Whistlestop tour

This post will cover a lot of ground from late April into May. I mean a lot. I have always been good at shoving a lot into a day so this isn't even everything I've been up to, just highlights. On 22 April, I took a train to Bangor and walked around the walled garden at Bangor Castle. Because I'm retired and I can do such things, particularly when needing a break from my garden. I was taken with the auricula theatre, which looks like this.

Also with the willow arches:

April 24 I went to Thea's birthday party.

A few days later I celebrated my own birthday. This is my official post-golf birthday portrait, sent to well wishers.

On the 29th of April, I went to a home in Limavady where I've previously bought azaleas from an elderly man. He has sadly passed but his son is now selling his specimens – not what you get in garden centres. First Eddis and I took a tour of his lovely gardens.

I mean...

Above I'm wearing a skirt I bought in Tanzania.

After a ridiculous amount of work, my garden is taking shape. Colour from rhododendrons, azaleas, acers, iris, viburnum, columbine, forget me nots (one blue variety, one pink). The grass has come on nicely.

One more:

I have added three new azaleas in this garden to the four I'd previously purchased in Limavady. In trimming the acers, I created a little arrangement that I thought was lovely.

My golf in April was awful. In early May I played with Geoff up at Rockmount and began to put my game back together. On 9 May, I went to a lovely beach at Millisle.

We met a dog called Danaan – biggest wolfhound I've ever seen.

I played 18 holes at Rockmount on 11 May as part of the Summer Friendly League, of which I'm captain for Shandon. That was lots of fun. The next day was Lady Vice Captain's Day at Shandon. Lady Vice's charity is Special Olympics. Here I am with my playing partner Tammie.

And at the dinner that night.

As of today, I've put in three cards that count toward my handicap. Three years ago, I had one round below 100. Two years ago, none. Last year five below 100. This year all three of my rounds so far have been sub-100, so my lesson with Geoff really paid off.

19 May