Hello
I thought I should keep you up to date with April so far because I’ll be in Edinburgh for about a week sometime soon. Grandchild number 4 was actually due yesterday, Catriona’s 5th birthday. Yarrow and I shall drive down when summoned. I’ll spend the time seeing that meals arrive on the table for Sam, Catriona and Sean and trekking to and from nursery with Catriona - Sean in tow probably. I’ll have fun with Sam, who is now a quite grown up 12.
I’ll also spend time in the evenings with John, who will come north soon after I return. His list at Heron’s Flight is long, but there are a lot of little things I need him to just show me how to do.
There have been quite a few visitors braving the “frozen north” so far and I have enjoyed company several times. From next month my diary is pleasantly filled up. By then surely warmer weather will be here........
The poor eucalyptus tree which suffered so badly in the January gale is showing no signs of recovery. So I have bought 2 small trees and I’ll grow them on this year in their pots and probably plant one near the large tree next Spring. A plants man has told me that the tree can be cut down to the ground and should regenerate - I’ll plant another incase, as the eucalyptus is certainly one of my favourites - then I’ll have to stay around patiently till it reaches maturity............
It is so cold!! The wind’s from the east and is biting. But it’s dry and today I’ll get all the lawn edges strimmed and perhaps the grass cut too.
The potatoes are planted and luckily I covered them well with soil drills - 2 days later we had snow and a touch of frost!
Leek plants will go in later and that leaves room for salad crops. There will be early lettuce and radish hopefully, from a wee sheltered cold frame at the front of the house.
The greenhouse is purely vine this year. There were lots of sweet bunches last year and they get encouragement and nothing else. Dolan and I spent hours trailing water and feeding to tomatoes every year and the yield, though very tasty, would not have filled one supermarket plastic bag!
I’ll stop now and continue when the Edinburgh mission is successfully completed!
Thursday saw us home after Daniel's safe arrival on Wednesday night. Moira got home the next day at lunchtime and I checked that Daniel (10 days late and 8lb 10oz) had all his fingers and toes, got in the car and had a pretty bad journey home - strong winds, torrential rain and a deal of spray from oncoming lorries. As usual I stopped briefly at Dalwhinnie and Yarrow flatly refused to get out of the car! So on we plodded, both eventually very glad to be home.....
It’s a lovely day and practically windless so I’m going to weedkill various bits in the garden - mainly two areas where I cut down brambles recently. As the weeds have not yet felt it warm enough to envelope the garden, I’m feeling rather smug as there is not a lot to do - that feeling will evaporate quickly.....
From now on Heron’s Flight will be quite busy with guests. My next “time out” is at Regatta time - the end of July. That’s when I hope family and friends come, so it’s not a holiday but wonderful to have everyone around. My nephew David and his wife Caroline are actually coming for a few days next week. As the house is already busy, they know to “stay out of my hair” while breakfasts are on!
Next month Dolan’s cousin Don and his wife Lynley are also dropping in for a little time - their home is Dunedin. The New Zealand cousins have all visited two or three times so we know them well. My plans for a “big trip” are on hold till perhaps Sam is out of Secondary School - we’ll see.....
Email enquiries for accommodation this year have been many and varied and I look forward to meeting guests who have decided to stay at Heron’s Flight. Quite a few requests have been for a “twin” room and unfortunately I do not have any. As the suites of bedroom furniture came from our Great Aunt’s and Parents’ homes, I will be their custodian and pass them on intact. One suite is dated around 1800, the other practically new by comparison - 1936. I am the hoarder of the family and luckily Dolan too loved elderly furniture, tools and people!
Perhaps I’ll see you soon.......
Ann.
P.S. Yarrow, Sponge and Cheque have not had their customary write-up. I’ll bring you up to date with them next month.
