A birthday outing

Ten days or so ago to Polseden Lacey for a birthday outing and a spot of sunbathing, seemingly our first visit for three months or so. See reference 1.

A bright start to the day and, thinking that the sun would pull in the crowds, we decided that a picnic was the way forward. Cheaper, pleasanter and less dangerous than a crowded cafeteria. And there was a lot of traffic out. Quite a lot of it going to Polesden Lacey, but as luck would have it, a dog walker pulled out just as we pulled in and so we got a good spot in the car park. There had also been a fine display of daffodils on the sides of the long drive, from the lodge to the car park.

Next item of interest was the fritillaries in their troughs, possibly lead. They looked a bit stronger than mine, so perhaps being planted in the clear, rather than having to fight their way through the grass is a plus. Although a  minus would be the greater likelihood of being disturbed when dormant.

More daffodils, with the light on the leaves of the brambles looking much the same from a distance. All very confusing.

At the time, we were struck by the clumsy looking name. Most unattractive. Whereas now, I am confused. The plant behind the label does not seem to have much to do with Ceratostigma plumbaginoides as revealed by Bing, which offers, for example, reference 3.

With Isle of Wight echiums comings on near by. Global warming ahoy!

Having had a doze in the sun on the main lawn, we took our picnic on a sunny bench in the rose garden, attractive despite the absence of roses. With the bonus that absence of roses kept pretty much everybody else at a distance.

But we did have a discussion with another older couple about the strange shoots on the yuccas, noticed at reference 1. I think we decided that the shoots were probably destined to grow up into the sky rather than down into the ground, but that one would need to keep an eye on them to be sure. Perhaps yucca shoots swing both ways.

In sum, lots of spring flowers, even if some of the daffodils were past their best. Plenty more coming on in their place. Lots of crown imperials, bulbs favoured by the Victorians and for which my father had a soft spot. We wondered whether a responsible organisation, perhaps the RHS, ought to issue a full apology for the provocative naming of this bulb, an ongoing insult to the victims of colonial and racial oppression, past and present. Perhaps some other responsible organisation should be invited to come up with a more appropriate name, it seeming a bit harsh to simply ban them altogether.

Home to a celebration meal, starting with some of the beans noticed in the last post and going on to a salad built around the tins of crab noticed at reference 2 and utilising our elderly crab shaped bowl.

White rolls from Costcutter, undated champagne from Waitrose. Puzzled by the lack of date, as I had thought the last such bottle had had a date on it. And annoyed by the carelessness which resulted in the initial 'T' of our name getting left off the cork. To be taken up with the customer service desk at some point.

Supplemented by a glass of 2019 Gewürztraminer, probably also from Waitrose.

The beans.

The salad. I had not been able to find any curly endive, so I had to settle for ready-cut rocket from Waitrose, which I thought a bit strong relative to the crab, although BH seemed happy enough with it. If I was doing it again, I would get a bit more crab, there being less than expected after one has drained off all the brine. But the crab itself was fine, despite being foreign.

White rice did well, have emerged from cooking very sticky. By the time it was cold and I had added a very small amount of oil, it was fine.

Wound down the proceedings with cheese and biscuits. Including on this occasion, for a change, some Gubbeen from Cork as well as Cheddar from Lincolnshire. Both from Neal's Yard Dairy. Maybe one day I will try some Cheddar from Cheddar. Perhaps in the margins of a visit to Downside Abbey, to balance all our visits to Buckfast Abbey.

In any event, a successful change from our usual meaty fare for ceremonial purposes. The sort of thing noticed at reference 4.

PS: I read this morning that we are supposed to stop eating crabs and lobsters as the lines for all the pots cause far too much collateral damage to other animals. A particularly Scottish problem.

References

Reference 1: https://psmv5.blogspot.com/2021/12/christmas-lacey.html.

Reference 2: https://psmv5.blogspot.com/2022/03/trolley-493.html.

Reference 3: https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/3410/ceratostigma-plumbaginoides/details.

Reference 4: https://psmv4.blogspot.com/2020/05/a-tale-of-two-ribs.html.