Heralds of the Spring

The winter in our lovely country has actually lasted for the past two years or at least that is what it seems like.
I cannot remember when I last wore my light weight summer clothing but hey! we live in hope and just now I have
a bowl full of sweet smelling blue and white hyacinths in the lounge and gold and white narcissi growing up and of
course January brings along these dainty green and white snowdrops which look as though the slightest wind might knock the down but are in fact as tough as old boots as they force their way through the icy ground giving us renewed hope
and some of their strength to face whatever might come our way and still look good.   Oh! how I am longing to see them again in 2013.
 

Winter can look very beautiful

 

working and enjoying life into old age

Being old does not mean being imobile unless your health is in a very serious state.   This precious lady and gentleman are 86 and 92 years of age and they never appear to stop nor to stop enjoying life and seeing the funny side.  They are an inspiration to us all.
Fauja Singh was 100 years old when he ran the London Marathon last year and he didn't even take up running marathons until he was 89.
John Dreelin ran with the bulls in Pamplona this year, he's 77 years old - why?  because all his life he had longed to have a go but knew how much his family would disapprove:  now he thinks he's old enough to please himself!
Roger Allsop swam the English channel at 70 years old.
Fred Mack was 100 when he jumped out of an aeroplane and successfully and safely landed.
Sherman Bull climbed Mount Everest on May 25th 2001 aged 64 years.
Just a tiny portion of the people I have read about lately and admired  - DON'T STOP 'TIL YOU DROP.

Lest we forget

Tyne Cott Cemetery, Flanders 

LEST WE FORGET

Spanish gardener

I am struggling to tidy up the pots in my garden to prepare for winter bulb planting but it is a difficult job in the bad weather.  I am thankful that I do not have a Spanish garden like this one we saw in Cordoba or I would never get to the end of it.  There is always a lot of hard work before a beautiful display but it's worth it.

A bit posh?

Would you like to live in this house?  Well you can't because it belongs to President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe
and is only one of many!

 

I have been away from my home for just a week and when I returned yesterday I found Autumn
had arrived outside the winow...cold but beautiful.