Saturday Evening with James

8pm........and at this point I should be cooking pieces of lamb and homemade apple bread over a camp fire in a remote part of Poole Harbour, having kayaked out with my brother, where an evening of fishing, food, Jack Daniels and conversation around the camp fire was planned for the whole night.........shame about the rain...................we took the executive decision to postpone until next Saturday as the rain is sporadic and heavy. We simply must get our 'man time' together before he jets off with his wife to Madagascar!

I was in Bournemouth with Amanda at the time that I called him and the decision was made. The beach around the pier head was amass with quite literally hundreds of Africans, setting up for the evening. Drums, music, dancing. Masses of food and countless large pots of various stews etc were there to feed the hungry as the wild dancing ensued. Not a drop of alcohol (except from the good old brits trying to 'do the African thing' but failing miserably because of their typical drunkeness) was being consumed. Coca Cola, fruit juice and water was all they needed to quench the thirst as they danced. It was absolutely hypnotic! Away from the pier and at the beginning of the gardens, Salsa lessons were being given free to the masses as nearby the steam carousel turned......Bournemouth really is an extraordinary place at times!

We came home and how the weather had changed, but alas so had the time and tides. As they say 'Time and tide wait for no man', and how true, as we had now missed both. If you were to try and kayak near the entrance of Poole Harbour, the tide would suck you out through the run and send you off to France before you could scream 'HELP!'

And so on this beautiful evening, another lovely plan was put into action. James Taylor has been put on the CD player and fills the house with his wonderful, mellow sound. Amanda has cooked a wonderful meal and things are just so perfectly mellow. I have put in a few colourful pictures to reflect the mood.

Our Hydrangea villosas are flowering well now.

A garden that I tend in Mudeford, although not very big, is beautiful at this time. Pat, the resident, can be seen helping to dead head the flowers as she enjoys the company. Truth be told I do too! She always has sweet tea and jammy dodgers ready for my arrival.

As the rain moved away this evening, a double rainbow formed over our back garden.

This orchid that a gave Amanda has been flowering for months now.

Finally, our roses in the hall are opening up and brightening things up.

TTFN