Fingerprinting our children!

I've just read a memo from the head of school in which she discusses the possibility of requiring a thumb print from our children in order to buy lunch. Have we gone mad? Is this not an over reaction to some children sharing their lunch cards with others. What do you think about this? Comments please!

Gardens up walls!

You must look at this site. It is unbelievable. I've just seen a programme about these walls on the Chelsea Flower Show television show. I must go to Paris this year and see his work...gardens...whatever you call them.

The end draws nigh, again.

I'm back to wondering if I am coming to the end of this blog. You have probably noticed that I haven't written much of late. Now that my energy is returning, I seem to be involved in all sorts (when I have the energy) and I don't seem to need to write the way I did when I first became ill. I will warn you when I completely pack it in. For the time being I'll write occasionally so that you can keep up with my .... whatever! Cliff and I are off on the Queen Mary 2 in 5 weeks so I imagine that I'll have a lot to write about that trip, especially the train trip through the US on July 4th.

Elderflowers

Mary Jane and I were talking about the book, 'Stalking the wild asparagus' yesterday and one of us mentioned elder flowers. Today on the way home from work I saw elders in bloom and just coming into bloom. I have always wanted to try elderflower fritters. I've found a recipe and may try on the weekend. Does anyone have recipes for anything else with the flowers. I know you can make cordial but it would require too many flowers. Email me or post here if you have any ideas.

More on my plants

As you can see, I did get some pictures and right from my garden. The plant in the flower box is a pelargonium and the one on my garden table is a yet to be planted geranium. It's pink but I do have two blue ones (Johnson's Blue).

Geraniums and Pelargoniums

Continuing on the plant theme, Mary Jane also asked if I could give the difference between geraniums and pelargoniums. All I could do was go to the bbc website and find examples in the gardening section. So if you are interested too, click here and input the name of the plant. I wonder if I can find pictures!

I'm back with pictures. Follow this link and you shall see.

The Colour of Pumpkin flowers? asks Mary Jane

I'm not sure what colour pumpkin flowers are. Not only are the buds on mine very small but the sudden cold weather has sent them scurrying in on themselves! We'll have to wait and see. They may even fall off. Heaven forbid! And do you eat them, as you can courgette (zucchini) flowers? I don't know that either! However, in early June (I think) the Elder flowers will be out and we do deep fry those in the UK. I've never had them but I hear that they are wonderful. I imagine that they probably do other things with them as well.