A trip to the Garden Centre on a bit of a grey day

What a difference a day makes - it was not just the sand in the atmosphere but a rolling mist, cold wind and grey skies that greeted us this morning.  This was to set the tone for the day.  Limpopo weather - grey, green and greasy.  We couldn't see more than about 20 yards which was such a difference to the last week when we thought Summer had finally arrived.

It was an excellent day to go to the Garden Centre - we have several bald spots in the garden which need filling with something and I had asked Pam, Lou and Lys if they wanted to come but in the end only Lou took up the offer.  It is always a lovely run along the coast up to the Garden Centre and it is generally warmer there.  

As you enter the polytunnel area where the cafe is on the right there is an amazing display of hydrangeas with massive flowering heads the size of a large cabbage in all sorts of colours land displayed in some lovely planters which look like slate but felt like they were metal.

A riot of colour and scent attacks your senses - the plants all look so healthy and they are very reasonably priced.  I couldn't see any osteospurmum inside but Marinos said he had plenty outside and he did - both shrub and ground cover.  I was spoilt for choice and the large ones were €3.50 and will plug the gaps beautifully.

We stopped in the cafe afterwards - only for a coffee and a chat because the Bennetts were off to Paphos to take Lys to meet a friend and to go explore the delights of Kings Mall and Sun Tower to get ideas for the villa.

I spent a little time in the garden on my return but if I am honest it was too blooming cold to be out for any length of time.  We did at least get the honeysuckle which grows over the archway cut back because it had gone bonkers with the last few days of sunshine.  The osteospurmum I bought (above) can wait in their pots for a few days John and I want to tackle that bit of the garden together in the week but a lot will depend on Mum's progress after her cataract operation on Tuesday.

We were both quite tired this evening so we had our date night steaks - superb as always and settled down to watch an episode or two of Peaky Blinders whilst the weather raged outside - the forecast is for it to be fine and sunny tomorrow - fingers crossed as we are walking again.  I shall leave you with a bit of video of the poor tree in the field next door being buffeted by the wind.