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This morning we shopped at Lidl, mainly to load up the car with more of their large bags of compost. Quite a number of the on the heap outside the store were damaged and leaking. Some fell on stony ground.
So popular was the photograph of Sam in the hammock from yesterday’s post that I scanned the rest of the set of colour slides made in August 1981. Matthew was wonderful with his younger siblings.
Here, his and Sam’s enjoyment of time in the hammock at Meldreth is quite clear.
Mat’s friend Adrian was of similar ilk.
No, this hollyhock has not crept in from our current garden 35 years on. It was taken along with these others. Does its progeny still soar from the sunlit borders of ‘The Dumb Flea’? (the Drapers’ home where these shots were made).
Here in Downton we have experienced very strong winds for two or three days. These have dried up the hanging baskets and broken a few stems. Jackie therefore has been taking a few down. She continued this today, and I did some watering.
This evening we dined on a second helping of Hordle Chinese Take Away. We now know the proprietor’s name is Chan, which is a pity because Mister Chatty Man suits him so well. I finished the Carignan Vieilles Vignes and Jackie drank her Hoegaarden and Bavaria mix. Well, she had to do something with the non-alcoholic beer bought by mistake.
Happy kids and beautiful flowers. Love seeing both!
Thank you, Lydia
Happiness shines out from these photo’s Derrick and your flowers.. Yes the wind here too has been blowing leaves off of trees. And blowing down flowers.. My hubby set up a watering system for our hanging baskets which works quite well and stops us climbing step ladders every other day 🙂
SO love your garden xx
Many thanks, Sue. I wonder if your hubby’s system would be practical for 100+ ?
I am certain it would LOL. 🙂 Its a pipe that runs the length of the 3 hanging baskets that is fixed to the wall above the baskets. He just clips to the hosepipe and turns on the tap.. Done. 🙂
We’d have pipes all over the place, and I’d add the danger of a throttling to head-banging 🙂
haha… just read this out to hubby who laughed 🙂
I love those boys💙
Many thanks, MLK
Your hammock shots are simply priceless, Derrick.
Thank you Jill. Thank goodness for my Mac. That particular batch of slides has all become darkened over time, but I could put it right on screen.
I have often looked at photos of Matthew with his younger siblings and thought what a wonderful big brother he was to them. He must be a very special person! I suppose they all still adore him now too – am I right?
You are right, Pauline. Thank you
The photographs of the children in the hammock are just wonderful. They must be such worthwhile memories for your children too 🙂 A beautiful series!
Very many thanks, Geetha
Welcome Derrick 🙂
Hope your garden survives the wind. Love the photos of boys.
Many thanks, Mary
Non-alcoholic drink is quite good for watering pot plants with.
Good idea, Bruce. Thanks
Great pics of the little ones. Lidl hasn’t made it to Canberra yet, but it will.
If it does, won’t all the produce come from China? 🙂
I don’t think so. We have Aldi’s (Lidl and Aldi were started by brothers) in Canberra. Most of their produce comes from Australia. Someone once told me they weren’t going to shop at Aldi because everything would be from overseas. That has not been the case with the majority of the food. Not sure about Lidl.
In UK they use British sources where they can. I was thinking of the non-food items
Who knows where the non-food items will come from. I have enough of them to last me a lifetime.
Darned wind! Just as bad as a driving rain. Wonderful pictures of the children!
Many thanks, Laurie
Isn’t “Chan” merely a ‘cool’ contraction of “Chatty Man”? He’s probably read your blog and adopts this persona when you visit. He’s actually called Darren 🙂
That’s an awesome comment. Bravo you.
I wondered if anyone would spot that.
Thanks, Paul. Good one.
It lifts my heart to see such loving connection and beauty Derrick 💛
Very many thanks, Val
There is no substitute for the joy in those children’s faces. Priceless. Thank you.
Thank you very much, Oglach
Happiness exuding from the pictures… nothing like happy faces of kids… 🙂
Many thanks, Maniparna
I wish I could “like ” the reader comments – So many say just what I am thinking. Heart tugging shots, Derrick.
Thank you, Jodie. Much appreciated
I wonder how many kids today have so much fun with such a simple toy, like a hammock. 🙂
Good question, Johnna. Thank you.
Those beautiful images should be hanging on the walls, especially the sixth and eighth picture, they show very endearing love.
Definitely, and obviously, a very loving family Clan.
Many thanks, Ian
What precious photos! I will have to go and read the previous post when I get a chance. I won’t mind if you keep calling him Mister Chatty Man, now that I’m in on the joke 🙂
Thank you very much, Mek
You’re most welcome! 😊
The family photos are absolutely charming!
Mr. Chatty Man is still a great name. He can be Mr. Chatty Man Chan. 🙂
Thanks, Merril. Mr Chatty Man Chan it is
Beautiful shots of the happy children’s faces. Love the beautifully lit Hollyhock photo. 🙂
Thank you, Sylvia. My Mum has an A3 print of that one
such priceless photos! thanks for sharing them
Many thanks, Lynn
Such extraordinary tenderness–or, rather, human and made of love and kindness…such a welcome sight after all the terrible news we keep getting. Thank you. And your hollyhock is a sight for sore eyes, as well.
Many thanks, Cynthia. I’m pleased to take the edge off the news