Mum's Garden

May is a lovely month in Mum's garden with so much coming into bloom and the vibrant greens.

This is a Judas Tree - known in the US as a 'redbud' - regardless of the fact that they are rarely red!

There is still blossom on the apple trees..

The pear tree though is getting on with the business of making pears..

This climbing shrub is very unusual and has a sweet, chocolate smell.  Unfortunately I have forgotten its name.

In the greenhouse, another prolific climber..

This one has extraordinary seed pods..

Returning to Thursday's theme of water on leaves, this plant holds the drops quite beautifully..

Supper in Tetbury

On my way to Bath this evening I stopped off in Tetbury to meet friends for supper.

Walking to the restaurant through pretty streets we passed this lovely church.

The restaurant itself had a policy of sourcing ingredients locally - as proclaimed in this rather unusual sign on the wall, over the open fireplace!

In the Rain (Thursday 14 May)

My wonderful (and underpaid) US technical consultant has now worked his magic and I can once again post some photos in the blog.

Thursday was a very rainy day and we did not go out and about.

The garden was enjoying the soaking and the leaves on many of the plants looked beautiful in the rain.

Each one seemed to capture or channel away the raindrops in its own way.

Great British Fare

In Warwick today we decided to try out the local Fish and Chip shop at lunchtime.  

On three floors with scrubbed tables and blue and white decor it reminded us of seaside places but alas no view of St Ives or Padstow from the window, just the Market Square and museum.

The shop has been voted in the top 25 in the country  out of 12,000 so I decided to try the (small version) of the signature dish.  It was good but didn't quite have the just out of the sea flavour!

The side of mushy peas was also good but probably a little too minty for true officianados.  

I had a cup of tea and was rather taken with the novelty milk jug.

This afternoon in Tesco we came across some Great British versions of the Biscotti spread that I had seen before.

Made with real Custard Cream and real Bourbon biscuits, these spreads are available as a tea time treat..

Walk in the Park (Tuesday 12 May)

As all good Victorian parks should, the Jephson Garden in Leamington has a few solid looking stone fountains.

There is a very large one near the entrance which is particularly difficult to photograph against the light..

When it is windy you also have to be careful to stay upwind of the fountain to avoid a shower.

Inside the Town Hall

Leamington's town hall, complete with marble statue of Queen Victoria in front, is quite a local landmark.  Until Saturday I had not seen inside, but a Save the Children Fund Craft Fair being held there meant that I was able to have a look at least at the main hall and stairs.

At the top of the stairs, a marble bust commemorated the coronation of King Edward VII.

Along the corridor was a rather imposing carved oak long case clock..

The adjacent sign indicates that it was made in Leicestershire in 1770 and donated to Leamington Museum and Art a Gallery in 1919.

The Assembly, Leamington

This large, red brick building in the centre of Leamington Spa has some classical features but is easily missed - on a fairly busy road and with cars parked in front. 

 It was originally called The Bath Assembly (it is only a short walk from the Pump Rooms and Spa Baths) and was built in the Art Deco style in 1926.

The real beauty of the fan-shaped window can be appreciated from the inside.

Yesterday a Vintage Fair was being held there which provided a chance to see the very stylish interior.  Now lavishly decorated in purple and silver, I was not surprised to read that it was refurbished in 2008 at a cost of several million pounds by Lawrence Llewelyn-Bowen.

It has three bars, one on the balcony with a great view down into the hall, which is now a venue for concerts, comedy nights and a burlesque club.