Some good news

This week I heard that I will get a pay rise – yeah.  It’s only a few per cent but it’s the first pay rise I’ve had in 4years and I’m please but also little disappointed.  I know it sounds awful when there are many who’ve not had a rise in a while or expect to get one in the near future but my company have been talking about it for months – since January – I thought I’d get it back dated until beginning of May but no – it will start 3^rd June.

It means that there will be more money available to pay for the heating – it is so cold at the moment we’ve had the heating on the past few evenings; has anyone else?  I think I will have to put some money away for the extra cost, as it’s during these fine weather months we build up some credit with the electric and gas co for the winter – but not this year. I took a meter reading at the being of May, will take another beginning of June and work out how much the extra has cost and start a purse for extra funds.

Don’t forget to look at my 100th post give away

MummyHen X

A milestone – 100th Post and give away

I really can’t believe that this is my 100^th post– I am really excited about it. 

Big thank you to everyone who takes the time to read my ramblings, look at my photos and to post a comment – THANKYOU.

 

As it’s a milestone post and as is tradition in blogland – I will be doing a give-away; not sure what will be included – but there will be a book, some yarn and something hand-made.

If you’d like the chance to be the recipient of this surprise bundle here’s how to enter:

1.      Post a comment below with your name, where you are from and why you’d like this surprise bundle

2.      Become a follower and add a comment for another chance to win

3.      If you have a blog of your own, mention my give away, adding a linky to this post, add a comment including your blog URL for another chance to win

The giveaway closes at 18:00 BST on Sunday 26^th May, winners will be chosen randomly with the reveal sometime on Monday, so make sure you come back to see if you have won.
 

MummyHen X

Smelly vision blog

The smell is heavenly.  When we moved here 13 years ago my mum gave me a cutting of the lilac that was in her garden.  It's now a lovely 9ft bush and at this time of year is swathed in beautiful white flowers. 

 

What’s smelly in your garden?

 

MummyHen X

Westerham Walk

Didn’t feel well yesterday – I think I’m coming down with a cold (someone behind me on the train during the week was coughing and spluttering) and I was exhausted after a busy week even though last Monday was a public holiday I still worked a full day. Today DaddyHen and I went for our walk another 6 miler.

 

A circular route from Westerham – it’s a hilly walk through beautiful woodlands, bluebells were out, birds singing [really wish Bill Oddie was around] –both DaddyHen and I are hopeless when it comes to bird song, we did hear a peacock and the drill of a woodpecker, the most wonderful vistas.

 

Some to-die-for cottages – right off the beaten track – very chocolate box

 

Do you see The Scream or a baboon face in this photo or is it just me!?!?  You might need to squint - keep squinting, squint harder and turn your head to the right...

 MummyHen X

Ta dah – crochet baby blanket

On our recent train trip to Penzance I started a baby blanket for a colleague who recently had a baby boy.

Good progress was made on the trip and afterwards – except I ran out of the light blue yarn.

 

I hunted through my stash and no I didn’t have any so – do I buy 1 ball on the internet and pay £1.79 for the yarn and £2.25 for the P&P.  I wasn’t going to buy a load of yarn to get free P&P or pay over the odds on certain auction sites. 

I then found to my amazement that the school outfitters, less than 2 miles away that also has a small wool and haberdashery section, sells Stylecraft Special DK – I was so pleased.  It’s slightly more expensive per 100g at £2.15, than I pay online but I can just go to the local shops and pick up a ball, support a local retailer, have the yarn straight away, have a hooky natter to shop assistant.

 

They came to my rescue and over the holiday weekend and I finished a lovely blue gingham baby blanket for baby Joe.

 

 

MummyHen X

Darent Valley Walk - part 2

The weather this May bank holiday was gorgeous here in Kent.  Another walk; this time from Lullingstone Country Park (bottom of the picture near Castle Road to Farningham High Street and back - a round trip of around just over 6½ miles.

 

Past Lullingstone Castle and the Roman Villa – we took SonnyHen here years ago when he was doing the Romans at primary school. It has a beautiful mosaic the downside is its now £6.20 per adult.

 

Up the hill (it’s a steep one)

 

to get the beautiful view of this mid 19^th Century 9 arch red brick viaduct crossing the valley

 

Down the hill into Eynsford village – it was packed with people sitting on the grass outside the pub.  We turned left into an appropriately named lane

On to Farningham – passing these Jacobs sheep

 

Unfortunately it’s not a circular walk unless you want to walk along the road!! to back along Sparepenny Lane.

There is a castle ruin on the way – Eynsford Castle built in 11th century – it’s free to have a look round, but the entrance is across the valley and over the river.

 

Back along the river towards Lullingstone passing these Highland cattle - I've been visiting Eynsford for over 20years and there have always been Highland cattle in the meadow along Lullingstone Lane.

 

It’s a gentle walk mostly on the same level – we didn’t need to go up the hill but the view made it worthwhile.  Burnt a few more calories, enjoyed the fresh air and sunshine - it's free to walk.

 

MummyHen X

Planting

Like with the weather I’m a little late in planting, our garden isn’t large and with part of it given over to My Girls this doesn’t leave much room for planting veg in a secure place away from chicken beaks.

 

Strawberries in hanging baskets

 

Seeds in tins or plastic bottles - these will be transplanted into old wine boxes, troughs, plastic boxes and tubs once the seedlings are big enough.

 

We did manage to plant up flowers in hanging baskets

 

 

These auriculas come up year after year with very little attention but wow what lovely colours

 

 What do you plant in your garden?

MummyHen X

Darent Valley Walk

Another lovely walk yesterday

After a busy week a few hours in the fresh air looking at the beautiful Kent country side was just the tonic.

 

Having walked up the opposite side of the valley a couple of weeks ago we decided to talk to the White Cross; starting at Shoreham along the river to Lullingstone Castle up the ridge to the White cross and down the hill back to Shoreham – should be around 6 miles.

Walked across fields that looked like they were really struggling with the cold weather we’ve had of late.

Passing vineyards,

 lavender fields - these will look a gorgeous purple in a few months

 

hop strings,

 

 

following the meandering river

 

 

to Lullingstone Castle, home of the Hart Dyke family (comedienne Marinda Hart is related). 

 

We turn here walking up the hill to the golf course, down to the Lullingstone Country Park visitors centre – it looked very nice but didn’t go in – they charge for parking!!

 

Onwards along Castle Farm Road passing a mysterious stone monument (more on this in another post) hidden in the bushes,

 

the White Cross, 

 

 

views down to Shoreham,

 

 

the Kings Arms pub – we did stop for a swift pint and a lemonade before heading home.

 

 

MummyHen X