Another Adelstrop moment

On Saturday H had to drive to Deddington, just outside Banbury, to pick up a consignment of the CD he has been involved in, made by an Italian harpsichordist.  We went by the scenic route as the weather was super and M could be left glued to Wimbledon (we're making the most of last week and this, as you can imagine).  Passing a signpost to Adelstrop, we couldn't, of course, just drive on by.
We found the bus shelter with its GWR bench and plaque of the poem as I described here.  It was absolutely deserted.   Reading the poem we realised that the timing, late June, was perfect, no-one came and no-one left, just we two, at the junction of two country roads on a beautiful June afternoon.  And did the blackbird sing?  Yes, a single one at first, then another answering then a chaffinch and others joining in.  Quite magical.

Deddington proved to be a lovely village full of yellow stone houses.  The church has an interesting history as it once had a spire that collapsed.  I found this gargoyle on the church quite strange - I assume it's a monkey:

it's paired with this rather despondent eagle, who looks much too weary to fly anywhere, let alone up to heaven!

I've managed, by the way, to complete quite a few of the tasks on my list in my post  of 12th June.   I did meet up with Judith, and spent a lovely relaxing hour or so in her interesting garden.  Hopefully, we can get together again soon (when you've got over the ladies lunching, Judith).  

I finished off two small cardigans for the newly arrived twins, who turned out to be two little girls,  finished reading all the Peter Wimsey I had set myself - with much enjoyment as always, sent the parcel to Ira in Berlin, and had a lovely day with my daughter at the Three Counties show.

 I also accompanied H to three organ recitals, had lunch out at Mac and Jac's in Worcester (well worth a visit if you're ever there, especially for their Bakewell tarts), and took M to Tewkesbury for the morning.  

I haven't got the art material out, or looked at any UFO's or done more than think about some other projects, but Those will still be there when it's pouring with rain and freezing cold.  At the moment the attitude here  is definitely seize the day (or carpe diem if you prefer - gathering rosebuds* as we go, as Wimbledon doesn't last forever!)  This week we hope to go to Cardiff, someone is coming to 'service' H's virginals, and there's the small matter of 100 cds to sell - anyone for harpsichord music?

* Love Herrick's poems but my favourite has to be this.

Sorting the sheep from the goats

Conversation overheard whilst waiting to buy lemonade in the food tent on Sunday:

Boy (aged about 6 or 7years old):  So, you can milk goats but not sheep?

Parent, somewhat uncertainly:  Um, no.  You can milk sheep - you can get cheese made from sheep's milk.  Ewe's milk - lady sheep are called ewes.

Boy:  Oh.  So you can tell they're goats not sheep 'cos they've got horns?

Parent: Well, no.  Some sheep have horns, especially rams - those black and brown and white Jacob's sheep we looked at have horns.

Boy:  Oh.  Well sheep have woolly coats - you get wool from them, you don't get wool from goats. Goats have different sort of fur.  Though some of them were curly weren't they?  

Parent:  Well actually, those curly ones were Angora goats and people knit with their fleece - but it's called mohair.  And you do get curly sheep too...

Boy (sighing loudly):  I think I'd better stick to cows.  I like cows better.


EDIT:   In response to the person who emailed me, the first and third photos are Angora goats, the second is a Jacob sheep, and the last is (I think) a Cotswold sheep and her three lambs.  J

Lazy Sunday

Early Sunday morning in the cattle sheds at the Three Counties Show all was peaceful.  Some of us  had just settled down for a quiet think.  Some of us were being given advice from our elders on what to do when:

Some of us were bright eyed, bushy tailed and a bit scared, so we were trying to talk to dad:

Some of us were having a nice little snooze:

And some of us were just plain fed-up with daft people saying 'oh isn't he big?'  'Is he friendly?' 'What sort is he?'  So we'd turned our back on the whole proceedings.

And some of us had already taken to the show ring, where everything was hustle and bustle.  More photos to come in a later post.

Birthday treat postponed

I'm sitting here waiting for the delivery of some fat rascals from Betty's as a treat for H's birthday.  But we shan't eat them until tomorrow.

Today is H's 60th birthday and he's gone off by train to London to do things he likes.  M is incredulous that he wants to celebrate by himself and I didn't want to go (conveniently forgetting that someone has to provide her with meals and drinks whilst she sits glued to the French Open Tennis) but it's his birthday  and he must  do as he pleases - musical things which don't appeal to me in the slightest  -so why waste a train fare? He's certainly got the weather for it, it's wonderful here.  The air first thing this morning when I went outside was just fabulous - warm and slightly scented and very clear.  He's just texted to say he's reached his destination - train was a bit complicated as he needed to be there at noon, so daughter took him to Birmingham International.  He's coming back to Worcester, and we're all meeting up for dinner (lovely not to have to cook it). He has another trip planned on Saturday to attend the AGM of a musical society he belongs to which is meeting in Oxford, so I shall put him on the train at Malvern.  I'm certainly not going to that one!

I really ought to be looking at accounts but I can't get very motivated at the moment - and I'd only have to stop to do M's lunch.

Edit, 14.29:  Fat rascals arrived - the Betty's by post site is wonderfully efficient, I always find.  Several more texts from H charting his progress through the day - hope he doesn't miss the train home!