And now to...

...Great Dixter, the family home of Christopher Lloyd...one of this country's great gardeners.

The house is mainly medieval, with additions by Sir Edwin Lutyens, who was commissioned in 1910 to remodel the house by Nathaniel Lloyd, Christopher's father. He kept to the faith of the original building, by dismantling "modern" elements, and adding/saving half another medieval house as a wing. You can't see the join.

The house itself is filled with the normal household items found in an Edwardian home, Christopher had more modern tastes and commissioned several pieces from Rupert Williamson...whose furniture I fell in love with.

But...Christopher Lloyd is most famous as a designer of gardens, and his own at Great Dixter has a wealth of inspiration. He was no follower of convention, but ploughed his own furrow...even digging up the rose garden, in whose place now sits an exotic one, with banana's growing where roses once bloomed. He was not keen on roses, but you do find the odd one dotted about the gardens.

I hope you enjoy the views...












And although Christopher Lloyd died in 2006, his choice of successor in Fergus Garrett is seamless...having worked together for several years .

Only we...

...could arrange a short break where they've had the highest rainfall over the last few days!

Hastings had a few drops of rain yesterday, 110mm fell yesterday(that's two months worth)...and where are we off to? A village between Hastings and Rye, only for a couple of nights, then it's a visit to Mum. But, with all the glorious weather we've had...we've chosen this afternoon to disappear. Our seller is in France, so no decision will be forthcoming from her and her viewings of last week, we have a phone if someone does need us, and we certainly do need those hours away.

I've always wanted to visit Great Dixter, it's one place I've never been to. Coming originally from Kent, I've visited most others in the area, but never there...I have the cameras primed. Whether we get to Sissinghurst too, or visit some of the villages and towns, I'm not sure.

Saturday, I'm out with my Mum and sister, there's a lavender farm near Lullingstone/Shoreham in Kent, and we're off to that as it's one of their event weekends. The Hop Shop started as that, a business which sold hop bines for interior design, but now has an award winning farm shop, and lavender farm.

In the world of football, Charltons two...Murray and Chappell, have cancelled their meeting with fans tomorrow evening, and I for one am not surprised. They've been given legal advice that 'at this time it would not be appropriate'. You can imagine that even more speculation abounds amongst fans, and maybe this time with more foundation. Expectation is now high. If we are about to be sold, this could answer the question as to why certain players haven't re-signed contracts yet. We all await an announcement. Of course, the statement continues with Murray saying..."It might sound strange, but I hope fans take this as a positive thing, and of course we will rearrange the event the moment we are able to speak more freely.". Does this mean we're being sold, or being invested in with an injection of funds, with Murray et al continuing in place.

Today is the first day of the Ashes, when England play Australia....in Cardiff!! Usually the first Test is at Lords, but without Old Trafford hosting a match, the powers that be decided to go abroad... It's as strange as a stage of the Tour de France coming to England, but...ce la vie!