Thursday 26 August 2010

The last days of summer




It's raining here in Crouch End -- dark sky, heavy cloud, sodden grass, dead leaves on the pavement (why are they falling so soon?). But at least the garden has been thoroughly drenched, and my potted geraniums are thriving.
I've been tending to 'Coco' in London for the last couple of days -- hoping and trying and almost certainly failing to tie up the loose ends before publication -- then nipping back to Scotland for the weekend, before the start of term next week. Anyone who wants a slice of my lemon drizzle cake should come to the garden opening at Tillypronie on Sunday afternoon; hopefully there will be other treats, including some excellent homemade scones as well. As for the promise of sunshine -- well, if anyone happens to know any Celtic blessings or charms to summon up blue skies, please do say them now...

9 comments:

Tahriima said...

summer is different in different location over the world. but i try to find summer in my mind over the year...when i feel stress i close my eyes n fly to my summer land .........I hope you do have your very own summer land too..

Karen, Surrey said...

i'd love to pop up to Scotland for the weekend however....but even for Lemon Drizzle it's a bit too far. I think the leaves are dropping because it was so dry earlier. I am hoping that September is going to be better than August. I always love the challenge of seeing how long I can prolong the Summer clothes through September before resorting to Winter Clothes. This morning I am chuckling at the weather though. Having just watched the BBC weather report from the Reading Festival; my son will be arriving there any time now. It looks a bit like a trenches experience. At least he accepted my advice and allowed me to buy him wellies. Your Talland Festival looked much more like my cup of tea. Here's to an Indian Summer.

GlassCurls said...

I need it to be sunny next weekend, as my friend is getting married! It's gorgeous this morning in Oxford, and I'm just about to head off to London to see The Railway Children at Waterloo Station. Hope the weather holds in Scotland and you have lots of takers for your lemon drizzle cake!

jaywalker said...

I just googled Crouch End and got the wikipedia entry which is very interesting. Unhappily, it doesn't yet have you listed under "notable residents"! It also informed me that the 1930s Town Hall has been used in both Eastenders and Poirot. It's certainly had an interesting history.

Justine Picardie said...

For once, neither of my sons were at Reading (v. unusual, as oldest one is in a band, and has performed there for the last three years in a row. If anyone has music fans in the family, he is the guitarist in Bombay Bicycle Club. I bathe in his reflected glory...).
The sun came out just in time for Tillypronie garden opening. All the lemon drizzle cake was eaten, but will report in more detail later.
Glad to hear that Oxford Reader is off to see the new adaptation of The Railway Children -- it's one of my favourite books, and the film still brings a lump to my throat when Jenny Agutter says, 'Daddy, my daddy!'

Stephen Pope said...

"... and the film still brings a lump to my throat when Jenny Agutter says, 'Daddy, my daddy!' "

Never fails. Ian Cuthbertson (Daddy) died a year ago this week, as it happens. I've always liked that Brechtian 'wrap' moment as the final credits roll and the relaxing actors are kind of both in and out of character.

jean said...

Hi...I just found you after reading "Daphne" which I found fascinating and which is making me dig out those Bronte and du Maurier classics again.....BUT having pre-ordered Coco almost a year ago, I am thrilled to hear that I will not have to wait much longer......hope those loose ends are finally tied!

Justine Picardie said...

Sorry to everyone who has had to wait for Coco -- and thank you SO MUCH for your patience. Anyway, the finished copies look lovely -- there are over 250 pictures, and lots that have never been seen before.

bubbaster said...

Hello Ms.Picardie,
My name is Morgan and I am writing a report for school about Coco Chanel. I was wondering if I could ask you a few questions about Ms.Chanel. I would really appreciate if you could. Thank you for you time,
Morgan
You can contact me by email-mogie17@gmail.com
or
On my blog - Plakio Ville on Blogger.com