Happy and Glorious?




We are knee deep in preparations for our Diamond Jubilee street party this weekend - fingers crossed the bunting ordered online arrives and that the weather stays dry.  I have lived in this road for nearly 10 years and it's the first street party. It started when I was reminiscing with my friend and neighbour about memories of the Silver Jubilee, we decided we wanted to do something our kids would remember too.   There will be food, drink, games, royal quizzes and a Great British Bake off, all to be judged by the senior members of the neighbourhood.   Everyone was invited, so the couple who let their dog poo in peoples gardens will be attending, as will the grumpy man who rants at the neighbourhood children for having the temerity to sledge past his house every time it snows and the warring neighbours with boundary disputes will be there too.   In short,  all the ingredients for a Great British Punch Up!

Despite this, it's starting to feel very exciting, and I hope it will feel more like a community afterwards.  A nice warm glow is what we all need when the suns gone in and the news is so awful.  So we shall enjoy our overdose of red white and blue but, like Easter, we wont forget what it's really about - Pimms, cheers!

Have a great Jubilee weekend whatever you are doing.

Blogger does not allow me to reply to comments at the moment, so please accept this as a thank you for your lovely notes on the garden.



My Own Personal Chelsea Garden



There's no big name sponsors, celebs or Alan Titchmarsh roaming in the undergrowth, but I do have Cow Parsley!  It's blooming at the end of our garden, giving the swing and it's shady spot a fairy tale feel.  The Columbines agree with me, nodding their bonnets in the gentle breeze and the Forget Me Nots add the most beautiful shade of sky blue to the burgeoning pallet of colour.


Now I am waiting for the white Foxgloves I grew from seed last spring, to come into flower.  I grew them to illuminate the shade and light up the green.  But until then I am enjoying the show.



Happy Feet





I've had bloggers block.  I think it may be linked to the fact that for over 2 months I have been unable to walk more than a few yards without pain, it has finally been diagnosed as tendonitis in my achilles.  I can only walk comfortably in trainers - with orthopedic gel inserts. Not a great look, and I am not sure how long it will be for. I really miss walking.

Then yesterday, I saw that Claire Lomas completed her London Marathon, 16 days after the race was started on 22nd April, supported by her family and friends.  Claire was paralysed from the chest down in a riding accident five years ago.  But she walked 26 miles in 16 days, with the aid of a £43,000 balance detecting 'robot suit'. In the process she has raised over £90,000 - so far.  No whining, no complaining that the robot suit made her bum look big, just getting out there and doing something positive and useful.  As she didn't complete the course on 22nd April she doesn't qualify for a medal, and when Matthew Pinsent, the rower, tweeted about this he ended up receiving 15 medals from other marathon competitors - giving their medals to Claire. She has raised enough money to fund a three year research project into spinal injuries.  Claire was cheered by huge crowds as she crossed the finishing line on the Mall.

Today the Dalai Lama tweeted, 'Actively promoting the positive inner qualities of the human heart will be appreciated by all'.  You know, I think he may be on to something.