I mentioned Middlemarch in my last post, but I have to confess that I was side-tracked by Salmon Fishing in the Yemen by Paul Torday.  What a fantastic book!  I found it very, very funny and completely charming.  A strong recommendation...

I am looking forward to a long Bank Holiday weekend.  And, although by choice I would spend it outside, I am reconciled to the weather.  I have started to re-read some of the classic books I have loved over the years.  This weekend I am looking forward to Middlemarch.  I am hoping that it has something to teach me, again.

I am now addicted to Pear Bread.  The good news is that it is extremely healthy, consisiting of dried fruit and nuts with a fine pastry cover.  The bad news is that I can only seem to find it in Switzerland.  If you find yourself in Zurich, and a wonderful store called Globus specifically, I strongly recommend that you pick up a loaf and bring it home.  Guilt free, delicious, healthy snacking.

I mentioned the Maltings we visited yesterday in Warminster.  Here is our Spring Barley.   Isn't it fabulous?!

The farm has won a prestigious award - for our malting Spring Barley.  Appropriately, the variety is called Tipple and it is used in the production of beer.  Our prize is the creation of our own beer, to be called Ilsley Manor Ale.  Yesterday, Father, Son and I went to a maltings in Warminster to see the start of this process.  I had no idea how special the malting is and it was fantastic to see floors and floors of barley being moved by hand.  The methods are traditional and it was fabulous to see the ancient machinery and learn more about beer making.  

The Boat Race has just finished.  As Son is a rower, it is an important fixture in our household.  Assuming you read the blog below, you will also appreciate that we were supporting the Dark Blue team.  It seems such a sad day for both teams. For Oxford as they lost and one of their crew had medical trouble, and for Cambridge for winning in such a unsatisfactory way.  To be unable to celebrate was plainly unpleasant and was certainly extremely uncomfortable viewing.  Better luck for a better race next year...  

The Oxford Literary Festival finished last weekend so I am a little late in giving you an update.  For me, the highlight of the festival remains the guided walks given by Mr Lack.  He is a gem; very impressive, makes you feel intelligent and guides you with charm and humour.  Oxford is so poetically beautiful...

I caught up with Miss P today in London. What a great day! The sun was shining and the world seemed to be smiling. For those of you who are interested, the "look" is for skinny jeans and ballet flat shoes. 

I seem surrounded by the most amazing blossom.  I managed to snap this picture stopped at lights while I was driving through Abingdon yesterday...

I have just planted some beautiful box plants along the house in the drive.  They are planted into the gravel so I'm keeping fingers crossed that they thrive. I have a vision of a line of clipped shapes moulded into rounds and cones.