The House Husband

I went out and snapped a few photos of our red tulips this afternoon. Firstly because I like taking photos for the blog and secondly, because mum loves the colour red. It made me wonder what they looked like last year. So I hunted back through the blog to April 2010 and found a rather wishy washy shot of the same tulips. It’s here. Though, to be fair, we were away on the Isle of Wight this time last year and maybe the tulips were passed their best by the time we returned to them. Meanwhile, here’s the stunning 2011 collection.

The red tulips, glowing brightly in the afternoon light

We had a deliciously lay-about-Sunday today. Full of sitting in the garden (for a bit) watching 30 Rock (for a bit) and walking the poodles on Hankley (for a big bit).

Carmen was particularly pleased with this last bit as she was allowed off the lead. And boy, did she take advantage of it. She went mad. Running through the woods, across the stream, up the hill. Her coat was so astonished, it kept coming undone. It was wonderful to watch. She generally runs everywhere but this was somehow more of a liberation thing. Like she’d been in quarantine for too long and this was her first glimpse of freedom. She truly took full advantage of it. Day-z tried to keep up with her but it was frenetically difficult.

Mirinda was overjoyed because we saw (mostly heard) lots of skylarks. After the fire she thought they’d all died, never to return but it seems they have just moved. High up in the sky, showing off to attract a mate, we saw them. We even spotted one come down to land. This is a photograph of him looking a bit odd. Mind you, he was a long way from us, his head is turned away and this is a digital rather than optical zoom. He also blends in quite well with his surroundings.

Very tiny skylark from very far away

OK, it’s quite difficult to see so, here is the RSPB’s version of the same bird.

The skylark from the RSPB

The air, however, was full of the sounds of his call…and those of his competing friends. It was wonderful. It was also quite nice that there wasn’t many groups of humans wandering around.

The gorse has also started opening up and the faint smell of coconut is starting to appear. If you want to read some fascinating stuff about gorse, here’s a good link. This really is a wonderful time to be wandering around the Southern English countryside.

First gorse of spring on Hankley Common

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It was Mother’s Day in England today – the best day NOT to have Sunday lunch in a pub – so Happy Mother’s Day to both our mothers all the way over there in Australia. Because it’s celebrated on a different day in Australia, I’m sure you were only spoiled the usual amount rather than the extra special spoilage you get on Mother’s Day but still, WE thought of you with extra love.

Special Mother's Day tulips

And I have completed essay number four! Submitted this evening, before dinner. So that’s me finished. Well, except for my dissertation anyway. But that can wait for a few days. I’m going to celebrate!

When Mirinda asked how I was going to celebrate I told her I was going to read a book…for pleasure. And I have picked the book. Richard Dawkins’ newest book (The Greatest Show on Earth) has just come out in paperback where he proves that evolution is more than just a theory. I bought it at the Science Museum on Friday and will start reading it tonight. Actually I started on the train, coming back from the flat on Sunday, but I only read the first chapter. And it promises to be a great roller coaster of a read.

So most of today was taken up by essay writing (about eBooks and eReaders, in case anyone is interested). I took a couple of breaks (walking the poodles, shopping) but basically I was tied to my chair, my fingers bashing the keys with a clear view of the finish line. I did, however, take a little time to admire the garden.

The final tulips to bloom are the ones Mirinda bought home from Holland. They are called ‘Queen of the Night’ and are supposed to be black. They are actually very deep purple because black is not present in nature. They have taken the longest to appear. In fact some are still just buds. And so, to celebrate the end of my essays and the last of our tulips, here is a photo.

Queen of the Night tulips from Amsterdam to Farnham

Today marked the beginning of my mowing for the year. I figured it was time when I couldn’t find Day-z and, after two hours of searching, realised she was lying down in the back garden. Mirinda has a cold so I locked her in the bedroom and, taking the dogs with me, I spent a goodly amount of time trying to extricate the mower from the shed. This finally accomplished, I found some petrol, filled the mower and then started the job.

The weather was perfect (still a total lack of contrails), not too hot, not close to cold. I spent the next hour happily cutting grass. It normally takes around half an hour but the grass was so long, I needed to empty the catcher twice as many times. After finishing, I sat on the patio with a beer, admiring my handiwork.

Mirinda finally made an appearance and we sat outside for a tea/coffee. She says the garden looks much better just having the grass cut. I agree. You can see the tulips better. Speaking of which…here’s the red ones.

Our red tulips in the evening sun

We were going to St John’s tonight to celebrate a certain someone’s birthday but, due to illness, I had to cancel. We have rescheduled for next week instead.

When we went to the park this morning for our walk, it looked wonderful. The hawthorn has started to blossom, readying itself for any Beltane festivities, daisies are springing up everywhere, the trees are back n leaf, the mud has dried up. The sun was shining and a wind was blowing, keeping everything cool. I was forced to wear shorts, it was so warm.

Meanwhile, our garden is starting to come alive with bulbs. A few isolated frescias are starting to appear around my fairy circle. The daffs that line the shadow of what was once the Wendy House have yet to be anything but green, but the tulips are all starting to bloom. The yellow ones up under the gazebo are the first while the red ones down by the cherry tree are almost ready. Mirinda’s potted tulips are just ready to explode with colour as are the ones I planted beneath the weather station.

And the magnolia! Goodness. What a lot of flowers.

As I sit typing this in the study, the garden looks alive. The birds are twittering and dashing to and fro, a squirrel is hanging from the hornbeam, one poodle is asleep on the patio while the other is lying behind me on my chair. The world looks wonderful today.

Nicktor is due at 6pm and we’re off to watch the mighty Shots.

Yellow tulips under the gazebo