Ridgeway Cottage anyhow

Every year I plant purple sprouting broccoli and every winter whilst it's far too cold for me to be heading off to the allotment, great big fat pigeons eat it. I finally brave the bitter wind and try to net the plants with the shabby bits of net I've got and they sit on top of the net, which has usually collapsed under the weight of snow and eat the sprouts of broccoli again. Eventually I get the whole net thing sorted on a warm spring day and the sun causes the plants to go to seed. I have long been envious of all the fabulously sophisticated looking brassica protection that are pride of place on other plots at the allotment. Beautiful structures filled with perfect cabbages and untouched plants. I have dreamt of my own steel and net weapon against the greed of those birds. And now at last I have my own fruit cage to love and I have such plans for it. From now until late spring it will keep the pesky pigeons off the purple sprouting broccoli, as they can strip a plant of ...

If it were my choice, I would have plenty of pets: a dog, chickens, a pig, a goat, a sheep, perhaps a little wallaby but as this is very unlikely to happened, I am going to have to settle for the two guinea pigs that have come to stay for a couple of weeks. They are adorable and incredibly popular with Charlie, who woke me up early asking if he could get them out of their hutch. His little face says it all and he has been happily feeding them the contents of our fridge throughout the day.   He even got in the cage with them to play and waited very patiently for them to come out. He did of course allow them to escape but they are safely back in their cage again until tomorrow morning.       Posted with Blogsy

I have a feeling that as the summer holidays continue, our bucket list will get longer and longer. We did complete a number of fun things today and as we ticked them off, more and more exciting things were added. Today we... Picked and ate veg from our garden Hunted for caterpillar eggs for our butterfly farm We found a few different types  Whoever laid these, did so very neatly Made a nature museum And caught butterflies in nets My favourite moments from today were of Charlie standing in a small box full of water howling with laughter as he stuck the hose pipe down his shorts and Josie making her own Top Trumps. Josie's cards were based on characteristics of her friends and were really so funny. I loved seeing how she rated her friends in terms of smartness, cuteness, entertainment, mischief and strength, including Nibbles and Henry (two Guinea pigs who will be staying with us for a while in the holidays.) I would love it if ...

First thing this morning, we were all up early writing our summer holiday lists. We sat discussing things we want to do, places we want to go and the people we want to see. There was a flurry of scribbling and much excitement about what the next 6 weeks might hold. I love the start of the summer holidays, even as an adult, it feels like the summer might last forever. We haven't finished our lists yet but we have already completed number 1. on Charlie's list: buy new clothes. We spent the morning together in town and it was lovely. Isn't it amazing how well behaved and beautifully mannered children can be when you are buying them stuff? We even entered a draw to win a car that we signed. Charlie's plan is that if he wins, he will give it to daddy who can sell his car and give the money to Charlie. He can then spend the money on whatever he chooses.     Posted with Blogsy

I've been trying to get back in shape for what seems like forever but there always seems to be an excuse and well life gets in the way but with the summer holidays just days away, I thought I should at least try a bit harder. My kids are a handful and some more so if I am going to be entertaining them for the next 6 weeks, then I need to get in some training. Rumours are that the heat wave is also going to continue so I don't want frighten everyone on the beach with the sight of me in a bikini.   I've cut out the coffee, alcohol, general junk and switched to vegetables and fruit which is working out quite well so it's time to up the exercise. Josie had a party that started really early on the high street so I decided to run back (stage 1 of my triathlon). Next I took Charlie swimming because one of my goals for the holidays is to get Charlie really swimming. He likes to dive into the deep end and thinks nothing of trying to swim a length of the pool, both of w...

The number thirteen is considered unlucky by some, but this year I've been married 13 years and I couldn't be luckier. When it comes to presents, I do like a bit of tradition and although it probably is a bit cheeky, I like to choose my own gift. That is one of the great things about having been married so long, I know my husband well enough to be pretty confident that he doesn't mind too much. According to the tea towel (linen for 12 years) that I gave my husband last year, detailing what I will be expecting for each year of our marriage, lace is traditionally given for 13 years of marriage. You can't imagine my delight, I totally adore lace, if its vintage lace, I don't believe it can get any better. It just so happens that I had recently been looking for some prettier lace curtains for Josie's room so I had a fair idea of what I wanted. And there it was a vintage sample of original Nottingham lace rescued from an old Victorian Lace mill before it was demo...

One of the things I like about living in Kent is that there are always new places to discover. This is also true of England and practically every corner of the world but I do rather relish living just around the corner from undiscovered adventures. We recently visited Walmer Castle on a glorious sunny afternoon, perfect for a spot of culture and history overlooking the sea. It had a little something of interest for each us and seeing as Kent castles are very much on the school curriculum and both the children have learnt about all the stuff that goes into making a castle great, it was certainly worth a trip.   There are cellars or possibly dungeons, with eerie ghosts (my children), secret doors and midsummer sun streaming throughp windows into the ancient stone chambers. Canons to practice balancing skills on or imagine that you are protecting your area against attack from pirates. Herbaceous borders filled with structure, colour and shape against a backdr...