Book Group Whethering Heights

We had a rest from reading for the book group. We had been promised a much trumpeted 'BBQ Summer' as forecast by the Met office. Considering the Met Office is only located a few miles away - as the crow flies - just how could they get it so wrong? And considering they are unable to correctly forecast the near future then just how wrong can they be when warning us all of Global Warming??

Anyway - getting back to our Book Group. As it has been wet windy and cold we are going to read Judith O Reilly's book : 'Wife in the North'. At the beginning of September I'll find out what the rest of the group think of it. I still believe it is funny, touching, sad, funny again but nowhere near as good as her blog. If you happen to be new to Judith's blog be sure and read 'Strife in the North'. It's bestto read each of their posts in chronological order: first WITN then SITN as per these examples from May 2007.

Easter Holidays

The weather has changed for the worse. Just as the second homers, the holiday makers and caravanners are beginning once again to clog up our small towns. Taking over the country lanes. Dominating resident drivers with their Chelsea Tractors which they have no idea how to drive now they're outside the confines of the big city.

People who feel the need to shout when talking with friends. Shrieking with laughter. 'Hooray Henrys' and their WAGs. destroying the 'peace and quiet' they say they appreciate so much. They look rather ridiculous and give us locals much entertainment. Especially the young women, teetering around the sea shore on their Jimmy shoes.

On a very cold, wet, misty Monday afternoon I remarked to a friend how busy it had suddenly become. She gleefully told me she is informing all the visitors she meets how awful the weather is now and how we'd been enjoying hot, sunny days for the last 3 weeks. But how pleased we are to see the rain as our gardens desperately need refreshing.

It's Allright for Some

This rather dreary wet summer with all the flooding- from north south east and west - is welcomed by some. The hydrangeas in our garden are blooming marvellous this year. They love it. Until we moved to Devon I didn't realise there are so many different varieties of hydrangea. Previously I thought they only came in pink, white or blue flowers according to the acidity/alkalinity of the soil. But now here in East Devon we have over 24 in our garden. Not one of them the same colour and numerous variations on the flowers. I have learnt a great deal. I'm a perverse kind of gardener. In dry Gloucestershire gardening on an alkaline soil we enjoyed aubretia, Iris and poppys that grew like weeds. I was always nurturing plants along with acid soil improver. Just so I could have a rhododendron or azaleas. Here in damp Devon with a rich acid soil I am overwhelmed with rhododendrons, azaleas, pieris, photonias growing like weeds. But what do I do? I buy lime and grit by the bucket full to splash around the aubretia and Irises. I'm obviously no good as a weather forecaster either. Last year I planted all my pots up with Impatiens and we had a long hot dry summer. I was forever trundling around watering pots every evening. This year I planted up pelargoniums and the poor devils are drowning and look a very sorry sight.