This morning I printed a set of photographs for Aaron of his grappling with the erection of the Agriframes Bower.
After this Elizabeth dropped in to return a hammer and drink a cup of tea. She stayed for lunch after which we engaged in a wide-ranging discussion much of which centred on the coronavirus. This pandemic now seems to be following a geometric progression throughout Europe with consequences that are beginning to effect us all.
Andy, Elizabeth’s beloved son-in-law, despite asthma and diabetes, has trained steadily for this year’s London marathon which has now been postponed to October.
Louisa and her family are booked to visit her brother, Sam, and his family in Australia in a couple of weeks’ time. It must be touch and go whether they will be able to fly.
With 41 cases of the virus now in our county the inevitable procedures have yesterday been implemented in Mum’s care home. Only near relatives can visit: we have to ring the bell for admission; wash; and have our temperature taken when inside. It can only be a matter of time before visits will be banned altogether. On leaving us, my sister would go on to see Mum and report back on the smoothness of the procedure.
Apparently those of us over 70 will be ordered to self isolate within a matter of weeks. The courage of the villagers of Eyam should never be forgotten.
After rain during the rest of the afternoon spent reading I wandered, camera round neck, while the weak evening light still held.
It only takes a twitch from me for the birds to scatter from the feeders suspended from the prunus Autumnalis in the front garden which contains a range of plants including
euphorbias, also found elsewhere, such as
on the back drive borders.
Ipheions persistently push through the patio paving;
Numerous hellebores,
and daffodils add their splashes of colour. The peach-centred beauties above are from a trough Jackie planted up for Mum when she was still in her own home.
Primroses appear throughout the garden, but there are still some waiting for a permanent place.
We now have some idea of the tints of the tulips sharing their pots with purple pansies.
Grape hyacinth spears stand proud. These are fronted by New Zealand flax.
The more cultivated hyacinths transplanted from gift pots continue to thrive.
This evening we dined on Jackie’s beefy cottage pie; crunchy carrots; and tender cabbage and runner beans with which she drank Hoegaarden and I drank Casillero del Diablo Reserva Merlot 2018.