Yes, it’s been fab, here in South London. Lockdown means lots more time to improve all aspects. I’ve even had the time to follow a short video on how to make a cold frame from an old pallet – we collect these from skips to make compost bins so there’s always a few spares stacked here and there. Here’s a few shots..
As you can see Dog helped.
And so to the plants and veg…
And for those who need some pictures of Dog in his natural habitat…plus Vicky (the tortoise) Nutmeg and Tikka (our 22 year old twins)
And the anniversary? From this
to 36 years of marriage later to this
at our daughter’s wedding last year; one of us hasn’t changed much…
My name is Geoff Le Pard. Once I was a lawyer; now I am a writer. I've published several books: a four book series following Harry Spittle as he grows from hapless student to hapless partner in a London law firm; four others in different genres; a book of poetry; four anthologies of short fiction; and a memoir of my mother. I have several more in the pipeline.
I have been blogging regularly since 2014, on topic as diverse as: poetry based on famous poems; memories from my life; my garden; my dog; a whole variety of short fiction; my attempts at baking and food; travel and the consequent disasters; theatre, film and book reviews; and the occasional thought piece. Mostly it is whatever takes my fancy.
I avoid politics, mostly, and religion, always. I don't mean to upset anyone but if I do, well, sorry and I suggest you go elsewhere.
These are my thoughts and no one else is to blame. If you want to nab anything I post, please acknowledge where it came from.
Happy Anniversary! You both look great and are well suited. I am envious of your lovely garden. You certainly know how to make things grow, plants, and relationships!!
Congratulations – I did notice the disparity in change 🙂 Now – are you using the Gutenberg editor? I notice your group pictures are mostly not cropped – have they improved this? Or have you kept most of your pics to the same format so they can’t bugger them up?
Thanks, Geoff. My problem was that if I went uncropped they changed the size of the landscape pics and the page looked awful. In your post the tortoise picture above the cat has been cropped – months ago, when I last used the new system, they would have kept the whole picture but halved it leaving white space above it. Anyway it looks as if I’m going to have to give it another go.
Yes – quite sloppy. 🙂 The others are all portrait which explains most of it, but they did crop the tortoise nevertheless. We see what happens on 1at June.
Beautiful garden, happy anniversary. Now as to the cold frame you said “As you can see Dog helped.” Well I have it on it on the best authority that actually Dog did it all. 💜💜💜
Your garden is fabulous Geoff, and that’s a lovely picture of you both at your daughter’s wedding. Thirty six years……. wow, Coral plus 1. Congratulations. We’re coming up for our Pearl next year.
I gave my Mum a bottle of Ruby Port and Dad some stilton cheese for theirs. They made it to 45 (Sapphire), and that was a meal out at a Cantonese restaurant. I still see Mum’s face at the thought of using chopsticks, but I had forks in my handbag. The waitress brought some over before I had to get them out though.
Happy days Geoff, and wishing many good years ahead for you both.
Mum and Dad celebrated their Silver that year and we took them out for a meal. Mum was chuffed as rocks that she could keep the table flower arrangement. My sister and her husband took them to a show at the Winter Gardens in Bournemouth where the star was going to serenade them in the audience. Instead, Dad stood up, took Mum’s hand and they danced in the aisle. Wish I’d been there to see that.
I used to love him and his free hand paintings. I was so upset and bloody cross when he turned out to be a pervy creep. It almost undermined my childhood. As for Savile… *shudders
Congratulations on 36 years of marriage.
The garden looks wonderful. How come the snails haven’t eaten your hostas? I gave up on them because of it.
We’re not a million miles from you in South London. being just north of Eastbourne, and previously lived in Redhill. I taught in Croydon for 20 years. Whereabouts in S. London are you? (If you are willing to divulge. I know some people prefer to remain more private.)
If you were here in the US, your garden would get featured in Southern Living or whatever regional magazine there was where you were. It’s beautiful. My cold frame is on its last winters, so I may do something like yours this fall if the current one won’t stay together…Congratulations on the anniversary. You both look pretty fabulous.
What a great idea for making a cold frame Geoff. My neighbour’s son has been recycling pallets into a garden settee, which looks great. I wish I had a way with a hammer…
Your garden looks fab. You have been busy. Happy anniversary to you both. You all look well including the little ones and dog.
TanGental 
Huge congratulations on 36 years! ❤
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Thanks Ritu. It’s been a long time coming
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Happy Anniversary! You both look great and are well suited. I am envious of your lovely garden. You certainly know how to make things grow, plants, and relationships!!
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Ah neat! I like that . I think the fact that I am still on probation helps..
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I’ve always enjoyed seeing your garden. It’s so beautiful.
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Thanks Susan..we are v lucky
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Congratulations – I did notice the disparity in change 🙂 Now – are you using the Gutenberg editor? I notice your group pictures are mostly not cropped – have they improved this? Or have you kept most of your pics to the same format so they can’t bugger them up?
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I do use it. I think there was an option and i went uncropped
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Thanks, Geoff. My problem was that if I went uncropped they changed the size of the landscape pics and the page looked awful. In your post the tortoise picture above the cat has been cropped – months ago, when I last used the new system, they would have kept the whole picture but halved it leaving white space above it. Anyway it looks as if I’m going to have to give it another go.
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Most of mine are portrait which may explain it. The tortoise was landscape. I must say i hasnt really noticed. Isn’t that sloppy!?
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Yes – quite sloppy. 🙂 The others are all portrait which explains most of it, but they did crop the tortoise nevertheless. We see what happens on 1at June.
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Beautiful garden, happy anniversary. Now as to the cold frame you said “As you can see Dog helped.” Well I have it on it on the best authority that actually Dog did it all. 💜💜💜
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Thanks for giving that away… bloody sisterhood…
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Lol 💜
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Great pics–and nice work on the projects, especially the marriage project!
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The marriage one remains a work in progress…
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Your garden is fabulous Geoff, and that’s a lovely picture of you both at your daughter’s wedding. Thirty six years……. wow, Coral plus 1. Congratulations. We’re coming up for our Pearl next year.
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I hope to make ruby so my children can buy me something fabulous! And we’re lucky with the garden esp this year when everything is blooming
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I gave my Mum a bottle of Ruby Port and Dad some stilton cheese for theirs. They made it to 45 (Sapphire), and that was a meal out at a Cantonese restaurant. I still see Mum’s face at the thought of using chopsticks, but I had forks in my handbag. The waitress brought some over before I had to get them out though.
Happy days Geoff, and wishing many good years ahead for you both.
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Thank you Di. Boy do I remember my first chopsticks. 1975 at university with my first girlfriend. I was such a klutz…
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Mum and Dad celebrated their Silver that year and we took them out for a meal. Mum was chuffed as rocks that she could keep the table flower arrangement. My sister and her husband took them to a show at the Winter Gardens in Bournemouth where the star was going to serenade them in the audience. Instead, Dad stood up, took Mum’s hand and they danced in the aisle. Wish I’d been there to see that.
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That is so cool… goodness, the Winergardens. My first rock concert at 16… Bad Company 1974…!
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Hate to say, but the star was Rolf Harris. he was very generous though and sat in their seat to watch!
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Oops, that’s awkward in the retelling like asking Jimmy Savile to be your child’s godparent!
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I NEVER liked Savile. He gave me the creeps.
Still, at the time RH made my Mum and Dad happy, and that was a good thing.
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I used to love him and his free hand paintings. I was so upset and bloody cross when he turned out to be a pervy creep. It almost undermined my childhood. As for Savile… *shudders
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likewise
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Congratulations on 36 years of marriage.
The garden looks wonderful. How come the snails haven’t eaten your hostas? I gave up on them because of it.
We’re not a million miles from you in South London. being just north of Eastbourne, and previously lived in Redhill. I taught in Croydon for 20 years. Whereabouts in S. London are you? (If you are willing to divulge. I know some people prefer to remain more private.)
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Dulwich VM. I was born in Redhill hospital having spent my first 10 years in Caterham.
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Happy Anniversary! Similar weather, I remember. Many congratulations xx
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It was one sunny day in some pretty wet weather. Lucky us. Nice to remember. You gave us a spade or a fork, didn’t you?
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Yes, that’s right! I think I dropped it on T’s foot while we were in the greeting line 😬…
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I remember you trying to hurry away so that’s possible, though I can’t remember why… perhaps you needed a drink?
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Well done with cold frame, by the way!
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Thanks. It is ridiculously satisfying!!
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If you were here in the US, your garden would get featured in Southern Living or whatever regional magazine there was where you were. It’s beautiful. My cold frame is on its last winters, so I may do something like yours this fall if the current one won’t stay together…Congratulations on the anniversary. You both look pretty fabulous.
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You’re very kind about us! Well me anyway. And the cold frame is doing its thing waiting for the nights to get warmer
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You seem to have an aptitude for healthy longevity – this is impressive! Especially the cats. Oh, and the marriage. Well done!
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The marriage has been a pretty constant line of laughter which I’m sure helps. And having cars that show us the way doesn’t hurt…
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I am so jealous! Geoff – you look in great shape!
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Actually I think lockdown has made me fitter so the shape has changed though whether for the better is moot.
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Happy Anniversary. Beautiful garden and nice job on the cold frame.
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Aw thanks. Wood and I have a somewhat tendentious relationship so I’m more chuffed it works than it really deserves.
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Wood is the root of all insecurities.
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Fabulous garden. You can see where your daughter gets her looks – and it’s not from the one with a beard 🙂
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Funnily enough there are more of my features in her face than her mother’s – but the overall packaging is undoubtedly from the feminine chromosome
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Magnificent! And congratulations.
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Thanks Anabel… though Mrs LP ought to take the majority of the credit for both garden and 36 years…
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Understood. Solidarity, Sister!
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Well, yes, now you’ve got glasses.
Lovely garden, as usual. Pop over and fix mine, will you?
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I had glasses then only they were just for reading, not making a prat of myself…
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I’ll bet they were dual-purpose.
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What a great idea for making a cold frame Geoff. My neighbour’s son has been recycling pallets into a garden settee, which looks great. I wish I had a way with a hammer…
Your garden looks fab. You have been busy. Happy anniversary to you both. You all look well including the little ones and dog.
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Everyone is blooming indeed. Though I’m getting to like a farmer(too much, sun, too much rain, the wrong sort of wind…)
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I love your garden, and Dog, posts. 🙂
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He’s quite vain, photo-bombing me all the time…
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Heh, heh, heh. 😀
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