Yay Summer is finally showing its face.

the sweet peas

white peonies picked from garden for house arrangements

bean frame replicated in our garden

bury your nose in this!!!

beautiful border in hospital garden

guild hall built 1580

exterior of museum and guild hall .The Brethren Kitchen is on extreme right

only remaining original buildings built 1380 after great fire

west gate under chapel where all the hangings were carried out

original table from 14th century where guild members met

update on herbaceous border

ready set go

more of border from other end

R.I.P. head gardener

Today - Wed 2nd June has been our warmest day and has filled us with the hope that summer is not a myth here.  We have been hearing about how you  have had the warmest May on record  over there in the land of the long white cloud - well we would have had the coldest.  Night temps are about 8 or 9 deg - hello that is not spring/summer stuff -  and last Monday was another bank holiday the high was 12.

Last week was very busy as we had to prepare ourselves plus the buildings and gardens  for the owner who was coming up for a night.  Cleaned every nook and cranny of the main house and barn, plus windows and cob webs etc.  John was perched on a skinny ladder in some instances with rags in hand to clean the very highest barn windows, but he did a very good job.

Our first encounter with her went very well and we found her to be just lovely.  She was very pleased with our standard of work and was even more pleased I think with the fact that we are experienced gardeners.  I was able to really excel with flowers in the house as the garden is full of paeonies, roses, philadelphus, water- lillies
and gorgeous creamy margined hosta leaves.
Jonnie had to put on his apron too but he will add his comment later.

We enjoyed a well deserved rest on Bank holiday Monday and took ourselves off to Warwick which is about 30 mins away.  We had intended on visiting the historic Warwick castle, but did not get past the mediaeval hospital for service men.

As you drive into Warwick you pass under either the East or West gates depending on which direction you are coming from.  The are the remainders of the old wall built in 1383 and the East gate is where they used to carry out the hangings.  Were desperate for a coffee by the time we arrived as it was wet and freezing, and passed the Brethern cafe which was the original kitchen from the 1500's which provided meals for the hospital community.  That led us to the actual entry to the hospital and we met one of the residents.  In this instance, Hospital means place to stay and not a place for the sick.  It was built by Lord Warwick in 1300's for service men recovering, but today is houses about 8  servicemen from the Queens Hussars.  The displays and memorabilia were very interesting and covered battles of the first and second world wars, plus showed how tanks have replaced the horse. We spent several hours there.  One of the displays gave details of the battle of El Alamein which included the Bristish and NZ soldiers under General Fryberg.  To this day the all tanks have a silver fern on them to commemorate this occasion.

The property has the most beautiful garden - abundant with spring flowers and beautifully laid out with arbours, hedges, pathways and gorgeous lawns.

Found a wonderful pub about 4.00 for lunch and a pint which was just humming with locals.

A NOTE FROM THE COOK
Not alot of action from the aga front to date.  However last weekend managed to turn out some superb lamb shanks - one hour in the roasting oven followed by 3 hours in the baking oven.  The following day, roast chicken - 1 and a half hours in the roasting oven - which is so quick.  Between now and the owners next visit I will prepare some of our own meals in the aga and might even manage a cake.  There was not a crumb left on their plates so that is a good sign.

It is lovely to have all your replies and to know that you are enjoying following our adventures.  Thanks for your interest.