The Distancing Diaries - 26th & 27th October, 2020

 Despite the clocks going back it was still dark when I got up at 6.15am on Monday morning and the rain hammered down whilst I did my Wii Fit workout, which didn't bode well for our planned National Trust day out. After our fruit and yogurt breakfast and armed with macs, umbrella and our packed lunch, we set off for The Cotswolds

It's been a couple of months since our last visit to Hidcote Manor Gardens (HERE) and, as we'd loved them so much in the height of summer, we were keen to see how they were looking in their Autumnal glory. 

 

As the UK's best known and most celebrated Arts and Crafts gardens, visitor slots at Hidcote are like gold dust, possibly even more so since Gardener's World filmed there a fortnight ago, so I was thrilled to go online at 6am on Friday and secure a booking.

As you can see from the photos, Walsall's torrential rain didn't follow us down the M5 and The Cotswolds, a mere hour's drive away, were glorious. I'm sure they must have their own micro climate.

Although our visit to Attingham last week was gorgeous, I think Hidcote may have had the edge, they were so beautiful bathed in golden sunshine that it took our breath away. It's the half term holiday this week and we were expecting it to be busy but, the car park was surprisingly quiet and, with a strict one way system in place, we shared the gardens with only a handful of others.

 

Although we were blessed with a dry day, there was a real Autumnal nip in the air. I don't think it will be long before we're swapping our hats for ones of  the ear-covering variety and digging out the gloves. 

I was delighted with the abundance of colour still in evidence at Hidcote and as usual, I came back with even more planting ideas to add to my endless wish list. 

I love coming across plants that grow in abundance in our garden, like the ferns and wild geraniums, then seeing what grows alongside them. I was rather enamoured with the Hart's Tongue Fern I saw on Lulu's last post, hopefully it should be okay in Stonecroft's garden if the other plants are.  

I fancied a Jade Plant after seeing this beauty in the glasshouse at Hidcote back in the Summer, although mine's a fraction of the size. I don't know what the amazing thing is in the photo above but I want one! (I've since been reliably informed by my friend Anna that it's a Haemanthus Albiflos.)

Back in the days BC (before Covid), Monday's were often boozy all-dayers spent in 'Spoons. Although we've always loved our hedonistic pub marathons, we're just as happy wandering around gorgeous gardens and drinking in their beauty.

Is this year's Autumn more beautiful than ever or is it just because we've got time to enjoy it?

 After a life-affirming stroll around Hidcote we ate our sandwiches in the car whilst enjoying a Black Metal special on 6music ( I wonder how many other National Trust members can say that?) before driving back to Walsall where, judging by the puddles, the rain had hammered it down the whole time we were out.

Tea was a chana masala with rice. We watched another episode of Spooks before tuning into the latest Who Do You Think You Are? with the brilliant Ruth Jones (a 1966 baby, like Jon & I). It was lovely to see Newquay in South Wales, where I'd spent our family summers from 1967 until 1976. Afterwards I went to bed and continued with the book I'd started on Sunday night, the sequel to Snow Blind which I'd read at the beginning of lockdown. From hedonistic 1960s summers in Ibiza to Icelandic serial killers, I've definitely got eclectic taste in books.

Tuesday was yet another damp and dismal day. After my Wii Fit session I wrapped up the latest eBay sales, swept the downstairs rugs and threw a load of washing in the machine, hanging it up in the utility room fifteen minutes later. After breakfast Jon did a post office run while I caught up with blog comments.

Anything that involved being outside was out of the question, although The Lads managed an hour before giving up and retiring to their respective chairs for a nap. 

 What's a girl to do when the weather's grim and she can't go outside and play? F*ck it and frock up! 

(Jon took these photos at 3pm when we had half-an-hour of hazy sunshine).

Wearing my Afghan dresses always make me feel on top of the world. 

Click on the photo to enlarge it

If you've visited Sheila's blog today (and if not, why not?) you'll have noticed that we're both wearing the same turquoise pendant. While she bought hers from a vintage fair, mine has always been a part of my life and I was amazed to see another. Both the copper cuff and pendant were coming home gifts given to my Mum by her then-boyfriend, Bob, after he went travelling in 1965. That's them busking in the Scilly Isles in 1964 - Mum's the exotic brunette on the right. Mum ended up marrying Bob's flatmate (my Dad) in 1966, poor old Bob!

There's nothing I love more on a miserable day than switching 6Music on and doing a bit of hand-sewing and with a few of my clothes in need of repair, that's exactly what I did, with a break for noodles in between.

The hem on my lilac Dollyrockers maxi needed a stitch, yesterday's Janet Wood for Monsoon Afghan dress had lost a press stud from the cuff, Friday's Treacy Lowe silk maxi needed a side seam repair and the Phool block printed jacket had a wonky toggle and a pocket in need of attention. Vintage clothes, like old houses, need lots of TLC, just as well I've got plenty of time to lavish on them.

Click on the photo to enlarge it

My friend Beth had asked about the garment adorning my dress form. Here's a few more photos. It's part of a vintage Afghan dress from the nomadic Kuchi tribe, a glorious mix of bead work, mirrored insets, embroidery and patchwork. One of these days I'll turn it into a dress.

Jon had a day of playing around with some music gear and baking spelt bread...the kitchen smells most inviting. 

Talking of which, that's what we had for tea, along with Greek salad, some cocktail veggie spring rolls from the depths of the freezer, pickled cucumber and olives. We even had a beer, too. After such a dreary day we thought we'd earned it.

Stay safe and see you soon!