Gardens ...

I have been seriously hacking back one of my hedges, and collected the clippings into ten large plastic bags, all in preparation for the great day when the tree at the bottom of the garden will be pruned hard ....

Remaining with the gardening theme, I include a few pictures of the college gardens, with special emphasis on the new bed at the feet of Brickmaster Copperleaf.  It used to be totally dominated by ivy, but recent plantings have brightened things up a bit!

Bad News and Sadness in Spring

I read recently that suicides go up in Spring – apparently the contrast between their own misery and the joyousness of Spring is too much to bear for those poor souls.  I find this counterintuitive.  For me January and February are depressing months, too dark and damp and cold, and a let down after the happy harvest of Autumn and the joy of Christmas time.  If I receive bad news in those months it really really gets me down and I feel sad for days.  But if something awful happens in Spring, hey that’s different!  I mope for an hour or two, and then pull myself together and go for a walk.

While walking I see lots of flowers and happy people enjoying the sunshine, the birds sing and build their nests, the frogs populate ponds and lay the foundations for the next generation, and the whole world seems cheerful and brand new.  Even reading the papers with their regular diet of disasters and outrages cannot dampen my spirits!  Somehow every Spring carries the promise of new beginnings and endless amazing possibilities, so it is easy to forget one’s troubles and take courage and hope for a better future.

And even if it won’t be my own better future, at least things will be good for some other people, those who are still young and strong and ready to take on the world and wrestle it to the ground.  I find it well nigh impossible to be miserable while watching young people walk hand in hand, parents with babies in pushchairs eating ice cream in the park, old folk sitting on their favourite benches watching kids feed the ducks on a Saturday afternoon, and all of creation is green and growing and getting into its stride.

Carpe Diem, I say – Seize the Day (and throttle it!)

Life is good.

Lost in London - Tideway Village

I had another great day in London yesterday, mainly noodling around near the Globe Theatre and getting lost again.  This was my second attempt to locate it, but I once again had forgotten my map and V was not amused having to trundle around the London riverside for three hours.  She was even less amused when I discovered the map at the bottom of my handbag later on, but that is another story.

Anyway.  The weather was absolutely stunning in the afternoon, though the morning was a little overcast.  First we had a look around the area of the Houses of Parliament - well, behind the area, there were way too many tourists in the main venues.  But all we had to do was walk towards the side streets and there was no one around at all - so that's where I took a few photos.

We also had a quick walk around the little park behind Parliament.  Towards one end is a children's play area, and it has a musical stepping area - you step on a metal plate and it makes a sound.  Well, it did for everyone but me.  Apparently I step too lightly.  I gotta gain some weight so I can make more of an impression!

During our subsequent ramble we found something really amazing:  Tideway Village!  It is nestling along the waterfront close to Battersea Power Station.  The whole area is one big building site.  We had to snake our way along a long and winding path, searching for access to the river, and suddenly were confronted with a community of houseboats!  Imagine the scene:  on one side of the little path you see dozens of dilapidated old vessels, on the other a group of skyscrapers being build!  Surreal and mind-boggling.

Apparently the little community of doughty water-rats are currently engaged in a battle for survivals with the developers, obviously I signed their on-line petition immediately (hope it isn't too late!) and wish them every success for the future.  Here is the link, if you are interested.

http://tidewayvillage.blogspot.co.uk/

They've even got a security gate in front of the ships!