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Houses and Hyacinths



The mystery bulb has revealed itself to be a tulip, and a rather pretty one at that. I had found a bulb abandoned on a wall. Nobody was around and there was no sign of any gardening activity, such as spades or trowels on the adjacent lawn. When I passed a second time, later that same day, the bulb was still there. So rather than have squirrels devour it, or let some oik fling it under a car's wheels just to watch it squash, I brought the bulb home and planted it.

It was fun, actually, to watch it grow and wonder exactly what it might turn out to be. Obviously too big a bulb for snowdrops or crocus, my first guess was daffodil. Wrong! The green shoot which grew was too sturdy for daffs. Okay, a tulip? Yes, as tulip-shaped leaves emerged from the strong shoot - but what colour? Tulips come in a multitude of colours and forms, some glossy, some with raged edges to their petals. It's been a game of wait and see.

Anyway, here it is. Enjoy!






Spring has sprung, and what a wet one it's been so far. Fortunately for us, we've had a few dry days which are coinciding with the reroofing job currently underway on our home. Our old roof had been repaired several times since we bought the place, with us chasing one leak after another. The roof looked like a patchwork quilt, and the waterproof membrane which lies under the tiles was so derelict it was dangling in tatters from the rafters, as we found when inspecting the attic. This house was built in 1897, after all....

Does a new roof add resale value to a home? Some say yes, some say no. However, a leaky roof causes a lot of damage and that definitely would detract from any house value. 

Did I mention my Rightmove addiction? I find it quite entertaining. (There's also a website called Terrible Real Estate Photos which is absolutely hilarious. I've laughed aloud at some of the truly awful house photos with funny captions.) There are the properties described as being for "those looking for a project", which actually means the house has three remaining walls and a tree growing out of what may have been a living room 100 years ago. Or "in need of some updating" which means the kitchen and bathroom are health hazards. I saw one house just the other day, where half of the floorboards were missing and the only way into the cellar was to bring a ladder or jump.

Then there is the minefield of other peoples' ideas of good taste in décor. My pet hates include those big words spelling out corny phrases like "smile, breathe, live", or solo words like "home", perhaps for those who are uncertain of where they are. I saw an outdoor area set with an all-weather table and chairs, plants in big pots, bunting, fairy lights, that was finished off with a ginormous sign which read "patio" just in case anyone might be unsure.

Other pet hates are outsized-patterned wallpaper, each flower the size of a Sky dish. Pink or red anything.  Or stairs in the main living area, with a sofa tightly packed beneath them so that anyone sitting there risks a fractured skull if they stand without caution. Decking. Yes, I know it was popular, largely thanks to a certain garden make-over TV show, but in the UK climate it rots relatively quickly and gets very slippery when damp. Acres of grass to mow or hedges to trim. (Lose the boring lawn and install a pond!)

But there are the dreamy properties, the ones which cause a person to wish upon a star. Elegant Edwardian or Victorian homes, or bungalows with intelligent floorplans. Coastal views, gorgeous gardens, a separate workshop (or art studio!), or ensuite bathrooms and a walk-in dressing room ("closet" in American English).

Anyway, even the grandest windowsill can be improved with a hyacinth or two.
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