Summer Time

 

Summer time - except it isn't sunny! This country is a different place when the sun shines - people get happy and smile occasionally, the summer roses spring to life and look fabulous against a blue sky and all is well with the world.  
Except summer doesn't necessary guarantee sunshine here and most days so far - and we are mid July - have been grey. No wonder the Brits go on holiday to sunny climes and go mad in the sunshine - as they say 'only mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the midday sun!' A day out is meticulously planned here with many weather charts consulted before a commitment is made but we have managed to make the most of the meagre sunshine and have a few days out enjoying the nation's gardens courtesy of the National Trust and we have had a holiday to Scotland when expectations were naturally lowered as the sun seldom shines up there!

Our journey started with a few days in Derbyshire because we had never been there, because I have a niece who lives there and I wanted to connect with and because I have long been a fan of a photographer and nature enthusiast called Villager Jim. I had heard he had a cottage on his property and we booked to stay there in the pretty village of Furlow  - he is very elusive and I thought I may get to meet him or even get some tips but no - we never clapped eyes on anyone from the main house. The cottage was quaint but very small and we spent three days bumping into each other. It made me think of how in times gone by anyone lived in a one bedroomed 'hovel' and even had children in there! Anyway we soon got the hang of making ourselves smaller and navigating the minute bathroom and the village of Furlow was very pretty and had a great pub The Bull - and this is where we met a day catching up with my lovely niece and her partner and enjoying local life and gossip! 

Derbyshire is so pretty - a stone wallers paradise - it reminded me very much of the west coast of Ireland without the mountains but lots of sheep and farmland and down to earth folk. We explored Matlock, Matlock Bath,  Buxton and Bakewell -  where we enjoyed the famous Bakewell Tart. There was an abundance of birdlife in Foolow and we woke to birdsong every morning which was lovely.

We then travelled up to Kelso on the other side of the Scottish side of the border and stayed in a beautiful old castle with a spa and an outdoor swimming pool. Kelso is a pretty border town and consists of quaint shops, restaurants and bars around a large square. We enjoyed some shopping here as we had both heard there was to be SNOW - yes in June - on our trip further north in Scotland. Nick bought some warmer trousers - he wasn't tempted by the kilt on display in the window and I bought a warmer jersey. We then wandered into the smallest pub in the world - labelled a micro pub - it was packed - all of 6 people - that was all there was room for. While in there we had a phone call from the shop up the road to say Nicks trousers were ready - they needed taking up an inch - which was very good service indeed. Like stepping back in time! The two owners of the pub shared their joy of fly fishing and told us of a Kelso tradition where the locals mark the borders on horseback the following month. Civic Week . A pity we were not around for that as it sounded like something unique. We spent the following day at Flores Castle - enjoying the gardens and then we had a lovely day with our Scottish friends Fred and Kathleen to catch up on family news and old times. Each evening after dinner we enjoyed a fine Scottish whisky in the booklined library/bar served by a lovely young man with the red colouring in traditional dress. It was the event of the day - none of the whiskeys were too expensive and all quite different and whisky is great at loosening lips and we got chatting to the other guests and enjoyed their company. Kelso was lovely and that area is definitely a favour so we will return again next year.

We then headed further north up to Pitlochry - travelling through dramatic scenery to enjoy a stay in a gastro hotel called The Knockendarrack. Here we enjoyed the most amazing food and also the highlight of our Scottish trip - which I will tell you all about in my next blog!

April was a difficult month - I thought I had appendicitis -thankfully it wasn't  - but it was a month of trying to get a doctors appointment and finally seeing a nurse at the practice who organised a blood test in over a months time! Yikes I didn't realise the NHS was so broke - or broken! Long story short - I paid for a GP and blood tests and all seems well and the crisis seems to have passed. Anyway I am much better despite having Covid again - but all of the above saw April fly past.

We went to Ireland and the Punchestown races - I have come to love this annual outing!  Its an opportunity to dress up a little and meet up with old friends. enjoy some racing and enjoy seeing the Irish ladies in the style stakes. They really know how to put an outfit together and this year was no exception.

We had a runner on Ladies Day - Authorised Art - who hadn't run for over six months and was a 33 to 1 outsider. Well he surprised everyone and was in the first three the whole race and in the lead two fences from the winning post - he was pipped at the post into third but it was very exciting and we were thrilled with him. We also had a lovely breakfast with trainer Ross O Sullivan and family in a village called Kill. A misty morning but the kitchen had wonderful views over the countryside and was such a friendly affair - then it was up to the gallops - very enjoyable!

Following the races, we headed north - unusual for us as the warmer south calls and Donegal is very weather dependant but we chanced it and enjoyed a night in Sligo en route and then a couple of nights at Letterkenny. We drove the coast and enjoyed spectacular view and then stopped in to Glenveagh Castle and the lovely gardens there. It was dry - YAY - but overcast but anything up there that isn't rain is a bonus! I had the second best prawn sandwich in Donegal in a tiny cafe on the waterfront full of huge trawlers. The holder of the title of best prawn sandwich still belongs to an equally small and insignificant eatery on the Isle of Achill. No frills but delicious fresh seafood! It was a lovely trip and made better by staying in some really nice places. to stay in. There are some great places if you stay off the beaten track and we enjoyed two country estates with lovely grounds and surrounded by woodland all lush and green where we could relax. Going racing three days straight can be quite tiring and full on so some downtime was in order. 

Now home again and over the Covid that followed me home the unpredictable weather continues but we have had some sunshine and yesterday we drove over to Kent - the garden of England to visit Sissinghurst Castle garden. Only our second National Trust visits of the year- we will be doing more especially when the roses are in bloom mid June but before that we are going up to Scotland via Derbyshire and looking forward to that.

Our Balcony pots have burst into life and the geraniums are in full swing and our lavender survived the winter too and is getting ready to flower.

Summer must be on its way - hey??