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Social Events
During the working season we have two social events in the garden. Our Open Day in July allows the gardeners to entertain family, friends and visitors, the gardeners enjoy showing the work they have acxheived and are happy to answer questions. There are fun and games on the terrace, with tombola, tea and cakes and an excellent BBQ run by Phil. Our end of season 'Get-Together is a fun party for the gardeners, volunteers and invited guests. Held in the Potting shed in late November we have to be inventive due to space restrictions. Funny games , tea and cake, present giving and a good time to say goodbye until the next season. |
During the Corona virus 'lockdown' the garden has been kept going by the very hard work of our Project Manager - Jean Burgess. Single handed she has, sown seeds, weeded terraces and planted out when the seedlings were ready. There is an amazing variety of vegetables and soft fruits on the terraces and in the green house. As well as all this hard work Jean has managed to keep us all in touch with the 'goings-on' in the garden, using her very imaginative sense of humour. She writes a regular blog about the inhabitants of the garden and what they have been up to trying to support her in the work. One such blog is shown below. The Scarecrow is named Scary Biker and his dog is Plackie as he is made up from old un-recyclable plastic. They are always trying to help but this effort is not always successful!! |
Funday photographs 10th July 2020
Potting Shed News by Scary – the Monday after the Funday
Well. We did it! It was great to see so many of you, for the first time since early March.
Took a moment to recognise some, with their lockdown mops of hair (notably Jean, Bob, Graham and me), whilst others looked immaculate as ever, and one or two couldn't be seen at all becos time has become a rather hit and miss affair these days, going ever so slowly and then rushing past so that before you can say “I'm sure I was meant to be somewhere today?” the moment has gone.....anyway, everyone who forgot, or remembered some other appointment which they had forgotten (!?), apologised, so that's alright, and we look forward to seeing you soon.
Plackie (my plabrador made from unrecyclable black plastic) and I stayed in our usual central position near the bird bath, so we could see all the goings-on.
First up came the volunteers – Angela, Zoe, Colin and Jean. They performed the now traditional “how on earth does this gazebo go up” dance, in record time. Arranged chairs in carefully spaced groups, and lit the BBQ (which went out.). They quality checked Angela's amazing cakes, and relit the BBQ (which went out). So, after deciding that a cup of tea was in order, and maybe the other type of cake should be checked too (incidentally, all cakes passed the test), Angela relit the BBQ (which stayed alight) and then Phil arrived, broken leg and all, and we were ready.
The St.Anthony crowd were first: Caroline, Wendy, Tori, Robyn, Emma, Graham and Bob, ably assisted by Magda and Summer. They all disappeared down the garden path and out into the field to look across at Rosie and her new companion Shelley. Whilst they were gone, I sent Plackie up to see Phil, who gave him a burger for himself and a hot dog for me – he ate both on the way back, but I suppose it's the thought that counts?
After that there were games to be played, (welly throwing and croquet racing), prizes to be won, and a moment to sit and enjoy the warmth of the sun. On the stroke of twelve they had to leave, making way for 3 family groups – Zoe and Joe, Sue and Max, James and his parents – it was lovely to see you all - and they did all the things the previous group had done.
At 2 o'clock there was a final change of people when Hannes, Rowan and Tom arrived. Still an abundance of bangers, burgers, and cake on offer, and the garden walk was extra good as they grow veg and things back at The Mount so we could compare notes
Now, I must tell you about the competition, “Where was Jean....?”. This time the question was “Where was Jean when the pigeon made a mess on her head?”. Only Jean, me, and the pigeon, knew the answer to this. (I would gladly have given the info up, in return for a cake, but no one offered.) Everyone had a go at this, sticking a named flag into the garden plan at the spot where they thought Jean had been. An impartial volunteer stuck in flags for a few people who hadn't been able to come. Nearest guess (in the rhubarb patch) came from Praise, who had been poorly and couldn't come, so he wins Lockie (or Lucky) the lockdown lion (gorgeous cuddly toy).
I think that'll do for now. I last saw the volunteers scratching their heads and wondering how on earth they could collapse the gazebo back down. Maybe I shouldn't have hidden the instruction leaflet?
best wishes - Scary and Placky
Diary date: 28th November 2020 - Christmas Tree Choosing Day!
Well. We did it! It was great to see so many of you, for the first time since early March.
Took a moment to recognise some, with their lockdown mops of hair (notably Jean, Bob, Graham and me), whilst others looked immaculate as ever, and one or two couldn't be seen at all becos time has become a rather hit and miss affair these days, going ever so slowly and then rushing past so that before you can say “I'm sure I was meant to be somewhere today?” the moment has gone.....anyway, everyone who forgot, or remembered some other appointment which they had forgotten (!?), apologised, so that's alright, and we look forward to seeing you soon.
Plackie (my plabrador made from unrecyclable black plastic) and I stayed in our usual central position near the bird bath, so we could see all the goings-on.
First up came the volunteers – Angela, Zoe, Colin and Jean. They performed the now traditional “how on earth does this gazebo go up” dance, in record time. Arranged chairs in carefully spaced groups, and lit the BBQ (which went out.). They quality checked Angela's amazing cakes, and relit the BBQ (which went out). So, after deciding that a cup of tea was in order, and maybe the other type of cake should be checked too (incidentally, all cakes passed the test), Angela relit the BBQ (which stayed alight) and then Phil arrived, broken leg and all, and we were ready.
The St.Anthony crowd were first: Caroline, Wendy, Tori, Robyn, Emma, Graham and Bob, ably assisted by Magda and Summer. They all disappeared down the garden path and out into the field to look across at Rosie and her new companion Shelley. Whilst they were gone, I sent Plackie up to see Phil, who gave him a burger for himself and a hot dog for me – he ate both on the way back, but I suppose it's the thought that counts?
After that there were games to be played, (welly throwing and croquet racing), prizes to be won, and a moment to sit and enjoy the warmth of the sun. On the stroke of twelve they had to leave, making way for 3 family groups – Zoe and Joe, Sue and Max, James and his parents – it was lovely to see you all - and they did all the things the previous group had done.
At 2 o'clock there was a final change of people when Hannes, Rowan and Tom arrived. Still an abundance of bangers, burgers, and cake on offer, and the garden walk was extra good as they grow veg and things back at The Mount so we could compare notes
Now, I must tell you about the competition, “Where was Jean....?”. This time the question was “Where was Jean when the pigeon made a mess on her head?”. Only Jean, me, and the pigeon, knew the answer to this. (I would gladly have given the info up, in return for a cake, but no one offered.) Everyone had a go at this, sticking a named flag into the garden plan at the spot where they thought Jean had been. An impartial volunteer stuck in flags for a few people who hadn't been able to come. Nearest guess (in the rhubarb patch) came from Praise, who had been poorly and couldn't come, so he wins Lockie (or Lucky) the lockdown lion (gorgeous cuddly toy).
I think that'll do for now. I last saw the volunteers scratching their heads and wondering how on earth they could collapse the gazebo back down. Maybe I shouldn't have hidden the instruction leaflet?
best wishes - Scary and Placky
Diary date: 28th November 2020 - Christmas Tree Choosing Day!
