Down the garden path....

Who can resist a pathway meandering through beds of lavender or clipped box hedges to an unseen hideaway up ahead, out of sight? The path is inviting "Come on - follow me, you never know what you might find'....






Maybe a painted white wooden bench, perfect for a sit down and a few minutes in the shady scent of some climbing roses before exploring more.....

As for an open gate! No matter how hot and tired my aching feet might be, I just cannot resist having a peek (and taking a photo!)

These are just a few of the magical gardens we have been visiting over the glorious summer we are enjoying here in the U.K. Absolutely fabulous - lush, scented and exactly how you would expect an English country garden to look...

The lavender has been at its best in the last few weeks....we have certainly been getting our money's worth from our National Trust membership! Gorgeous, gorgeous English gardens...I take my hat off to the army of dedicated gardeners who keep these gardens looking like this...they work tirelessly to bring their gardens to the peak of perfection during the summer months & perfect they certainly are.....

What a fantastic summer - who said it rains all the time in England??

Hope you are all enjoying a little piece of paradise whether it's winter or summer where you are.....x

It's been way too long....

since I let you all know the latest goings-on at the M.H. Sorry for the long absence - things have been a bit stressful of late....more later....First up, can I just say thank you so much for all your suggestions and messages of goodwill re: the glandular fever...GG is much better after a few weeks of R & R a la mother come handmaiden & seems well on the road to recovery. The route to wellness has been paved with much vitamin swallowing and a strict juicing regime which I am totally convinced has aided said recovery more than anything else. So, the end result is that GG will be winging her way back to Sydney for the start of semester at the end of July. I shall be a sad mother/handmaiden once again...
Meanwhile, the BF has arrived and the M.H has become tourist central with mother/handmaiden now also undertaking the role of tour guide....resulting in lots of driving to destinations near and far. Boyfriend and GG are ensconced with her brother in Hampshire this weekend so mother/handmaiden/tour guide gets five minutes to update you all!

We enjoyed what was probably the hottest day of the year so far at Hampton Court yesterday:



The day before - a visit to Mottisfont Abbey, a National Trust property in the Test Valley in Hampshire. The walled garden is magnificent and the property is situated right on the river Test with it's clear cool water and abundance of trout...just beautiful; if you get the chance, do go. (Note - This is probably one for mother/handmaiden and her friends....I got the feeling that Aussie boyfriend and GG weren't quite as appreciative.....)

As lovely as all this summer bounty is, there has been an underlying sense of melancholy this past week. I mentioned in a previous post that my dear friend in Sydney had received bad news at Christmas time. She had been on a revolutionary treatment and we were all hopeful for a good outcome. I spent some happy time with her recently in Sydney and we joked that when we used to talk about our upcoming 50th birthdays (we were only 3 months apart in age), spending it in Sydney's RPA hospital wasn't part of the plan...A week ago on Friday I got the call from her husband I had hoped I would never receive....she died early on Friday morning and her funeral was held on Tuesday....I am so, so sad that I will never again enjoy a laugh over morning coffee with her or have our usual late afternoon chat about what's on the menu for dinner. Her daughters are the same age as mine and my heart breaks for them....

So - as I prepare for another outing and pack another picnic (and fleetingly wish I was staying home) I shall remember & be thankful that I have the opportunity for another day out with my GG (appreciative or not....)

Be happy, make the most of every day and count every blessing.....hope you are all having a beautiful weekend wherever you are.....s