Cytisus - Broom

This is a very sad report. The magical broom that I showed you two years ago is more magic than ever this year.
Quite unbelievable.
BUT - We had some heavy snow a month or two ago and it has spread the shrub out, so that it is overlaying other shrubs.

Sadly, it will have to go. You cannot cut Broom back to base - it will not re-grow from old wood. Anyway, they are not long-lived, so if I tried to tie it together, it would not live much longer. So - when the flowering is over - I shall remove it, with tears running down my face, and plant a replacement. The wee shrub is already waiting - sitting in its pot and looking tiny, but flowering its heart out.

On my Travels.

We set off from Northumberland on a nice morning, early (for us) and got to my cousin's near Marlbrough by 4.00. It was lovely to see V and D who are very dear to me. D is the eldest son of my 1st cousin, but is the same age as my eldest brother. Such are large Victorian families. His wife V is a darling and we are the best of friends. The next day they had invited 2 couples who had connections with the North to lunch. One had been an officer in the DLI (Durham Light Infantry) The other was a lady who was the daughter of a doctor who was known to G's father and cousin. So lots to talk about.

On Friday we went off to Torquay for a family gathering for the marriage of my eldest brother's second son. The marriage took place in the lovely old church in the hidden valley in the middle of Torquay. It was beautifully hot and the marriage was so old time. The first time I have heard someone say 'obey' for many a long year! She did give him a sideways look as she said it! Then the happy couple received communion - again a very rare thing these days.

The reception was in a hotel on the front and was soon followed by a wedding breakfast. After that there was quite a good break before the dancing and G took advantage of it to walk back to our hotel. I followed him before too long ie before the dancing got going. As it was a 12.00 wedding and I got back to my room by about 7.00 I didn't do too badly! It was lovely to see so many of my close relations, including son and daughter, at a happy event. The grandsons were not invited - the numbers game.

Next day, we said goodbye to my brother and other family members, before setting off to drive round a devious course to Ugborough. We went via Dartmouth and other places having lunch en route. At Ugborough, we found old Singapore friends of I and me, who were giving us supper and leading us to the ferry. The latter was not really necessary but meant that we could leave it to the last minute to leave. We had a good crossing, mostly in our bunks.

The drive down from Roscof to Lamor Baden was uneventful. We went by a country route as we had all day. I had meant to go via Elizabethd's village, but made an error and went down another road. The hotel she had found us was lovely. We had a suite with a view to die for. The rooms were very small but the added space of the suite made it very comfortable and there was a tiny balcony, which I used - not G though. The food was fabulous. The daughter had worked in the Waterside Restaurant where she learnt good English as well as meeting her husband. More importantly, she picked up a lot of cooking skills. Mum and daughter worked together in the kitchen and were ably assisted by Benoir who is the son-in-law and who also speaks very good English.

The morning after our arival, Elizabethd and her husband arrived to have coffee and lots of chat. I was talking to another guest when they arrived and I knew at once that they must be them! All four of us got on so well together. And of course, I was extremely grateful for Ed finding the hotel for us. (http://uk.hotel-parcfetan.com/index.php will take you to this lovely hotel and room 218 is the suite you want.) It would have been lovely to visit their home but it was not convenient this time - maybe next time we are in the vicinity.

We had 2 very hot days followed by 2 wet mornings and cloudy afternoons. The Town of Aury was seen at its best - at least, I mean the old port, not the town which was not interesting. The next morning, Vannes was wet and miserable though we were able to see how lovely it would be on a nice day. We did some serious (for us) walking along the coast trail in the afternoons.

You can walk along the edge of the sea and then next day you can drive to the nearest access and walk another bit.

The 5 days were over far too quickly and we drove back up to Roscoff, having lunch and picking up wine, ordered on the way down. We had taken a good cabin (cheap by day) so had a sleep and ate a picnic we had bought en route. We got to the kind friends who had fed us on the way out, about 9.30 so just time for a drink and then to bed. Sadly, our host was not at all well so was not able to come to the party the next day. This was a Sunday lunch in the Green Station Brasserie in Bath. It was to celebrate the 50th wedding anniversary of 2 more old Singapore friends. Neither G or I knew anyone bar the family (me only) but we both enjoyed meeting very nice people.

Next day we set off for the north in our air-conditioned car on a very hot day. Guess what - having gone up the M5 and M6 to Carlisle and then across, as we crossed the Pennines and turned onto the Military Road, the sun disappeared and the temperature dropped and we knew that we were nearly home!