The Platinum Jubilee Thursday
Platinum Thursday
Platinum Thursday. Piccadilly Circus.
When Eliza Doolittle sat at the corner of the stage in a scene of old London and sang “Wouldn’t it be luvverly” Bobby knew it would be a wonderful show. That he had booked the cheapest ticket in the back row of the “gods”, not even knowing it was a very special day was lucky enough. (more…)
The Elizabeth Line
You never took me
Bertie: “You never took me!”
Bobby: “Now look Bertie, I had no idea I was going to see the opening of the Elizabeth Line. I go to London every Tuesday for an Al-Anon meeting in Islington. This week I had arranged to meet Technical Director Tim on his canal boat. Hoping to solve a simple IT problem I had prevaricated over for weeks. But then I had chosen Farringdon as my station for Islington. A station steeped in history and the centre of the extraordinary building of the Elizabeth Line.” (more…)
The Darling Buds of May at Laurel Cottage
The man is the book; the book is the man. This incontestable truth, which I often repeat to myself, I claim to be as true of gardens as it is of authors and their books. As a man is, so is his garden. He is a reflection of it. And it of him. For this reason, whenever I am asked how I planned my garden, I always reply, “I didn’t. It evolved.”
So said H E Bates in his book “A Fountain of Flowers”. (more…)
Lily of the Valley
When Estelle (a mindfulness teacher friend of Bobby’s) gave Bobby that single stem of Lily of the Valley, she could never have imagined what memories she would unlock from his far off young days.
A Very Special Night Indeed
Special Night
Curtain Call on a Very Special Night Indeed.
Back in April, Bobby had been to his lunchtime Al-Anon meeting in Islington. The sun shone and he caught a 205 bus to pursue further peace and serenity in the Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park. Intending to turn his phone off, it bleeped nevertheless. The Bobbys of this world are compelled to look, of course. (more…)
Are You An Explorer?
Explorer
“Are you an Explorer?” the little girl asked.
“I am” said Bobby. “And so are you.” (more…)
Flowers on the Coastpath
🌸Fl🌸wers 🌸n t🌸e c🌸stp🌸th🌸
🌸 Out damned spot I say. One two
Why then is time to do’t. Hell is murky (more…)
Brooklands Bertie at Brooklands Bus Rally
Brooklands Bertie
Brooklands Bertie.
Bertie: “Well, Brooklands Bertie, you really surprised us. Here at Mindfully Bertie we have the main bears. Me, Trevor and Eamonn. We all write stories. On the front room couch are the soft toy bears that Bobby has bought in moments of weakness at special events. Destined to languish on the couch forever. That’s where you have been for five years. Wearing a toy racing helmet and goggles. And that’s where you would have stayed, but for the strict rules at Wembley Stadium. (more…)
Dorking Running Day
The programme was printed for 2020, but shelved because of Covid until now.
In 1933, the London Passenger Transport Board was formed. Part of its responsibility was the Country Bus and Coach Department, which took charge of the country area and Greenline coach operations. In the next few years, a vast network was established. Many new country bus garages built. (more…)
The Glory of the Garden
The Garden
“Well, Bobby. This is our first weekend without football for months. We are off to Wembley next weekend, but today we had a committee meeting and a party in London. Both cancelled due to Covid. The weather is forecast to be glorious. Why don’t we go somewhere beautiful. Somewhere to lift our spirits. Somewhere to experience the glory of an English garden. How about the garden at Nymans?”
And so we did. (more…)