A Strange Phenomenon

I've been around tomatoes all of my life. My Dad use to grow glasshouses full for sale I've grown then in the garden and I've eaten them all my life.........BUT.... I've never ever seem such an odd sight as the seeds sprouting inside an uncut tomato.........

I know researchers were doing trials on radiating fruit and vegetables to make them have a greater shelf life but I'm fairly sure radiated produce hasn't been allowed in this country. Or even that it would produce such a strange phenomenon.

I cut another tomato for a salad yesterday and found yet another on with just a few seed beginning to sprout. Not as advanced as this one though.

March 14th. A Gardeners Delight.

Monday has turned out to have been the best day of the week. On arriving home from my morning swim 'Himself' suggested a trip to Angelsey Abbey. It's a National Trust property we had been meaning to visit for some time now. I knew we had missed their renown snowdrop display so I wasn't sure if I really wanted to go out. We'd also seen Carol Kline visit the Winter Garden on Television's 'Gardeners World' program on the previous Friday. Then, having remembered seeing photographs of the magnificent Himalayan Silver Birch grove in the gardens I decided I wanted to go.

The journey wasn't a long one as the Abbey is just a little north east of Cambridge but we were disappointed that the lovely sunny day had turned overcast. Arriving at around lunch time we were surprised by how busy the car park was. We had thought Monday wouldn't be a busy day especially as we knew the Mill and the Abbey wouldn't be opened! Quite a few people were coming aways from the Gardens as we walked in. 'Himself' soon sussed out why. Prince Charles had been for an official visit and and was now having lunch in the closed Abbey restaurant. The up side of his visit was the Mill was opened to visitors.

As we had a nice light lunch in the modern light airy restaurant the cloud layer dispersed and the sun made a welcome appearance once more. We set off in the sunshine to walk around some of the the gardens. The grounds of the Abbey are essentially divided in to four main gardens, Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter garden

The winter garden didn't disappoint despite the snowdrops and the fragrant Virburnum Bodnantence Dawn being over. The Hellebore's were still all out in flower and daffodils were making their splendid sunny appearance.

The main appeal of the Winter Garden though is the colourful stems of the shrubbery and the wonderful tactile tree barks.

Such vibrant colours made more so by the sunshine.......

....and then round a corner you stumble on this plantation of young Himalayan Silver Birch. It truly is a beautiful sight. Their brilliant white trunks gleam in the sunlight.

Out of the winter garden and round another twist in the path you come across the mill. This is a water powered flour mill. It shouldn't have been open but for the Royal visit, so we took the opportunity to pay it a visit as well. 'Himself' climbed the steep ladder to the top but I elected to stay at ground level. The volunteer guides were most informative and actual started the hugh mill wheel turning to grind fresh flour. I had to buy some, so now I have a kilo of freshly ground wholewheat flour sitting on the shelf in my kitchen.

The body of water that runs the mill is called a Lode. It's clear, clean water that sparkles in the sunlight. The leaves of the emerging water lilies are clearly to be seen sprouting towards the surface.

The present mill dates from the 18th century but there are records of a mill on this site in the Doomsday Book of 1068. The cogs and wheels of this machinery are a work of art. Some of the cog wheels are made from wood and interlock so perfectly. The main upright beam that turns all the machinery is one massive tree trunk of a sweet chestnut tree.

Pressing on along the winding paths we came across various sculptures all around the gardens. This guy must have felt a little chilly this winter!

The original Abbey on this site was an Augustinian priory and was built in 1236. Religious life of the Priory came to an end in 1536 when it was dissolved by Henry VIIIth. The Priory then became a private house with various owners. In 1928 it was bought by Lord Fairhaven who renovated and restored it. He eventually left it to the National Trust.

After we had covered about half the grounds I decided that was enough for my dodgy joints. A sit down in the restaurant with a cup of tea was definitely called for. We'll save the rest for another time of the year and on a day when the Abbey is opened to view.

Most definitely a place to be placed on the list for further visits, a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon.

Feb 25th A Cathedral Flog it

Friday and another fine sunny if somewhat cooler day. A morning swim was the first order of the day followed by coffee at 'Sundays' in town. 'Himself' was coming in by bus and we were meeting up for coffee.

After coffee we strolled over the brand new revamped Cathedral Square, remarking of the bland emptiness of it and the numerous disgusting blobs of chewing gum trodden in the new expensive sandstone paving blocks. Twelve million pounds and two years of work for a very unimposing monument to modernness.

Anyway rant over. We were heading to the Cathedral to have a nose at the filming of a popular BBC2 television program called 'Flog It'. Members of the public take in their antiques for valuation and appraised by experts and if their item is deemed interesting enough they get to be filmed with the 'Television antiques experts' and their item is then sold at an upcoming auction.

There were queues of people. They got longer and never seemed to reduce. Inside rows of patient people clutching their precious goods sat patiently waiting their turn with the experts.

The television crews waited for their next victim with the Antiques celebrity expert Philip Serrell.

The shows presenter Paul Martin wandered about and talked to the waiting punters.

We bypassed the waiting queues and went straight in. Its a few years since our last visit and I always find churches and Cathedrals fascinating places. It's their history and architecture that interests me. Despite the vast size and height of the building it was kept warm by these hugh ancient heating stoves.

We wandered around past the Cathedrals two notable memorial edifices, namely Katharine of Aragon and Mary Queen of Scots, looked again at the ancient silver ware and marvelled at the stone carving. Always finding bits that we'd missed on previous visits.

Since the building was cleaned and restored after the disastrous arson attack of a few years ago, the pale Barnack sandstone of building gleams and radiates light around from the magnificent stain glass windows.

Our Cathedral always attracts lots of visitor because of its history and architecture but today there was understandably extra milling around, along with us, watching the proceedings in the central aisle.

February 24th - From the Roof to the Sea.

No swimming this morning. We were expecting the roof insulators to arrive sometime this morning. The Government have been giving grants to householders in an effort to get their homes up to modern insulation standards to help save on energy costs. Our loft was badly in need of upgrading so we took it up. The last three dusty days had been spent clearing out all the last 45 years worth of accumulated junk.

This required some ruthless decision. Stuff had to go! So my trusty old car was load up to the roof and duly went to the local tip. Another load to the Charity shop. The dustbin and recycle bins were filled and the local Auctioneers called to come.

The Insulation guys came early, so early in fact we weren't even up! Well 'Himself' wasn't. They set to work and gave our roof space a extra thick layer of insulation, relagged pipes, gave the water tanks posh new overcoats, draft proofed and insulated the loft hatch.

It was all over so quickly and they were off to their next job. We carefully replaced the essential items that couldn't be junked like the suitcases and the emergency camping gas cooker. Very necessary if we have power cuts!

Job done and it was still early, and sunny. Not too many pleasant days this winter so we make the most of them when they arise. A trip out was called for.

Not surprisingly we headed for the coast and after a fish and chip lunch break in Wells Next the Sea we set off once more on the coast road around Norfolk. A brief stop at one of the 'twitchers' regular meeting places to take a look at the feeding birds and wild fowl. before arriving at our destination fro the afternoon. Sherringham.

Thank goodness we dont have to load up modern cameras with film nowadays. This old sign was on the Sherringham Steam Railway Station wall. Naturally we had to have a wander around it.

It's a well kept station...............
With lots of authentic artifacts............
Even the diesel engine gets an outing .............
I was first here back in 1958 with some school friends on a sketching Holiday. We've made brief days out here over the years. One notable day was on my own with the Boys in a gale. The boys were dodging the huge waves crashing over the promenade. Over the years the little town went into a decline but not its had some renovations and is not a much smarter place once more.
Just off the main town street was this delightful row of freshly whitewashed Fishermen's cottages
I'm not too sure on the relationship of an imposing blue lobster is to an Ironmongers shop is but I like him
There's a brand new museum and community center down on the sea front. Strange name to give it though I suppose it must have some significance.
After a while people and wave watching and at the sea front we headed of up a side street where we had seen a quaint old fashioned tea shop.......

........across the road from the Oddfellows Hall. Ooooo look, two oddfellows!

The teashop was really nice. A double fronted bay windowed shop. Inside had low ceilings whitewashed walls and exposed wooden beams. Tables had lace cloths and the table wear was mismatched bone china. Very civilised. An old fashioned cream tea was the perfect ending to the day.