The Night Watch by Rembrandt being cleaned, love the t-shirts
Miniature kitchen in one of the dolls’ houses
I Love this jacket!
Taken from the Eurostar on the way home after a brilliant holiday with our very good friends.
On one of our walks around Amsterdam we came across an alley lined with arches and in each a book store. They were so tall, a very long ladder was needed to reach the higher shelves. 
As you will probably know, bikes are an important mode of transport in Amsterdam. Pedestrians really need to keep themselves very aware of the silent speeding velocipedes, bells being very few and far between! It was lovely to see whole families riding, the baby in a baby cart, the toddler on a frame in the front and children of all ages cycling along. There were also flower decorated bikes.
Parking for many bikes
WEdding bike
I really wanted to try Dutch Apple Cake and succeeded – one more a pie and one with a crumble topping – both absolutely delicious. We also shared a scrumptious tiramisu after an excellent Italian meal in Antonio’s.
I hope the Flowers in May, posted for your delectation, have pleased you. I scheduled them all, taken just before we went away for a long needed break – a train journey to Amsterdam with friends. Over the next week or two I’ll share photos from then.
St Pancras station where we caught the Eurostar
Amsterdam Centraal
While we were away on our long planned train trip to Amsterdam, the funeral of our Dear friend and breakfast companion, J, took place. As we very sadly couldn’t be there to say goodbye and to sing for him with my choir, my lovely choir leader offered to take something precious of mine so that a part of me would be there.
I chose a small ribbon in purple, white and green that Daughter no 3 gave me some time ago. J appreciated my suffragette history and so it seemed an appropriate token to represent me last week. 
Grown well in our absence
May 1st is La Fête du Muguet in France and our dear friend Kath, to whom this blog is dedicated, always gave me a bunch of Lily-of-the-Valley or, if they were away in their house in Meysaac, a card would arrive on the day. The flowers symbolise happiness and good luck and I grow them in the garden in memory of my lovely friend.
Here is the Meaningful May calendar of happiness.
It’s a lovely time of year for bird song. Here is what we heard in a 10 minute recording. 
Happy Beltane to you all.
Driving to choir this morning was a blur of beautiful blueness as the hedgerows along the way are thick with bluebells. I couldn’t take a photo (as I was driving) but here are a few of the lovely flowers from our garden.
Our Clematis Montana is wonderful this Spring having been cut almost to the ground two years ago.
We sang this beautiful song, Keep You in Peace, at choir today, rehearsing for singing at the funeral next week of our very dear friend and much loved member of our choir. Thanks to S for the video.
https://www.facebook.com/share/r/18kehYmcJ1/
We have a charm of Goldfinches in the garden, taking turns at the feeder. Sometimes, when the feeders are full, there are a dozen at once.
There are two regular courting pigeons in the garden. One had just flown off as I took my photo. 
Today’s poem in the book, “A Poet for Every Day of the Year” made me think about our dear friend John who loved cricket, so this poem, ‘The Catch’ by Simon Armitage is here in John’s memory today.
The first message to come through on my birthday (31/12/2025) was an invitation to Afternoon Tea at The Greenbank Hotel in Falmouth and this afternoon we went with our Dear and very generous friends to celebrate my birthday with a splendidly delicious afternoon tea and the most wonderful views. Enjoy the gallery and imagine our tastebud joy!
Thank you so much N&G – that was a wonderful afternoon with you two and what a truly lovely birthday present!
Bluebells on the way home
I took a posy to Sue-next-door this morning as today is the anniversary of her dear Bill passing. You can read more about the remarkable Bill Mitchell here.
Here is what Sue posted a couple of days ago, “On Tuesday it will be nine years since we lost our darling Bill. On his last day, surrounded by love, Mydd was holding his hand and offered to give him a manicure. He asked Bill what colour polish he would like. Bill said ‘Blue, the colour of the underworld’. So now we wear blue nail polish in memory of Bill. (Dear Bob, Bill’s brother, proudly paints a thumbnail, so that when people ask him about it he can tell them about the brother he misses so much). Please join me on Tuesday by painting one nail or all in blue and post a photo here”.
Hence the blue painted nail in honour of Bill as I take the posy next door.
It is such a pleasure to go into the propagating tunnel at Roots on a Tuesday and to see all the baby plants coming on so well.
Various tomatoes
Cucumbers
Runner Beans
Spring flowers are in abundance everywhere. These I found in the gardens at Burncoose Nurseries.
An extract from The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran 1883-1931. This is for our dear friends, J and M.
On Friendship
And a youth said, Speak to us of Friendship.
And he answered, saying:
Your friend is your needs answered.
He is your field which you sow with love and reap with thanksgiving.
And he is your board and your fireside.
For you come to him with your hunger, and you seek him for peace……………………………….
And in the sweetness of friendship let there be laughter, and sharing of pleasures.
For in the dew of little things the heart finds its morning and is refreshed.
I woke at 2am last night and found the glow of the moon filling the garden. I had my camera hand and, having missed the full moon because of thick cloud, caught this picture of an egg shaped moon. It’s interesting to think that the astronauts are away up there too!
My recipe called for half a head of garlic and I liked the pattern it made. 
One of my birthday presents was a Camellia plant and this weekend it has started flowering. It’s beautiful! Thank you so much A&P!
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