just like Dorothy's arch nemesis, I am melting.
It is hot.
And humid. In England.
Everyone warned me about the British summer -brief, unreliable,perhaps even a non- event.
I most certainly didn't expect to have to worry about sunblock, sunhats and most certainly not sunburn!
Yet here I am, like any sun smart Australian doing the 'slip,slop,slap' routine whilst all around me I watch the natives soaking up the sun.
I hate the thought of any of us getting sunburned( English sunburn too, I'd never live it down) so it's hats and light long sleeves for us all. All of our fair skinned neighbours have their shirts off and their faces turned towards the sun. Haven't they heard of the dangers of too much sun?
So on a very hot day, what else to do but head off to Kew gardens with Maggie and Grace to
walk around in the heat.
I leap frogged from shade patch to shade patch
and managed to keep both Grace and I out of the sun. Everyone else strolled around in full sun, seemingly oblivious to just how hot
it was.
(Now what is it they say about mad dogs? Surely the same applies
to the English midday sun as it does to Australian?)
It was worthwhile braving the sun though - the allium and the beds of lavender were simply stunning.
You can see from my photos that I am drawn to round ball like structures. I forgot to record the names of most of the plants I photographed so feel free to tell me what they are! Next time I will remember to take a few less shots and a bit more notice of names.
Here is one I do know however - blue brooms. The colour was just too lovely to pass by unremarked. There were a few puzzled looks directed at the crazy woman surrounded by beautiful flowers, busily photographing the brooms.
Obviously too much sun.....
Here is Maggie waving to Grace waiting below - and Grace proudly showing off those new front teeth.
Just makes that cute smile even cuter....
I remember being in Washington DC one summer and it was wickedly humid. I felt like I had steam coming out of my pores and thru my clothes.
Hang in there!!!!
Posted by: Norma | Thursday, 02 July 2009 at 04:05 PM
It's true...'mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the midday sun'.....we are a nation who cannot deal with extremes of weather.
Good for you for keeping your children safe in this extreme heat.
Check out
www.youtube.com/watch?v=vdEnxNog56E
(Noel Coward singing mad dogs and englishmen)
Posted by: Julie | Thursday, 02 July 2009 at 05:48 PM
I love the picture of the brushes. Stupid people getting sun tans and then they wonder why they look like Charpie ? sp dogs. I have English/Irish blood and I just rust not tan.
Posted by: kelleyn | Friday, 03 July 2009 at 01:45 AM
Beautiful photographs. Rarely do I find myself describing brooms as pretty.
Grace is such a cutie!
Posted by: Shireen | Sunday, 05 July 2009 at 07:15 AM
Gorgeous photos! Gracie is a cute as ever and growing up so fast. I must admit I am not missing the hot at all!!!
Posted by: Jenny | Tuesday, 07 July 2009 at 01:43 AM
great photos,
love the flowers...
and the blue brooms!
:O)
Posted by: gkgirl | Tuesday, 07 July 2009 at 07:45 PM
Stunning blog...so happy to have found you...it...the colours and inspiration is overflowing...thanks for sharing ur life.
Char
Posted by: Charlotta | Monday, 13 July 2009 at 02:44 AM
Hey! I would love to order some of your postcards, but the email didn't work for me. Email me at rathbun@moscow.com and let me know if they are still available. Thanks much!!
Diane
Posted by: Diane Rathbun | Monday, 13 July 2009 at 05:10 AM