Mid Autumn Oxford Botanic Gardens
This is Magdalen Bridge over the River Cherwell. It looks like the ducks are going to go for a punt!
Magdalen Tower. The pink Nerines offer a dash of un-autumnal colour. (more…)
Trick or Treat – no thanks!
When I was a child I used to enjoy the annual ‘trick or treat’. Our friendly neighbours would give us sweats, chocolate and, best of all, money. As a child, I thought this was great!
Now, 30 years later, and I’m on the other side of the door – and I have to admit I’m very bad. On trick or treat night, I turn out the lights and pretend to be out! I feel like a modern day scrooge, because I don’t want to answer the door and give away my Kit-Kats or money.
One of the laws of the universe is – “as you give so shall your receive”. (more…)
Garden late October 2017
It’s late October but still quite mild. Some critics may say grass needs cutting but I’m walking on it a lot so don’t want to cut too low.
These bright pink flowers seem slightly out of place in mid-Autumn, but I’m not complaining. They have had a second spurt and look very colourful. 
View up the garden. (more…)
A British Bus-stop
I was flying to New York and began the journey of 3,000 miles at a bus stop in Oxford. The first person waiting at the bus stop was an immaculately…
The popularity of Indian Cuisine in Britain?
My good friend from America, Mahiruha works in a grocery store. He asked why the British expats were so keen on Indian cuisine. This is my take on his question.
The first thing that springs to mind – if you grew up eating British school dinners you would better understand the popularity of curry and Indian food.
When I was growing in Yorkshire many years ago (in the days of black and white tv e.t.c.) – we were lucky to get more than a diet of tripe, dumplings and boiled cabbage (and sometimes custard with a horrible skin on it). By, contrast a curry seemed incredibly exotic. I think I tried a mouthful aged five but my taste buds were not acclimatised, and I took a dislike. I never took another curry until aged 18 I had my first curry in a restaurant in Bradford. I ordered an “extra mild curry” – quite nervous about the exotic spices and was pleasantly surprised it was quite tasty. If only we had a bit of curry powder to mask the horrid tastes when growing up.
The only thing is that curry doesn’t mix well with Yorkshire Pudding. If made properly, they are very good genuine British cuisine. (more…)
Cracking Economics and national bookshop day
Saturday was National Bookshop Day. They seem to have a national day for everything these days. But, in the case of bookshops, I think it is well deserved. I’m really…
Poppies outside a village church
There is a poignant beauty to this display of red poppies - especially against the grey Yorkshire sky and dark stone. It is to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the…
Garden September 2017
I have written an article about this path and the tree below. See: "Making friends with an old adversary" at Write Spirit The Hazel Tree. Late summer colour. Asters in…
Garden July 2017 – Pictures and video
Garden July 2017 Video Flowers Day Lily Bee Garden in rain Verbena Phlox Gypsophila Geranium Rear garden Rudbeckia and Phlox. Garden Flowers Rain Garden Flower Garden Pond