Flame tree

Happy St George's Day and Shakespeare's birthday! When I used to live near Stratford upon Avon, all the local primary schools would gather on the Bancroft Gardens outside the Royal Shakespeare Theatre and dance! It was either really hot or lashing! Then the children took part in the special parade and put flowers on the Bard's tombs. I'm sure it's still happening.

Washing machine collapsed last night - a huge rip has appeared in the drum, so we headed to Bantry to purchase a new one. More expensive than we remembered! Taking the old one out we found the radiator had corroded and when himself removed it out gushed masses of blackened water - we have a severe manganese problem here which turns everything black. A revolting mess.

In between we had lunch at the Heron Gallery. A gorgeous day and we sat outside and had a large plate of salad. Annabel has the most amazing flame tree in the garden - the colour is the reddest red I've ever seen! Originally from Chile I think.

Off to Jan's for a pot luck supper tonight. He lives right on the water so it should be wonderful. I was going to make a flan but Gill, who has free range chicks, has run out of eggs so it will be a pasta bake.

Not much time for browsing but may be back later. Enjoy the bank holiday :)