For old time's sake

We have spent some time with my sister this weekend and decided to visit the new RSPB wetlands centre at Wallasea Island. This area isn't new to us as Justin (aka Head Gardener) grew up on this island and lived in the farmhouse where his father was Farm Manager for a number of years. So we decided to drive by the property which I remember to be in pristine condition with beautiful laid out gardens and a lawn to be proud of. How disappointed can you get, the herbaceous borders have long gone, the place is desolate and the lawns look in need of some TLC. It was a lesson to us that sometimes it's better just to depend on our happy memories of a fabulous place to live.