Things about Primroses.

Primroses.

Aren't they lovely?

They were one of the wild flowers that we missed in Brittany. They just didn't seem to grow in the hedges. Cowslips grew in regions a bit further South but the only primroses were in my garden.

Nestling against Forget me nots.

 I love the subtle differences in colour, from cream to pale pink.

This bright pink one has just appeared in one of my flower beds.

And this lovely cushion seems to have a daffodil growing in the middle!

I read that the Primrose is the county flower of Devon, something I didn't know.

Apparently....another thing I didn't know, the 19th April is Primrose day,celebrated on the anniversary of the death of Benjamin Disraeli, 1804 -1881, twice a Prime minister of England. Every year primroses are placed around his statue in Westminster Abbey.

So there you have it, some facts about one of the shyest and sweetest of our English flowers

 (Prima Rosa, Latin, meaning the first rose of the year. Although, of course, it isn't a rose.)

Palm Sunday.

'Blessed is the King

who comes in the name of the Lord'.

By the sea.

What an amazing colour the sea was yesterday, greens and blues rippled with frothing white waves.

This is Sennen Cove, not far from Lands End, where we were taken for lunch at a restaurant right on the water's edge.

We sat inside, but came out later to look at the view from the deck area. 

People were sitting, having coffee, finishing lunch and just enjoying a really sunny Spring day.

I stood back by the water to take this shot of the restaurant.

It couldn't be much closer to the beach!

Sennen cove has the RNLI lifeboat station, with a very powerful lifeboat built in 2009. So many people have been rescued on this coast, which can be very treacherous.

It must be years since we came down to this area, and it was good to see the cove, virtually unchanged.

Added................
This is a map of West Cornwall for Ann, who asked which ocean was so blue. It's the Atlantic, and it can be very powerful on this coast.

More Inns

Following from the last post, I thought I would show you a couple more of our local Inns.

This one is a very famous pub, known as the Norway Inn on the Truro to Falmouth road. It was built in 1828, probably to serve the boats that came from Norway bringing timber for the local mines. The timber was used as pit props.

Just opposite the Inn is the head of the Devoran river, which in those days was very much deeper, allowing large ships to make their way up.

This is the dining room, all beams and thick walls.

It's full of character and of course, very popular with locals and tourists alike.

There is a also

 a public bar which has very low ceilings. It seems ages since we went there, but they do serve very good meals.

Then, only a mile away from our house is The Punch Bowl and Ladle Inn.
I have no idea how it got its name. It dates back to the 15th century and with its thatched roof (recently redone) is a most attractive place from the outside.

It is said that parts of the Inn were used as a Customs House, and if contraband was found it was burned in the old fireplace.
This was a hostelry for travellers and mariners who would be crossing the King Harry river just  down the road.

Again, you can see the old beams in the curving ceiling.
It's not a pub that we go to, but I believe it is very popular.

In fact, it's odd, having written about Inns, they just aren't places that we often visit!

A local Inn.

This little Inn was where the monthly lunch, organised by the Cornwall Blind Association, was held today.

It's a good time for my husband, as he has  a couple of hours with other people, generally between twelve and fourteen of them. And I get a couple of hours to do some much needed shopping (getting my glasses mended was high on the list)

The Red Lion is, as you can see, small and very old.

Getting a wheelchair in through the porch was difficult but with help we managed. 

Inside it is typical of Inns of that age, quite dark, full of character with beamed ceilings, and slightly wavy floor boards. The Inn prides itself on good home cooked food, and I think lunch was much enjoyed by the group.

Next month the lunch will be at a local Garden centre which has a cafe.

The organisers work hard to find somewhere pleasant that will do a set meal for a reasonable price, and we all appreciate that.

Apricot blossom

We don't have enough room in our garden for a proper orchard, but last year I bought three little fruit trees suitable to put in large pots. 

The apple had apples, the pear had two very edible pears,

and the Apricot did nothing.

So you can imagine how pleased we were to see blossom on the branches this year!

Each branch has between three and six flowers.

I can't imagine they will develop into Apricots but it will be fun watching.

In one of our French gardens we did have the most lovely Apricot tree covered in delicate pinky white blossom..

Each year it was a battle between me and the ants, who  were apparently happy to climb great heights to reach the fruit.

I made so many jars of Apricot jam those Summers.

There's nothing quite like the taste of jam made from one's own fruits from the garden.

Table lamps.

I'm not sure why I'm writing a post about table lamps, really!

It all began when Laura Ashley had a 30% off weekend recently, and needing a new bedside lamp I went along.

So then I had to show you what I bought.

I liked this glass pyramid. It catches the sunlight in the reeded sides, and has a solid feel. I'm waiting for a different shade to go with the pinks and creams in my bedroom, but for the moment this one works.

This is one of my old favourites, bought in Brittany as a memento of our time in France.

It is one of the original Henriot designs and I find its shape and colours very satisfying. This faience pottery has been made in Quimper, Brittany since 1708.

Here you can see the signature which shows it is from the genuine Henriot workshops.

This too is a lamp I have had for some time. It casts a nice soft light on my book or my needlework.

There seems to be a Butterfly landed on it!

We do have other lamps but they are the more functional type.

Do you enjoy lamps (or is it just me?!)

Post office problems.

This is our little local village shop.

Up to a couple of weeks ago it had a Post Office, neatly tucked away in a private area at the rear of the shop. People could queue there without being in the way of shoppers. They could conduct Post office business in relative privacy with a qualified member of PO staff.

All is changed.

There is still a post office, but in their wisdom the people who decide these things have moved it.....against all the wishes of locals who were asked for their opinion. So many of us wrote against the move, stating the obvious problems such as lack of security, queuing problems, and privacy. The letter we received in reply said, patronisingly 'Many people are wary of change....'

Now the Post office counter is sandwiched between the Cornish pasty counter and the crisps and drinks, in a row of tills. It has moved near to the front of the shop. The glass window has been removed so security is negligible, and the queues now mingle with the shoppers, so the entire place is a mass of milling people.

Sadly, there is a designated PO person only for a few days a week,and the general staff, more used to selling bread and milk, have been drafted in as standby, without full training. There is much roaring of 'Which label do I put on this one?', 'Where do we keep the international stamps?' 'Which sack is the parcel one?'

Which is why, dear Lorrie, the packet that I sent you last week will arrive , ooh, sometime in December I think. For, when I returned home I checked my Proof of Posting slip, to find that the girl had written the address as going to Canada, but sent it as a EU destination with the incorrect postage.

I am so sorry. I should have checked it then and there.

What will happen when we get the troupes of holiday makers later in the year, all wanting to send their postcards, I dread to think.

Magazine swap arrival.

I had a lovely surprise when the postman came  yesterday.

Two magazines arrived. I took part in a magazine swap organised by Lorrie, and received mine from Ellen of The Happy Wonderer. Ellen is one of the 'Mennonite girls' who produced a couple of excellent cookbooks. I have one of them and use it for some lovely dishes.

Ellen sent me two magazines, one from the North and one from the South.

They are both so very interesting, and just increased my dream of one day visiting.

Look at this beautiful double page of a table setting.

Flowers, china...so lovely.

So, thank you Ellen.

I shall spend a great deal of time browsing and learning from these two superr magazines.