From Mexico to Liverpool

It’s blood tests in Liverpool again today - every two weeks at the moment to check my body’s response to methotrexate. One again, quick and easy; at least I’m lucky having ‘good veins’ for taking blood! 

G wants to visit Wavertree Botanic Gardens. Described as ‘ a lovely 19th century public park with a walled botanic garden and a Grade II listed curator's lodge. Visitors can get a feel of the garden that once played a central role in the recreational and cultural life of Liverpool, before the destruction of the great glasshouses during World War 2,’ it’s sadly neglected and overgrown - and not in a romantic way. I’m not enamoured, I’m afraid. 

It’s a great shame as G’s brother - an excellent researcher into family history - has discovered that in the late 1830s, their great, great, great uncle William Bates who had settled in Mexico, sent seeds of ‘exotic’ plants to friends in Liverpool. Sadly, while the descendants of these plants might still be there, the whole place is so uncared for that there’s little evidence.

In other news, Lili has ‘graduated’ from ‘Babies’ to ‘Tots’ in her nursery, and has had the most gorgeous report! So sweet - and we’re all so proud of her! I love the final paragraph: ‘Lili is so caring towards her friends and will often become concerned if another child is crying, Lili is quick to offer them her dummy showing empathy and a lovely caring nature’. 

My main today’s a mono of clematis seed-heads - I love their swirling pattern.  And in extras there are extracts G’s brother found detailing their uncle’s contribution.