Stormy Weather

[Nick Armstrong]

V

H'mm. Reminds me of the customer who went to the grocer's one winter morning, to find the proprietor standing with his back to the stove.

"Is that your Ayrshire bacon?", she asked.

I had to say it to myself a few times, but I got there!!

[Anna]

Cold this morning butwarmer weather promised later.

Certainly warm here from first light. When I left home at 8am there was such a beautiful smell of grass and meadowsweet and the meadow opposite is slowly turning into a sea of yellow buttercups....... already it's 17.8 and panic this morning as frantic search for more summery attire (having been swathed in layers of various woollies and boots since the last warm spell in March!) Saly, get out in your garden and soak up the Vitamin D !!

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

[Serial_Apologist]

Go down to Kew in lilac time,
In lilac time, in lilac time,
Go down to Kew in lilac time,
It isn't far from London.

I can remember reciting this doggerel at about age five, though I've no idea who the "poet" was now. It was required to be delivered in cutesy manner. No doubt it was written a long time ago; Kew is well inside London and has been for at least hundred years. Publicity for a newly opened District Line? Probably the word Kew would more accurately be re-spelt "queue" today. Still, the lilac is out in various shades from purple to white, and what a lovely scent it gives off. Thank you, fellow gardeners, for offering up this wonderful show every year, gratis.

Yep, given sunshine and warmth, this has to be my favourite time of year.

[cloughie]

Go down to Kew in lilac time,
In lilac time, in lilac time,
Go down to Kew in lilac time,
It isn't far from London.

I can remember reciting this doggerel at about age five, though I've no idea who the "poet" was now. It was required to be delivered in cutesy manner. No doubt it was written a long time ago; Kew is well inside London and has been for at least hundred years. Publicity for a newly opened District Line? Probably the word Kew would more accurately be re-spelt "queue" today. Still, the lilac is out in various shades from purple to white, and what a lovely scent it gives off. Thank you, fellow gardeners, for offering up this wonderful show every year, gratis.

Yep, given sunshine and warmth, this has to be my favourite time of year.

The cloud has yet to burn off in West Cornwall - will it I wonder? The computer says 12 degrees at Culdrose, oviously cooled down from the celebrity heat of Friday!

[marthe]

Rain, rain, rain again. I'm not complaining because my new "free from the city" rainbarrel is filling up quite nicely. The larger house plants are now outside soaking up the rain as well. it's still woolly jumper weather though. We had a warm spell the other day and I had to dig out from the closet a few short-sleeved shirts and summer skirts. No beneficial rays of the sun today. These were called "bennies" by my family because of the vit. D.

[Lateralthinking1]

Oh dear marthe. Summer has finally arrived here. Had my annual pilgrimage today up to the Wedgwood and Vaughan Williams hills. Warm sunshine. Home made sandwiches and a flask of coffee among the rhododendrons and azaleas. Paradise - and all free.

Let's hope the intended oil drilling doesn't start any time soon.

http://www.gardenvisit.com/garden/leith_hill_rhododendron_wood

http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/things-to-see-and-do/view-page/item562534/258349/

http://www.rfar.co.uk/documents/LeithHillinSurrey.pdf

[Anna]

Oh dear marthe. Summer has finally arrived here. Had my annual pilgrimage today up to the Wedgwood and Vaughan Williams hills. Warm sunshine. Home made sandwiches and a flask of coffee among the rhododendrons and azaleas. Paradise - and all free.

Goodness Lats, that brought back memories of regular excursions there as a child when we lived in West London. Many the times I've climbed up Leith Hill!! Rather hot to do it today though .... Didn't know about projected oil drilling

[Lateralthinking1]

Goodness Lats, that brought back memories of regular excursions there as a child when we lived in West London. Many the times I've climbed up Leith Hill!! Rather hot to do it today though .... Didn't know about projected oil drilling

Thanks for those good memories Anna. Must be my sixth or seventh year in a row. I didn't do the big climb today but have done. Don't think the tower is open on Tuesdays.

Hardly a soul there. Just a few dog walkers and a woman from the National Trust removing thistles. Very peaceful.

The few houses in the area have "say no to oil drilling" signs but they were there last year too. If and when it happens, I hope that they restrict it to a very small area and keep it quiet.

[Anna]

Thanks for those good memories Anna. Must be my sixth or seventh year in a row. I didn't do the big climb today but have done.

They were good memories Lat, the whole family (and I think the dog?) making the climb, thanks for reminding me of them. Another place (my geography hazy) but can't be far away that we went to was Box Hill. Do you know that? Another energetic Sunday afternoon climb! (It's got to 24.7 today, not conducive to climbing anywhere)

[Lateralthinking1]

They were good memories Lat, the whole family (and I think the dog?) making the climb, thanks for reminding me of them. Another place (my geography hazy) but can't be far away that we went to was Box Hill. Do you know that? Another energetic Sunday afternoon climb! (It's got to 24.7 today, not conducive to climbing anywhere)

My first office in the Civil Service - three people before it all became open plan - looked out on Box Hill. 1985-1987. Then it was London. We did a treasure hunt in cars on one memorable evening.

Much earlier, we had friends who lived in a caravan there. Not hippies but an ordinary couple who worked in my father's office. Mixed memories then. Fun times but Box Hill is also a favourite with bikers and gets a bit busy, particularly on weekends.

Leith Hill really feels like getting away from it all but then so does a lot of the Greensand Way and the North Downs Way. I have walked from Guildford to Dorking in a day on the NDW and not seen anybody for hours.

[cloughie]

Still dull here!

[Flosshilde]

It's been wonderful here the past couple of days, & looking set to continue for at least the rest of the week. Rather frustrating really, as my partner is away for the week (walking in Sutherland) so I thought I'd clear out my workroom - but the sun keeps tempting me outside!

[EdgeleyRob]

Sunny and very warm in Manchester this last couple of days.
There's nothing I like better than being stuck in an office on days like this

[Nick Armstrong]

Sunny and very warm in Manchester this last couple of days.
There's nothing I like better than being stuck in an office on days like this

If the office is nicely air-conditioned, it can be bliss...