Ischia

Some years ago I read an article about the composer William Walton's garden on the island of Ischia and I've been wanting to visit it ever since. This month we flew to Naples and caught the ferry across to Ischia, passing other small islands en route.

Our base was in the town of Forio, in a small hotel, which I shall politely describe as quirky!

No need to wear a watch, the peel of bells from the nearby church was as regular as clockwork and delightful to hear.

 The crater of Epomeo was shrouded in cloud when we arrived

at the smallest hotel bedroom we've ever experienced.

But it was quiet and clean

and overlooked a nice patch of garden.

Everyone was out and about throughout the day

and we had the pool virtually to ourselves.

I did a great deal of lounging on the Balinese bed!

     On our first day looked around Forio.

Fancy a fancy jacket, anyone?

I was tempted!

This beautifully dilapidated building was opposite the tower. A sign on a shutter said it was for sale.

I had to go and peer through the doorway.

The floor tiles in this church were worn away with use

and the underneath of the minstrels' gallery

 decorated for those whose gaze was to the heavens.

We walked on to the Chiesa del Soccorso, overlooking  the town.

This must be a church for sailors because small model boats were perched all about on shelves and ledges.

It was nice to sit outside and catch the sea breeze

and a dramatic sky for Skywatch Friday.

On our walk back to the hotel we passed this sunbather with his dog acting as look-out.

 The gardens were hanging with datura.

Visible Monday

We are having a wonderful autumn with sunny, dry days. It is good weather for in-between clothing, although it quickly gets cold when the sun begins to sink. This brown velvet jacket is by Paul Smith and it is easy to wear with either jeans or a skirt. (I've discovered that the epaulettes are a very good way of keeping the strap of my shoulder bag from slipping off my shoulder!)

I spend a great deal of time in sturdy cropped jeans from Lands End. Their denim is thick, although my main gardening pair has now had to be patched at the knee. When I'm not grubbing about in the garden I like to wear a dress, very often with a petticoat (Showing my age?) I've had my petticoats for  many years and can't seem to find anything similar to buy these days. However, this grey net one is fairly new, bought just a few years ago. I wear it so that it shows which makes it useful in adding length to this otherwise too-short dress from Boden.

Worn with an old calf skin belt.

Joining Patti who hosts Visible Mondays.

At the RWA

This month the Royal West of England Academy (RWA) has put on an exhibition to celebrate Robert Hurdles' impressive one hundred years of life. On Saturday, before the private view, there was an in conversation session with the artist, in the form of a series of questions and answers.

Robert has an enviable memory and has led a long and interesting life, encompassing such times as being at first a conscientious objector at the start of WW2 before changing his position and becoming part of the bomb disposal unit. Having experienced such a turbulent period of history it's interesting to consider the serenity and beauty of his large, mature paintings. He described the development of his painting, his technique and influences. His description of the necessity of sheeting up his workroom and the clothes he wore to protect himself from the effects of his method of splatter painting caused some amusement!

He has only recently stopped painting. In answering a question about this he replied, "I paint with my eyes." I'm sure that all the audience had the same thought as me - I hope that I'll be as lively as Robert if I make it to one hundred years old!

Robert and Himself taught together at the art school and they always have plenty to reminisce about.

 

From one to one hundred.

Just the other week we were celebrating the first birthday of our grandson, but yesterday our invitation was to a mad hatter's tea party to celebrate a one hundredth birthday.

There were many cards, including one from the queen.

Photos of the birthday boy at different stages in his long life.

The sun shone

and we could wander around the garden.

Goldney House is situated on Clifton Hill in Bristol. In the late seventeenth century Thomas Goldney the second,  the son of a successful Quaker grocer, leased a house and garden in Clifton, which was then a small village separate from the city. He developed the house and gardens and created a grotto which he decorated with shells, quartz and a rock crystal known as 'Bristol diamonds'. There was no chance to look inside the grotto, it was securely locked.

The handsome red sandstone tower was built in 1764 to house the steam engine supplying water to the grotto.

The property passed through various members of the family and in 1864 was bought by Lewis Fry, a member of the famous Quaker chocolate manufacturing family who remodelled the house and the pleasure grounds.

The chocolate birthday cake tasted just as good as it looked!

The tea party was served in the orangery with heart-warming speeches from family and friends, 

poetry 

and music.

What a perfect way to celebrate one hundred years!

Celebration

All the family were home at the weekend to celebrate our grandson's first birthday. His auntie brought a piñata that was almost as big as the birthday boy.

We hung it on the walnut tree.

The so-called adults had a great time attacking it with sticks!

His mummy made the birthday cake

and auntie helped to blow out the candle.

Yum.