Life with The Gardener can be unpredictable, with occasional dizzying bursts of spontaneity. I have noticed that this is closely linked to the British weather.
How so? you may ask. Is this like the phases of the Moon, each change affecting mood and behaviour?
Well, yes. The Gardener seems - for some bizarre reason - to dislike working in persistent rain. Yet he moans a great deal about lost working days in this busy season, and the propensity of grass and hedges, aerial or otherwise, daisies, buttercups and gunnera to take unfair advantage of his absence and grow like billy-o.
He sinks into despair when the forecast tells him that tomorrow is to feature gale force winds, thunder and torrential rain. Flossie doesn't understand this at all - what's not to like about being soaked in cold water?
And so what we do on such rained-off days is to go out, sometimes on a whim, and invariably we have a pretty pleasant time together, with or without dogs. And I find that The Gardener doesn't complain at all about this.
The other day, we drove - in rain - to Wells, this time to see the wonderful Cathedral from the inside. I had only seen the exterior, also stunning, with Tricia last February, but the interior had needed more time.
And what an astonishingly beautiful and complex building it is. Impossible to describe here, except to say that whenever we thought we had seen it all, there was yet another large space beyond, filled with wonderful carvings, windows, stone. And on the day we went, with dripping people too. The woman at the desk said that the ancient stones wouldn't notice a bit of water from sodden umbrellas....
Yesterday, on impulse (or perhaps because I had heard enough sighing and tutting about computer slowness), we raced off to Bristol - in rain - with an ailing laptop, booking an appointment in the Apple store's Genius Bar, and spending a little time drooling in a faintly undignified manner over the latest iPad.
Business over, we crossed the plaza and had an early and very delicious little supper.
The sun came out, and we drove over the Clifton Suspension Bridge into a sunset, and on to home.
Rainy weather has its advantages....
20 comments:
You were on old home territory for me. I love Wells cathedral and I used to live very close to the suspension bridge. Happy memories. And all of them sunny - 1975 and 1976.
Given rain the Glam Ass just grumbles and goes into his shed (as opposed to onto the roof of the shed he is now building - which is a fine weather activity.)
I am most envious of having a) a companion who is a gardener but also b) a willing escort on voyages of discovery.
Ps your anti spam thingy has gone all pictorial - tonight I must type in the letters off a French enamel house sign!
If you persist with only these fragments of The Gardener in your photographs then one day I will attack them with Photoshop or some such, and piece him together like a jigsaw!
Only been to Wells once - loved it. I remember taking a photo of the clock.
Happy memories of Wells for me too. Hey, we can almost see your gardening companion in that photo, looks nice . . .
What a magnificent cathedral - slightly grander than our Abbey ruins! If Malcolm and I shared an ice cream, I would have to eat my share first, as that's one sweet thing he eats more of than me! Hope the weekend isn't too soggy - although it's not looking promising. I shall, of course, be taking Malcolm out for a Fathers' Day breakfast on Sunday!
His boots, his left ear, a bit of his shirt and hands, is that all we're allowed to see? Is he so shy? The photo's of the church are beautiful, what a piece of art.
It appears to be a wonderful life. Rain or no rain.
and what a delicious little supper indeed. Yum.
xo jane
If, it is possible to have too much fun, you are. And it makes me so happy!
Wow .... great cathedral shots....makes me feel like I'm back in Portugal...
raining everywhere from the sounds of things on various blogs...... and here too... days of it ..... and it looks like the forecast is for rain every day for the next week as well.......it's messing with my golf times....... and my head...... sigh.....
My friend Sue told me a few weeks ago how spectacular Wells Cathedral is, she told the truth didn't she?
So glad that you and the Gardener are having fun together.
If only rainy days could always contain cathedrals and Carluccio's .
Dear Mr. Gardener,
Please take 'Er Indoors out in the sunshine too.
That's the best rainy day outing I've ever seen. The Gardener is lucky to have you!
Holy cats! That door! The one in the shaft of sunlight, with the scrolly iron work! I MUST HAVE IT OR DIE!!!! Gahhhhhhhhhhhhh!
I do like a bit of spontaneity. I also like the look of that lunch.
i do love those old cathedrals. i always think of the craftsmen (i suppose it was mostly men) who created them. And marvel.
I want rainy weather like that.
Enjoyed your pics and adventures Rachel. While intruiged with the architecture, I loved that ancient door.
The pictures of the cathedral are totally amazing. I must get a new camera, or new eyes.
oh, amazing doors!!!
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