JOHN BARON'S FUN WALK

John Baron MP ready to start the Fun Walk at Barleylands

The Stuart family following their walk on Sunday at Barleylands Country Farm

Hundreds turned up at Barleylands Country Centre at Great Burstead in Essex on sizzling Sunday to walk for charity.  More than £41,000 was raised for loads of charities and the big barn was filled with some super friendly people. Our Cater Museum Curator, Chris walked the route and the rest of us manned the plant stall - hugely successful.  Ron Poulter our local photographer took some great pictures appearing in the Billericay Gazette this week.

FEW MORE SNAPS FROM CHELSEA

More pics from Chelsea. It was fun to see the seven-storey 80-ft pyramid fill up on Monday with 75 Royal Hospital soldiers.  How they managed to engineer it all on so many different levels was amazing. I knew some of  the gentlemen (and ladies) and they were thrilled to take such an active  part in this year's Garden Show.

Few more snaps as promised from the Chelsea Flower Show.  So delighted with the RHS staff who organised this 99th Show - really is the best in the world.  Have been watching excerpts from it on TV all this week and have so many ideas for restructuring our garden.  My own seeds are all germinating fast now and even the cuttings are taking on a new life, so lots of plants around. 

More details and flowers to follow

Joan Collins at Chelsea (Sally Anne Kent)
 

Tomorrow's (Sunday)  Fun Walk gathering in the Big Barn at Barleylands in Essex looks as if if will be a success with this wonderful weather. Kick off at 1pm.   This annual charity walk began in 2002 and is the brainchild of John Baron, our MP.  Our Cater Museum will be supporting a plant table with lots of craft and goodies - so do stop by.

MEETING THE STARS AT CHELSEA

Back home now after yet another adventure in London visiting the world's best flower show at Chelsea.  Working on the YouTube clippies taken of some of my favourite gardeners we usually see in TV - all so kind and seem happy to be snapped.  This year we met up with Joan Collins (courtesy of Super Sally), Cliff Richard, and others, including slightly older friends who actually live at the Royal Hospital, Chelsea. they all had great fun climbing up that pyramid.   The gardens were breathtaking and the new roses and shrubs launched this year are so beautiful.    Sarah Raven and Sally Kent, plus Nigel Havers and a few other interesting folk.

HOW DID WE TYPE ON THESE MONSTERS?

Working on an article about old fashioned typewriters - if anyone was trained on one of these ancient machines, do make contact. Have just taken part in the latest Book Club programme with Michelle Ward - we both love reading and reviewing.  This week centred on the paranormal and some scary reading and viewing.

http://www.phoenixfm.com/2012/05/24/sylvia-kent-with-the-book-club-talking-supernatural/

JURGEN'S WOLFF'S SPECIAL MAD DAY - WEBINAIR

Currently taking part in film director/playwright Jurgen Wolff's special MASSIVE ACTION DAY on line.  Here is the image I have used in my book THE WOMAN WRITER, showing Jurgen surrounded by some of our writers in Brentwood, Essex, England.  We all started at 9am (across the world) and it finishes late tonight. Such an unusual project - but fun!

This cyberspace marathon ended just around midnight.  It was a pleasure to meet up with Jurgen once again, albeit on screen (he popped up on the hour - over the whole 15 hours) and his advice was pertinent and useful to the 17 writers (from around the world) in the cyber room. To add spice to the sessions, Jurgen offered prizes to the participants.  His newest book and projects are listed on his website http://jurgenwolff.com and for people needing help with their creative writing, I suggest they sign up with him - he is brilliant!

CHELSEA FLOWER SHOW BECKONS

Looking forward to my trip to London's Flower show at Chelsea starting Monday.  This is a 'regular' on my diary and I think it is my 14th visit although I was invited in the 70s - even met the famous late  Percy Thrower who posed for me. Few snaps taken last year - the garden enthusiasts included Ringo Starr, Lulu, Jerry Hall and others.

BLUEBELLS IN NORSEY WOODS

VISIT TO LOCAL RADIO STUDIO AT BRENTWOOD

Visited Brentwood today to be interviewed by Michelle Ward on her EAT MY LUNCH programme.  This was our regular BOOK CLUB slot and, for a change from talking about the general run of books read recently by our Billericay based library book club, we discussed books about the paranormal, including the Twilight books and expanded into Essex ghost books.  Also discussed the Johnny Depp film on vampires - very scary!  Enjoyed myself immensely in the Phoenix studio.  Michelle is such a great presenter, making her guests feel very much at home.  May post up a YouTube clip (if she is happy about this).  Incidentally, she is a great singer and my guests this evening listened to her excellent newly released CD.

BUSINESS & PROFESSIONAL WOMEN'S SPECIAL LUNCH

Sun streaming through the windows of The Fold for the annual gather

MY FURRY SECRETARY TAKES A NAP

Pixie is fed up with filing - have piles of it, so she takes a nap in the magazine drawer - pitching to Cat Magazine tomorrow! Quite like dogs, but adore cats.

GEARING UP FOR CATER MUSEUM'S OPEN DAY

Thankfully, the  temperature has risen 5 degrees in as many hours! Hopefully, we will have fine weather for Saturday's Cater Museum's SPRING GARDEN OPEN DAY - details below.  That Hyde Hall expert is going to be brilliant, I know, but also a lot of fun, particularly for the children.  The flower arranging expert, Mrs Kay Hayes will receive a warm welcome and a goodly audience.

Even if weather is inclement, we have a gazebo, so do come.  There will also be a chance to buy our beautiful Cater Museum book illustrating some of the historical aspects of the town of Billericay Through the Ages with paintings and pen and ink drawings by our first Curator, the late Harry Richman.  Also on offer will be  some beautiful pieces of craft, and we are potting up plants for you. Admission free - donations welcomed. Few pics below to give you a flavour!

Flyer

ECCLES CAKES FOR TEA

Most people know that I love cooking and write about it - preparing an electronic book - along with my wine-making efforts, so Kindles at the ready!  This afternoon I am baking Eccles Cakes. They  derive from the town of Eccles in Lancashire and the earliest date I can find is around 1760.   All my sisters enjoy baking, too, and some are champion cooks, such as Eve (pictured below).

 Later, I will post the recipe, which is so simple. 

 

THE QUAKER WAY - A QUIET LIFE

Always a pleasure to hear from our Quaker friends in Billericay.  Delighted with invitation to visit their newly renovated meeting house on Saturday.  This lovely venue can now be hired by local societies (janelutton@gmail.com).   Hospitality on Saturday was, as usual,warm and welcoming with lovely food.  Also had the chance to buy some tomato plants for my new veg patch (when weather warms up a little) from green fingered Silvina (pictured here).   Here is the forthcoming programme for the Friends in Billericay - looks interesting!

TOWIE FANS ARRIVE IN BRENTWOOD

I had heard of coaches bringing fans of the TV reality show THE ONLY WAY IS ESSEX to visit Brentwood's Sugar Hut and this afternoon I met some enthusiasts for myself.   A group of lovely girls passed Mara Cottrell's home-made cake stall in the High Street and posed for me.  Perhaps it was the huge curlers that gave them away!  Surprised to learn of their long  journey from the north to a rather chilly, rainy Brentwood - think they met up with some of the cast of TOWIE and seemed to be having fun - Mara's food (superb, as usual) was selling well.  Do pay a visit on Saturdays to her stall (outside Marks and Spencer - she specialises in diabetic/non gluten fare).

LOOKING FORWARD TO WELCOMING YOU ALL ON SATURDAY 12 MAY TO OUR GREAT SPRING GARDEN OPEN DAY