Allium

The cooler weather seems to have delayed the flowering of my geraniums and my magnificent white Annabelle hydrangeas. The roses, however, are doing so well and each year they seem to produce more and more flowers. They have such a beautiful scent too, it is lovely to have roses that actually smell like roses - the shop bought ones have no scent at all. The alliums are all flowering at the moment, some still bursting out of their pods and others almost over already.

Last night's function was a disappointing evening. Firstly I decided to walk the 15 minutes to the station in my heeled sandals, so had blisters by the time I got on the train (haven't worn sandals all year so my feet were not used to them). Although it was sunny the wind was still cool, and when we arrived at the Chelsea Physic Gardens we were given champagne and invited to wander around enjoying the various aspects of the garden. It was fine in the sunshine, but once the shade came over it was jolly cold so we moved into the marquee where we stood all evening (my back was killing me this morning). The canapes were not good - too few and not tasty. Gavin had spoken to the organiser to give dietary requirements for gluten free canapes, and as he was told there would be plenty of choices available and lots of food - in the true style of a drinks and canapes evening, by 8.30pm everyone was ravenous and looking around in hope for a waiter bringing platters of food - which came infrequently and when it did come, a skewer of watermelon, an olive and a piece of feta was not going to quell the rumbling tummies. Drinks and canapes evenings are always difficult situations, they are usually from 6pm - 10pm so no one can eat supper beforehand, and then most guests are forced to drift away early to go find something to eat. Enough complaining, but you get the idea I think they are not a good way to entertain! What was pleasant is the friends we saw there, we had fun chatting to them, and we also spoke to the son of our neighbour in Switzerland, who told us the sad news that his dad had died in February. We were quite upset to hear that as only last summer we had drinks with his parents at their next door apartment. We were quite shocked to hear this news.

Today seemed warmer than yesterday, and I managed to get all the items I wanted at Waitrose as they seem to be over their supply problem due to technical hitches.

We were meant to go to Norfolk this weekend but I need to be here to hang the prints tomorrow for our exhibition next week, and I have other things to do so sadly we are not going.