I've just returned from 5 days of relaxed living out in Buckinghamshire where i stayed with my friends Helen and Chris. I've known Helen since Teachers' College (way back before Noah's flood) and we travelled to England together 40 years ago on an overland trip from Calcutta to London. Now she and Chris live in a lovely cottage in a quiet village in Bucks. The cottage dates from the 1600s,and it has been lovingly restored and the little garden behind is beautiful and lush - the quintessential English cottage garden.
So a very civilized 5 days I had - with lazy breakfasts in the conservatory and lunches in lovely local Pubs with beams and wood and loads of character. A glass of red before dinner. I helped at a plant sale for the local churches - not that I was a great deal of help because most of the plants on the "indoor" table were plants I grow outdoors and I kept putting plants in the wrong place. I was mildly rebuked by one lady whose own plant contributions looked a little, say we say, tired. It was set in the lovely large grounds of a local house. The next day was Open Garden Day so we got to look at a variety of gardens in the village - all lovely in different ways. Of course the rain that I complained about previously is the reason these gardens are so lush and green.
Helen and Chris took me around many local towns and each one was charming and picturesque. On the final day I revisited a second hand bookshop which occupies a whole cottage. There are over 65 000 books arranged in (to me) seemingly random order, two deep on shelves and stacked on floors. A book-lovers paradise. Did I find any books to buy? Is the Pope Catholic?
Talking of Paradise, could you come closer than a garden seat in a lovely English Garden, sun beaming down (Yes),a book to read, and Aussie the ginger cat at your feet? I love this life! Thanks Helen and Chris - and Aussie.
