05-04-25, a bit of a garden tour and a bit of luck.

Morning all - it's Saturday and the start of the school Easter holidays - well, I suppose you could argue that really it is Monday, but I bet that sense of freedom is already bouncing around.  Two weeks until the Easter weekend - it really is very late this year - and then one week (I think) until the bank holiday weekend and four weeks after that it is half term again.    By then, my tomatoes will have started growing, maybe a few will be flowering . . . I can't wait!

I've just gone out to take a few photos:

The mints are coming up well again.  I'll give them another year and then I think they will need repotting with fresh soil.

The sage has been looking dreadfully scruffy and unwell but it picking up nicely in the warmer weather,  That's good.

The other herbs are doing fine too - the bay and rosemary thrive on neglect, I have to ruthlessly curb the oregano every autumn and the chives are coming up - potato salad ahoy!!

The thyme is looking very, very woody and I think I will replace it - it just doesn't look that good really.

This is the nicest part of the fig, which is two longish stems, one straight up and the other at an angle, with baby leaves at the top.  I am hoping that there will be growth further down as it really is most unattractive as it is.

I wonder about pruning it back to the lowest leafy thingy in the autumn and seeing if that encourages side growth.  Anyone reading this who knows - please advise . . .

The clematis is doing the usual thing, even though I forgot to cut it back at the right time.  I'll remember next Spring but this time I didn't have the heart to cut off all that lovely growth although there were some dead stems that I managed to trim.  Will the flowers be more/less/better/worse?  Watch this space.  

The lupin - and, yes, those are slug pellets, sorry.  The lupin in the pot had been nibbled to death when I looked this week so out came the pellets.  Hopefully it will recover - fingers crossed.

And finally - up come the raspberry canes again.  They are autumn fruiting so fruit on this year's growth, not last year's.  They were not great last year so I have planted some new canes.  It was a bit late so fingers crossed they will send up some new shoots too.

OK, yesterday - lovely warm, sunny weather after a bit of a misty start, a two load drying afternoon.  

SW was great and I am now back in my happy zone after losing two pounds.  

I did was I hopefully called a 'small shop' - ooops.  Oh well.

What I didn't do was plant out the pansies so that's on the weekend list.

I did feed Bubbles and Squeak so now have discard to use at some point.  This was with a view to having a go at hot cross buns today but I'm not sure it will fit in with some last minute plans - I need to re-read the recipe to decide.  Maybe tomorrow . . .

I glanced rather casually over what was coming up at the Civic Theatre in town and saw that one of the shows I was interested in but had shown as 'sold out' now had a 'limited availability' tag so I clicked on and there was one seat - just one - left in a really good position so I grabbed it!

It's the Saturday after my birthday so I'm calling it a birthday present to myself and here's some bumph I have copied. 

Celebrate the most beloved musicals of all time

In this spellbinding night of music celebrating the most beloved musicals of all time, The Phantoms take us on a magical journey through iconic shows such as Les Misérables, Miss Saigon, West Side Story, Jesus Christ Superstar, Joseph, and of course, The Phantom of the Opera.

Featuring former Phantoms direct from the West End production of The Phantom of the Opera alongside West End and TV star Lee Mead, the sensational cast take you on a journey through the best of the West End, Broadway, and beyond from modern day smash hits to unbeatable classics.

Plus, discover how Lee Mead went from the dressing rooms of Phantom to the living rooms of the nation on his way to winning BBC’s Any Dream Will Do.

With beautiful vocal arrangements, spectacular close part harmony as well as stand out solo performances you certainly won’t want to miss the music of THIS night!

Disclaimer – The Phantoms starring Lee Mead is in no way connected with and/or endorsed by Really Useful Group or Andrew Lloyd Webber.

Do you remember the programme 'Any Dream Will Do' when the prize was the lead role in the new 'Joseph' in London?  I absolutely loved it and voted for Lee week after week.
I am really excited to be going to this, parking isn't a problem in the evening if you allow plenty of time and I'm so glad I decided to take a random look . . .

I seem to have rambled on far too long so it's time to stop - I need another lemon water anyway and I think I will add a bit of mint too.  :-)

Bye, all, and have a great day.  xx