Lovin’ Laugharne

Laugharne on the estuary of the River Taf

Laugharne is a town located on the south coast of Carmarthenshire, Wales, reclining on the estuary of the River Tâf. The population at the 2011 census was 1,222.

Two days of perfect weather in mid March, we escaped down to Laugharne to get away from the builders and their dust cloud. 

And as soon as we had registered at the Browns Hotel, our usual rooms, we were off to Pendine beach. 

The excellent Castle View Fish Bar

Pendine Sands 

The official Carmarthenshire guide describes Pendine as '7 miles of glorious sandy beach'.

What is doesn't say is that due to MoD restrictions much of this beach is off limits between 7am and 4pm most days.

Hey Ho, there is still enough room for everyone and the men from the Ministry.  Mid afternoon and the sun was still high turning the whole beach into a giant looking glass. Every part of the village and beachfront was reflected in the Sands. 

Pendine Sands

Across the square from Laugharne Castle is the excellent Castle View Fish Bar and Restaurant. We all enjoyed crispy delicious cod with some nicely cooked chips, all served up with a smile and a Chardonnay. 

Continued in my next post

Terrific Tulips

Varieties  Silk Road  Parrot and Queen of Night

Tulips have been lovely this year and enjoying a renaissance in Sian’s garden (illustrated) and the broad fields in Norfolk.

And the Mail on Line reports (so is must be true) 

‘Britain’s last remaining tulip bulb fields are making a comeback this year with farmers planting seventy per cent more flowers to cope with the sudden demand. Farmers will also select the best flowers for the annual Spalding Tulip Parade, which uses 300,000 tulip heads to decorate its floats.

A machine then finishes the job, guillotining the remaining heads from their stalks.

The heads are left in rows in the field to rot, while the leaves and stalks are left to decompose and the bulbs finally removed from the soil in June.’

End

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2130905/Not-Netherlands-Norfolk-Huge-demand-British-grown-tulips-sees-field-turned-colourful-crop.html#ixzz5EbfF58TT

Paperwhites and Pussy Willow

Paperwhites and Pussy Willow: It has been a wonderful springtime for both. 

Paperwhites Narcissus papyraceus (from papyrus and aceus; meaning paper-like. It is a perennial bulb native to the Mediterranean.  We had some flowering in the garden in November - the bulbs begin to grow as soon as they are planted, with flowers appearing in 3–4 weeks.

Pussy willow is a name given to many of the smaller species of the genus Salix(willows and sallows) when their furry catkins are young in early spring.

Eastern European peoples parade pussy willows on Palm Sunday. 

The branches will often be preserved throughout the year in the family's icon corner.

Pick Your Own

I am very grateful to my cousin Wendy for sending me a link to Mark Avery’s website and a piece he did on wild flowers we can pick. (I’d mentioned to her, on our recent walk, that I might try my hand at pressing some flowers this spring.

Anyway Mark’s excellent article carries with it a very useful table on what is in bloom when 

And this inspires a series of drawings - I thought I’d start with common dog violets, which have been lovely this Spring!

Copyright of this useful table rests with Mark Avery - thank you.

Devices and Desires

Devices and Desires is a 1989 detective novel in the Adam Dalgliesh series by P. D. James. 

A splendid television version of the novel was produced for Britain's ITV network in 1991. It starred the heroic and taciturn Roy Marsden as Adam Dalgliesh.

These words, ‘devices’ and ‘desires’ sprang to mind as I looked at these two compulsive drawings on the commute home.

Our devices never cease to fulfil our desires.

Delivering The Books By Bus

It is the time of year to deliver 'the books' to one’s accountant in High Wycombe. 

 

And so I made the journey by bus from Beaconsfield. 

This thirty-minute journey is a great way to really appreciate the A40 as it follows the path of the River Wye, and the outskirts of the town. 

By the Police Station the Municipal Gardens are already in glorious spring bloom.

And there are interesting people to study on the bus. 

Bus travel means that somebody else is doing the driving. And bus drivers are, to a man or a woman, professional and courteous. 

There is always a seat on the bus 

In my experience the bus is always one time, unlike my flight out of Toronto last Thursday. 

What is more, there is no extra charge for Upper Deck. 

My heart beat faster whenever I see the 336 or 740.

Returning to the Aga Khan Museum

 Last week I was l lucky enough again to be working in the Aga Khan Museum. 

This is a great white cape of marble and stone that someone has placed gracefully in just north of Toronto city centre. Each angle, edge and plant is a delight.

Inside is a collection of over 1000 objects includes rare masterpieces that reflect a broad range of artistic styles and materials in Islamic art, Iranian art and Muslim culture.

If you are ever in Toronto this house of treasures is absolutely worth a visit! 

This is a job I'd like  - raking the stones everyday

Symmetry 

Steps to heaven

Everywhere plants and trees

One person makes all the difference

My impression last year

Treasures inside