June has been a busy month. Here’s what I’ve been doing using Christina’s …ing format.
Watering the garden. The weather has been mostly cool and cloudy but not wet in this area. I’ve planted lots of new perennials, a rambling rose and a wisteria to grow up my new pergola and it’s been hard work to keep them thriving. I’ve discovered things that do best in my garden are plants that don’t need much water: sedums, lavender, self planted foxgloves and poppies. I might have to give up on sweet peas which used to do so well for my dad. They certainly need richer soil and more rain.
Celebrating with Kate who has now finished her teacher training course and has got a job in a primary school starting in September. She’ll be teaching Year 3 like she did on her final teaching practice which she enjoyed.
Making some progress with my writing though haven’t done anything this week. I’ve joined a group with some of the others on the course I did and have set myself a target of writing 15.000 words in July.
Reading books by writers from Northern Ireland. ‘Trespasses’ by Louise Kennedy was set in the 70s when I was growing up there. I loved it - sad but accurate portrayal of life at that time. It’s the best ‘Troubles’ book I’ve read since ‘Cal’ by Bernard MacLaverty. I’m now reading ‘The Raptures’ by Jan Carson set in 1993 in a village called Ballylack where children are mysteriously dying . It mixes realism with a kind of ghost story and again I’m really enjoying it. Jan Carson says she wants to give a voice to the Protestant experience in her books. I certainly ‘recognised’ many of the characters she portrays in her novel.
Eating raspberries for breakfast picked fresh from my my garden The blackcurrants and blueberries will be ready soon - I’m planning a summer pudding. And my fan trained cherry tree I planted last year has a few ripe cherries which I need to pick soon before the birds get there first.
Travelling to Dorset last weekend for more celebrations- my sister’s 60th birthday. All five of us were there as New Zealand sister is in the for a visit for the first time since Covid. There were 21 of us in total with nieces , nephews and their partners. Despite rather chilly and occasionally damp weather we had a lovely time: a trip to the seaside in Weymouth, a celebratory meal in the village pub and a birthday barbecue. I made the cake and NZ niece decorated it beautifully.
