Busy day

Daughter took me out for lunch on Tuesday, to the shore at Warsash, it's a small village on the other side of our local town, I had not realised it was on the coast, again so many small sailing clubs, which are everywhere locally.

These two had loads of fun, they look like twins, George is a year older than Molly.

As with everywhere else, here Will's double photo, first day at school along side last day at infants, I love his cheeky smile. He starts his summer holidays today, Wednesday, how quickly they grow up.

I spent the day at daughter's on Tuesday, most of my time was working out in her front garden, everything needs trimming back, it was hot and muggy, not the best day, I just wanted to get it done. it was much harder work than here, as it has not been done for a while, and it's much bigger than ours. Daughter knows nothing about gardening, she will start to learn, but with the two little people, it's impossible to work and supervise them, so I did most of the work. I have purchased garden gloves for both of them, they were very good at picking up the cuttings and carrying my tub to the bin to be emptied. Sadly daughters lawn is full of weeds nothing we can do about it yet, just keep it short.

We had a lovely lunch out in a café on the shoreline, and then a walk to let Molly and George run off some energy. I hope to be able to pop back with hubby, just like here in Portchester, it's a nice local place to visit away from all the tourist. 

Today is market day, so I will walk to the village, I don't think I need anything, but it will be nice to have a look around, rest of the day will be in my garden, dead heading and enjoying the space. My knees ache from kneeling for so long yesterday, which was expected, a restful day will soon sort me out.

BBQ weekend

 Saturday I was home alone, time outside in garden, I had watered the night before, so everywhere is looking good, so much of the colour I crave. I found a few peas growing, so I tasted one, wonderful, I will have a few more to harvest. 

My beef tomatoes growing outside are just turning orange, again I've not grown these before, the two plants in the greenhouse are very mixed, I do have some tomatoes growing on them.

I've had a couple cauliflowers, and I have one last one growing, these are purely for hubby, I don't eat them.

Saturday was a dull day, I did some housework and then went outside for a few hours, loads of deadheading done, it's another job I love doing. Later I rested and read, I have loads of great books. We had more rain in evening and over night, all good for the garden.

Sunday was much nicer, not too hot and really sunny, perfect for a BBQ in the garden, daughter, Will, George and Molly came, Grandma and Grandpa, hubby and I. We did simple food, the children loving burgers, followed by a lovely fruit salad, perfect time outside, chatting  and watching the little ones playing.

Having a few sunny days in a row does make me feel so much better, the rain is good for all growing crops and flowers, and hopefully our water reservoirs are high. Here the schools finish on Tuesday, so let summer begin, everyone is happier when they can get outside.

Sunny Eastbourne

We visited hubby's old army buddy for a few days this week, we stayed in a small converted barn in a stable near Polegate, East Sussex, the weather gods were good to us.

We popped to Eastbourne on Wednesday, starting on the east side near the harbour, sadly we did not visit the harbour this time.

We walked around the Pier, 

the views were stunning

It was a blowy day, but lovely and warm,

hubby and I 

As with most places along the south coast, the beaches are shingle.

Angie is not great on her feet, so we used the land train, hopping on and off, best way for her to see so much.

We had a meal in Beachy Head Hotel Tuesday  evening, we managed to get a table by the window, the views were stunning, we were high up and could see the south downs and right along the coast. The food was brilliant as was the lovely young waitress, a perfect evening with friends.

Later on Wednesday we spent a few hours sat in their back garden, fish and chips for tea, perfection, I do love sitting in someone's garden, I can enjoy the view without noticing anything to do. The car journey was only a couple of hours, so a perfect trip. 

I was unwell on Thursday,  I am beginning to see a pattern when I eat gluten, I have always suffered with eating foods with refined white flour, but these days it's happening more often, I shall speak to our doctors. At home it's much easier to control my foods, I am good when away, but the smallest amounts cause me issues.

Friday daughter came to ours with Molly and George,  they spent the morning with us, later we popped to Lidls and got loads for a Sunday BBQ. 

Flowers

 Flowers are my success story this year, my foxglove gave me one very tall spike, which has gone over and now there are shorter spikes, my hollyhock is coming into bloom, these are in the square garden, tucked to the back. I would love more next year, hubby is loving them as well, they stand out. I have planted some tall daisies in the area  hoping they will hide the lower scraggy bottoms of these plants.

These agapanthus are my original plant, it sits in the back section in front of the raised flower bed, they are at the back of my garden, but always look stunning, I have 9 heads here, I have cut one for my inside display. The leaves are evergreen, so interesting in the winter months, I have split this plant 3 times, and have 2 other smaller clumps around my plot, I hope to split it again later this summer.

I have a few sweet peas growing, this year I threw some seeds into a compost bag and popped it into the back corner outside my greenhouse, I have neglected them and they are growing, I have cut a few blooms, my hope is for them to fill out and I have more to cut. 

I love my table, this display has been here for a few years, both begonia's are in pots which stay in my greenhouse over the cooler months, the lower plant is now huge. I have other begonia's around the garden which are all behind with their growing.

This is my second hosta plant, it's in an old brass coal bucket to deter the slugs and snails, it works well, last month I separated this plant, I have 3 smaller ones in pots, they are looking good. I was not expecting this plant to flower, so these blooms are a bonus. 

I popped to my favourite garden centre with daughter and George last week, George and Molly love these butterflies, it's solar and when it's sunny the butterfly wizzes around the top, daughter did not think it would last long in her garden, so it lives in ours. 

Just flowers in this post, life is extremely busy here, family time.