched as we got off the bus on our return however, the heavens certainly opened at the wrong time! At least the water butt filled a little as a result, so it wasn't all bad!
That's all for now, folks!
Colin and Jane.