Sunday 8 April 2012

Easter


It was a lovely and unexpected pleasure to read all the kind comments that people had left about my writing. I'm glad to know I am not alone in my self-doubts! Sometimes when I read other blogs the authors seem to be so self-assured and confident in their writing, so it's nice to know I am not the only one agonising over their blog posts!

I have put a few branches of what I hope transform into spring blossom laden boughs in a few days time into my enamel jug from Ardingly. And strung the branches with pretty speckled eggs but because of the sparseness and funny shape of my branches it all looks a bit lopsided. I think next year I will just cut some branches from the lilac or maybe my small ornamental cherry will have grown enough to spare a few branches by then. It just felt too cruel to snip off some of the spindly little branches it has been producing lately despite the fact that they were covered with lovely frothy blossom.


These past few days I have been behind the wheel in London, for the first time since I passed my test 7 years ago! It was rather nerve wracking, but I knew I had to take the bull by the horns. I started off slowly with a trip to the local supermarket (not too bad), then a trip the the garden centre over in Crews Hill (a little bit hair raising - large roundabouts are my nemesis!) and then a jaunt over to Muswell Hill (by now I was feeling quite the pro!)
For the first few trips I would fixate on one aspect (usually the parking or a roundabout) and worry about that aspect throughout the whole journey. But once I had parallel parked several times; the first attempts of which usually involved me exiting the car several times to look at my failed attempt and shake my head in despair, I finally got the knack.
I am now feeling rather accomplished and will probably be an unbearably smug backseat driver for my husband once he wrestles the steering wheel back!


9 comments:

  1. How brave ... couldn't even think about tackling London! I can't do anything that vaguely looks like a motorway, and I know what you mean about roundabouts ... feel I'm really missing out though, and could go on lots of vintagey jaunts if I were a bit braver. Well done! xx

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  2. Lovely pictures Charlotte. I actually think you have a wonderful talent for writing and I enjoy reading your posts. Well done for tackling driving in London, I could not imagine trying to drive near one of our capital cities now. My parallel parking is non-existent and my husband finds it amusing (annoying!) that I will do anything to avoid an attempt at a parallel park. Otherwise, I think I am a very good driver, maybe a little too cautious! Have a lovely day.

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  3. I enjoy your blog very much ! I struggle with writing too . I love reading yours .... and ..... I love seeing your cats and home . I have four cats , Juliette, Baby Em , Buddy and Holly .
    wishing you a very Happy Easter

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  4. The thought of driving in London brings me out in a cold sweat, so well done for getting behind the wheel. It is bad enough negotiating the one way system around Newcastle city centre these days never mind London!
    Have a lovely Easter break...
    Julie x

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  5. I'm quite new to your blog but very much enjoy reading it. By the way I love the heart shaped wreath in the photo! Happy Easter

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  6. Driving is no fun in London! Mind you the narrow lanes in Devon are quite challenging,for different reasons of course.Your Easter tree is lovely.I meant to do one this year,but never got round to it!
    Happy Easter! :0)

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  7. Hello Charlotte, you have an Award on my blog, I hope you accept! Ann

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  8. Hello Charlotte, I just found your lovely blog. I am so happy for you and your husband. Owning your own home is a marvelous thing. My husband and I just finished paying yours off, that was our goal, just before retirement. You are going to have so many marvelous days, months and years ahead, painting and decorating and making it a part of who you both are. I'm excited to be a new follower and to share your journey, through this blogging media. I'm a 66 years young wife, mother and grandmother. I enjoy painting, photography, paper crafts, music, gardening and all the wonderful simple pleasures in life. Please accept my invitation to visit and hopefully to follow my blog as well. Oh, and I just love how you made your garden wall curve in and out along the sides of your garden. That is delightfully superb. Your newest follower, Connie :)

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  9. Hi Charlotte - just stumbled across your blog and it's lovely! I had to laugh at your tales from the garden. I moved to the countryside from London about 2 years ago, and I'm still trying to get over my creepy crawly / worm / spider / insect fears so that I can get really stuck into my garden. It's happening slowly and I'm toughening up, I can tell, but I'm praying that I'll be able to joyfully and robustly dig up some soil and plant a few vegetables on my own before I hit 60 (in about 20 years)! x

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