Sunday 8 June 2014

homeward bound …

 

We packed our clothes …  cleaned the holiday cottage … loaded the car … and started the journey home.  The skies opened … torrential rain fell … it thundered … it lightened … but luckily for us there were only two mornings of rain during the whole week.

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the rooftops of Norwich

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Norwich castle

We had contingency plans in case of rain … one day we visited Norwich … the castle, and by the time we had spent a couple of hours in the museum … the rain had stopped. The rest of the week was fine and pleasant … walks were taken … delicious meals were eaten … and we spent as little time indoors as possible.

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the quay at Wells

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husband practising with his new camera

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Wiveton Hall cafe

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Peony border in the walled garden at Wiveton

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a peaceful scene at the Cley Bird Reserve

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By the time we reached home … a couple of hours later … the sun came out and it was hot.  After unloading the car I went straight out into the garden …  eager to see what surprises it would hold.  It looked like a jungle.  The aquilegia had all gone to seed, but the roses and delphiniums were blooming.  The slugs hadn’t had a field day with the newly planted seedlings and had left the lettuce alone …  they had had a nibble here and there on the beans … but nothing too drastic.  Everything seemed to have doubled in size whilst we were away … the rain had done some damage … plants needed staking, tying back … and a lot of deadheading.

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a new rose this year – labelled Golden Showers which turned out to be more like Cream Showers!

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bees, bees, bees, bees, bees – loving this geranium

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delphiniums waited till we returned to bloom

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foxglove

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sugar snap peas

I began almost immediately not even stopping to unpack … by the time the evening came it was almost as if we had never been away … so engrossed was I in getting the garden back into shape.  By the end  I had filled the ‘wheelie bin’ with weeds and plants that had snapped with the weight of the rain.

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allium

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greenfinches

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blackbird and sparrow

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goldfinch

It seemed strange to look out and see a burgeoning garden full of life instead of a small flowerless courtyard … to hear the garden birds instead of sea gulls.  It is nice to go away to be in a different environment for a few days … to see the sea and the dunes and find different places to visit … but it is equally nice to return home to the familiar … for what would one be without the other.

I felt  strangely reluctant to start blogging again  … after not being connected to the internet for a week … no  thinking what my next post will be about … no reading of other people’s posts.

But as I sat down to write this post  it felt like I was writing to old friends … people I feel I have got to know a little over the last few years … people I would undoubtedly miss without regular updates of what is happening in their world … so here I am … and it looks like I am probably here to stay … for the time being anyway.  I guess some habits are hard to break.

‘Til the next time – have a good week.

44 comments:

  1. Getting away is always a good thing, it don't we worry about home while we are gone? I always get anxious, the whence do get home everything is fine, the garden went on without us and grew. And yes we would certainly miss you! Your flowers are gorgeous.

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    1. To be honest, a week is long enough for me to be away from home - the garden needs a lot of attention - enough to keep me occupied for a while anyway.

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  2. Welcome back, glad not too much damage was done, the weather has been awful at times.

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    1. My garden caretaker said she only had to water the garden twice as there had been so much rain whilst we were away.

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  3. How is It that plants always grow so much quicker behind your back? Glad you had a good break.

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    1. It is one of the mysteries of the universe Sue.

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  4. Is there anything more beautiful than foxgloves and delphiniums?! Lovely photos. Glad you had a safe trip home.

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    1. I have a particular fondness for foxgloves but they didn't seem to seed themselves as much this year - maybe I cut the spikes off too soon.

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  5. It sounds and looks like you had a fantastic time on your holiday. Beautiful photos of your trip and your garden.

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    1. Thanks for visiting and leaving a comment - yes, we did have a good time, but it was good to come home.

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  6. Typical gardener! The first thing you do is worry about the outside. I'm exactly the same.

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    1. There would be something wrong if we didn't I reckon.

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    2. A sign of a good gardener perhaps.

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  7. Welcome back. Lovely photos from your holiday and your garden. Pleased to hear not too much damage was done by the weather while you were away.

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    1. Thanks Susan. It could have been a lot worse I'll soon get it all put to rights.

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  8. Oh it sounds and looks as if you had a great break Elaine but still it's always good to get home. I always head out straight to the garden too and leave himself to unpack and put the washing machine on. It's amazing what goes on in the garden when our backs are turned but you will soon catch up. Those peas look most delicious and will I imagine be munched this very week.

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    1. I can't wait to try the peas - you can't beat them fresh from the garden can you.

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  9. Lovely picture of the goldfinch, and glad to see you wearing sensible walking gear, hope hubby is happy with the camera

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    1. Thanks David - yes he is happy with it - still experimenting at the moment.

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  10. I do love the strength and boldness of Norwich Castle with its layer on layer of wonderful Norman arches. The photo of Wells epitomises beautifully that area of the Norfolk coastline.
    Your garden is lovely, I do enjoy exploring the garden too when I have had a few days away.

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    1. It is such an amazing structure - more of a keep than a castle. We love the Norfolk coast for it's huge expanses of nothingness, beautiful.

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  11. Wow Elaine this looks and sounds like it was an amazing time!! Your garden is amazing and I LOVE that picture of the two swans. I wonder if they are a couple? :)

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    1. We did thanks Keith - I think they were a pair - they kept together all the time.

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  12. Sounds like you had a lovely time, and the weather was kind to you! Nice to see your smiling face and those delightful swans.
    It's always so good to get away, you appreciate home all the more, I would have dashed straight out to the garden as well to see what surprises lay in wait, how wonderful to hear all the large blooms waited for your return, and how delightful they look too. I just love the bird pics especially the goldfinch! I bet they all missed you. Lovely to have you back. xxx

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    1. Thanks Snowbird. My friend fed the birds everyday for us whilst we were away - she was amazed at how much food they went through.

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  13. A most enjoyable post, and terrific pictures. Good to see that you enjoyed yourselves and had mostly good weather.
    Regarding the last two paragraphs I think that all bloggers feel like that at times but thankfully it soon passes. Flighty xx

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    1. Thanks Flighty. It's nice to be back and getting into the swing of things again.

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  14. Glad you had a lovely break.. Great photos, loving the bees and birds :o)

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  15. Dear Elaine - looks like your trip took you to gorgeous places. So glad that when you returned you found your garden had survived. I am so happy you are back to blogging - I so enjoy seeing your part of the world. Hope you have a great week.

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    1. It's a lovely part of England Debbie. The garden got on okay without me - but I like to think it missed the attention I give it.

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  16. Welcome back. Lovely photos - the one with the swans is gorgeous. I've spent a couple of days - in between the deluges of rain - taking out all the aquilegia seed pods to try and stop them spreading any more:)

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    1. Exactly what I have been doing Rosie and the same with the Sweet Rocket which is aiming for garden domination.

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  17. Glad you enjoyed your break away Elaine. Its lovely to go and inspect the garden when you have been away isnt it? Amazing though how quickly things grow, even in just a week.

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    1. That is one of the nice things about returning home - checking everything out keeping fingers crossed that everything survived.

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  18. Welcome home you sound just like me going straight out in the garden to get it back in shape. You were lucky the slugs and snails kept away too! Your new rose looks gorgeous and such a good cop of sugar snap peas. Your holiday images were very good too especially the one of you! Sarah x

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    1. Thank you Sarah - I took so many photographs but if I showed them all the post would have been a million miles long -hard to know what to choose.

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  19. It's amazing just how much happens in the garden when your back is turned. Blink & you'll miss it. Home Sweet Home...you can't beat it!

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    1. I have worked hard since we got back the garden was a bit like a wayward child who I had lost control of - it's looking a bit more respectable now.

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  20. I am so glad to hear that the rains held off for you on your trip! It is funny when you mentioned sitting down to write this post and how it made you feel as I have the same feeling quite often! And I actually thought about you the other day and wondered if the weather was behaving for you both....so neat that we all share these blogging friendships! And let me just say that the photos of your trip were spectacular! WOW! But boy oh boy your delphiniums are outstanding! As well as your foxglove! What a treat to be greeted by such beauty! Welcome home and happy gardening! Nicole xo

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    1. Thank you Nicole for a lovely comment. The delphiniums are glorious - I think I shall sow some more for next year - they look great at the back of the border.

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  21. Your vacation sounds to have been a nice change of pace Elaine. It is good to step away from routine (and the internet) from time to time. I too was shocked to see just how much the garden had grown in my absence. It is as if it is charging ahead at full steam trying to make up for the really late spring.

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  22. What a beautiful place to spend a few days of vacation in! I love the beach picture, I miss the beach so much. And I'm happy to hear your garden was okay after being away for a few days. We have foxglove with lots of bumble bees in our garden, too and I was watching them the other day for quite a long time - so amazing. Love the bird pictures! :)

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  23. The bird pictures were taken by the husband on his new camera - practice shots to find out what the camera will do - he is like a little boy with a new toy. The beaches in Norfolk are huge - you can walk for miles and not see another soul. Since our return I have the garden put to rights it is full of amazing scents and colour - just the way I like it.

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