A busy two weeks in The View from the Terrace

We have been doing so much lately that I have got really behind with my entries. I also hope to write and post more photos about the holiday in Cornwall, but first these last 2 weeks.

On the 12th we went to Coventry to a concert that was put on by two singer songwriter friends of ours from our John Denver club. The concert was in the afternoon so we went up the night before and stayed at our usual bed and breakfast, an old farmhouse in a country lane opposite pretty woodland. There were bluebells in the woods and all along the verges where there were also masses of forget me nots. Just across the fields in the distance is the city of Birmingham yet all of the woods around there are part of an ancient forest, The Forest of Arden that Shakespeare mentions in his plays.

The woods by our b & b were not open to the public so, after we checked out on the Saturday morning we drove to another bluebell wood nearby which had public walks running through it. It was really beautiful, carpets of bluebells, forget me nots and red campion.

After our walk we went off to find a nice pub where we could get lunch. We found a really pretty little village called Berkswell that had a very old pub called The Bear that dated from the 16th century.

After an enjoyable lunch Hubby went back to the car for a nap and I explored the village.

This is the oldest tea room in Warwickshire, and they still have the stocks out on the village green in case anyone causes trouble.

Inside the church I found a tablet telling about the Rev Thomas Cattle who was the vicar 1791 - 1834 I was quite surprised because I have Cattells in my family tree who lived around that area. Could the Rev be a relative of mine? I have, of course, checked since and can’t find a connection, but it’s quite likely as my 6x great grandfather, whose daughter married a John Cattell and became my x 5 great grandmother, was born in Hampton in Arden which, on looking it up, I found was the next village!

The concert in the afternoon was great and it was good to see old friends.

We have been enjoying really gorgeous weather lately and I have been catching up with my gardening. Some evenings I stayed out quite late. I love being out there in these long spring evenings. The moon is out with Venus hanging beside, yet it’s still warm. The solar lights come on including one in a cute little fairy house that Cat bought me at Christmas. It’s a reddish orange glow and looks as if the fairies are in there with their candles lit. The garden had a tranquillity in the late evening, so relaxing.

One night I was just coming in as it was getting too dark to see what I was doing when I heard voices from next door’s garden. When I went up to the bedroom for something I glanced out of the window and saw that they were in a hot tub in the twilight. These are new neighbours and I really like them. They are unconventional, a big family; parents and three children plus two dogs, a bulldog who stares at me through the gate and barks occasionally and a tiny little dachshund. They are all very friendly, though I’m not going too near the bulldog until I know him better. I think we will get on well with them

Last Saturday was the royal wedding which was was beautiful. Even Hubby, who professes to feel no emotion seemed to be brushing away a tear at one point. They are so much in love. I had felt a little sad when I st down to watch because there was one person who should have been there who wouldn’t be, but I was wrong, she was very much there. Harry is so much his mother’s son. Even the Duchess of York had been invited, this is the first major royal event she has attended since her divorce and I read that the rest of the royal family hadn’t wanted her to come this time, but Harry insisted. I would like to think that somewhere Diana knows what a catalyst she has been for the royal family.

I really enjoyed the address by the Reverend Michael Curry, almost a sermon, one commentator said, it was so moving. If we had preachers like that at our church, I might go! There was so much truth in what he said, whether or not you are religious, he spoke about love and it’s power which is true for all of us. He was very funny too.

I loved the little bridesmaids and page boys, especially the twins that carried the bride’s train with their cheeky smiles. The cellist was amazing, and he is only 19 and I loved the gospel choir too. I think it was the loveliest royal event I have ever seen. I feel that these two have great things ahead of them.

In the afternoon after the wedding we drove down the Wye Valley to the village of Llandogo where they were having a river festival. It was fun if a little pagan.

Sunday we had my birthday outing. My birthday was actually on Tuesday but we had the outing on Sunday because a favourite singer of mine, Lee Mead came to the Malvern Festival Theatre which is just under an hour’s drive from here. We had a great time. I haven’t seen Lee in concert before though I did go down to London to see him in a show. It was very intimate, lots of stories and jokes and a wonderful selection of songs. Afterwards he came out and signed CDs and let us take photos.

On my actual birthday we took it easy. I didn’t feel like doing anything major after everything at the weekend. Chris arrived at lunchtime with my present, a cherry tree! He had seen the gap at the bottom of the garden and bought this to go in it. He didn’t know I had already planted a cherry tree there. Fortunately this is a tree that produces fruit rather than blossom like the other one. Hubby has cleared a space in the back garden for it near the apple tree that we planted not long after we moved here. I had plans for an orchard up there but after planting 2 apple trees we never got around to planting anything more so maybe I can get back to my original plan. Cat sent me a wrap around ethnic skirt from my favourite shop in Cardiff and Tony gave me a voucher. Hubby is getting me one of those floral dresses that are in this year but I am going to go with him and pick it myself.

After lunch we drove to the garden centre for tea. They had a clearance sale on so I bought lots of plants for my hanging baskets and window boxes and some summer bulbs which are a bit late to go in now but were only £1 each so worth a try. Of course it has rained ever since so I haven’t planted anything yet!

Last updated May 26, 2018