It has been far too hot to consider going out for a walk recently. Perhaps I should have gotten up very early to go out, but the pollen is low in the air then, another no-no.
I went along the old railway line - flat and for the most part shady. There were a couple of fishermen in the river. When I walked back later they had moved towards the bridge (which marks the border between Breconshire and Radnorshire - well, I suppose it's actually the river that does that) and one was nearly waist deep in the river.
You can see the river is quite low. That shingle spit is normally under water.
There was a lorry and a couple of bods sorting out some of the parking for the Royal Welsh. They were marking the layout for the metal trackway laid down. (Just in case it rains . . .) I asked where they had come from, and it was Sheffield. Took them four hours, the chap said, so they must have left early.
The clouds were a welcome sight after day on day of clear blue skies and scorching heat. We had one sharp shower later, and it has been raining overnight, a fact which will have made my garden VERY happy. My pink Hollyhocks are flowering, but one of this year's young Hollyhocks further along the border had a couple of flowers browning right at the top of the stem. Hopefully it will recover a bit now. Trouble is I can't water everywhere.
The big white flowers of Convolvulus, also known as Bindweed. This reminds me of childhood, as it used to grow amongst a wild old hedge opposite our house.
Yarrow.
Woody Nightshade in a hedgerow.
Himalayan Balsam - generally known as "touch-me-not" Balsam. I have a vague recollection of reading about someone visiting Thomas Hardy and his wife, and she was concentrating on making the seed capsules explode and gave the visitor scarcely a glance. I think he was rather peeved by this.
Looking back towards home (you can just see the wooded hill central to the photo at the top.)
I now have confirmation that new neighbour's friend will be able to come and do the woodwork painting outside on the house for me, one day a week. I am going to do the ground floor windows and doors and he will be the one up the ladder, so I have to go to B&Q in Hereford to get primer, top coat and masking tape. I shall also pop into Doughty's whilst I'm about it as I need some fabric for binding the Baltimore quilt. I may go to a couple of the closer-to-Hereford-than-home churches which have been on my list for a while.
I put the border on the Christmas kitten squares yesterday. Need to get a cushion for it now. I also idly started sewing together a charm pack of William Morris fabrics which has been kicking around in my stash for years. Not sure what it will end up as but probably a lap quilt. I will miss my sewing class this week as Tam is here on Wednesday to finalise the Probate papers, which are all assembled and signed now, and then it can go in the post and that is a weight off my mind. I hate anything with a deadline hanging over me.
Right, I am droning on about nothing in particular, so time to end.
It is currently 3.10 a.m. and I've been awake since 1.30. After an hour I came downstairs - pointless tossing and turning.
So the Welsh show is gearing up, that means Fforest Fields be starting to get busy by the time I get down there later. I thought you would have gone to B&Q Leominster I'm sure that is nearer, or there is always Jewsons for primer. Himalayan Balsam is a real problem along the Thames and a few other waterways I have been to
ReplyDeleteWell, I first thought Leominster as it's nearer. Then I thought, I could go to Doughty's for fabric. Just checked though, and there's a patchwork shop in Leominster, so I could go there after all. I can bother a different church or two as well! I don't use Jewsons - went there just for wallpaper paste. Didn't think to ask how much, as the last one cost me £3.50, and it was a shade under £10!!! I have left it to Tam in my Will!!
ReplyDeleteAre you here Royal Welsh week? That's when all the locals stay home, and several shops shut down completely and board their windows up!
You're too busy to go walking!!
ReplyDeleteIf you have a Travis Perkins near you, open an account...even without that they are cheaper than Jewsons, but both are cheaper with. Plus TP delivery charges are lower. They don't do paint here, being over the road from B&Q!!
In the early 70s I rode up from Cardiff for the Builth Wells Rally based at the showground...a week of time trials, road races and such-like. Plenty camped at the showground but I stayed in a B&B on the left as you go to the showground from the town..I think they may still have the CTC winged wheel sign on the wall
I am up early this morning as well. I was so exhausted last night that I was in bed by 9:30. Awake at 4:30. Finally just got up. I have enjoyed looking at so many familiar plants in an unfamiliar neighborhood. Your bindweed is called morning glory here. I am pretty sure that touch me not is called snapdragons, but I'm not certain. Ours are orange. We have a huge swath of nightshade creeping up our french door in the bedroom. Since we don't use that door, I quite like the effect and leave it to its wildness. I have also learned the difference between mallow and wild geranium. I really do learn a great deal from blog reading. I hope you have a good day today.
ReplyDeleteSnapdragons are Antirrhinum I think?
DeleteThe joys of keeping a house looking good. We never found Jewson's much help in anything. Fortunately our doors and window frames are all UPVC in a dark grey, so apart from wiping them over, not much work. Off to get Iris from school in a bit, must make sure I've got a brolley as its been pouring down here since 9am. I got very wet at the tip! Xx
ReplyDeleteOh no....those sleepless nights. I know them well. They seem to go in cycles for me. Now I'm currently in a "sleeping good" cycle but I have no doubt it will end soon. Pooey! Hope you got back to sleep at some point, Bovey. Love, Andrea xoxo
ReplyDeleteI love seeing your wildflowers in bloom. My nature journal would be so enriched to be created in such a beautiful place.
ReplyDeleteI don't know how near you are to Carmarthen but there's a fantastic display of botanical stitching at the Botanic Gardens of Wales. Saw it today whilst having a welcome break from driving from Wiltshire!
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