bright grey

which is a song by joe jackson (not, that one, this one), but i can't find a decent link...

daringly, we started today with a garden centre - another thing that was a little different to the last time my parents were here: more than twice the size. great place though, even just to wander around: half a polytunnel devoted to acers; bottlebrush trees 8ft tall and happy outside (my dad's is several years old, still only 3ft tall and only likes being outside for two or three months); more begonias than you could need in a lifetime. starting the day with a crate of plants in the back of the car is perhaps not the best of plans, but these were rather irresistible (I got a dahlia, doubtless it'll get posted some time!).

off then towards and through henley, all stripy marquees and rowers out training, and to a weeny village called stoke row to see the wonder of the maharajah's well. a quintessentially english village with a big chunk of colourful raj in the middle - insane.

back down the road to greys court (pictured above, the tower with rose walk in the foreground) - stately pile, gardens, park; all very english too. it's owned by the national trust now, just for the icing on the cake. the house is currently closed for renovations, but we spent more then three hours there anyway, so safe to say it's a good spot. to be fair, a chunk of time was spent eating a delightfully old-fashioned ploughman's lunch before we started wandering around, but still, not sure we could have crammed in a tour of the house too without rushing. and it was far too hot to rush! sun cream, sunglasses and hat too hot - but it made a change from the edinburgh rain, as has all this week, so no complaints (and a good excuse to pause in the kitchen garden for a punnet of strawberries, and later on for an ice-cream).

the garden here is not big and not flash, but there are lots of interesting nooks and corners (the wisteria garden is weird, tho doubtless amazing when in bloom) and some thoughtful, simple design - and the kitchen garden is full of fruit and veg which are used in the tearoom and for sale which is great to see. it's just what it says on the tin with no pretentions and it was refreshing. it's not on the scale or design of savill, but it was much more interesting to wander around - i took as many shots here as i did at savill despite it being so much smaller. then again, this family as a trio are suckers for a good walled garden, so maybe it was always going to be this way!

stopped off in henley on the way home for an hour pootling around looking at the birdlife (including a moorhen couple rebuilding their nest on the paddlewheel of a moored boat and poking chicks out of the way at the same time, plus a group of ducklings dipping and preening) and the boats (mostly rowing crews again). very pleasant; a thoroughly english day out.

for anyone interested, backblips begin over here