Our Garden.

I can always find something to do in our garden, the grass never seems to stop growing nor do the weeds. I guess a garden is a bit like the Forth road bridge, when you think you have everything finished and under control you have to start all over again

One of our many clematises, this is the
only double one though.

We often watch “Escape to the country” on TV and are amused by the city dwellers who for 30 years have had a garden the size of a pocket-handkerchief and then decide that they “must have at least 3 acres.I wonder, do they even know how big 3 acres is? I know our half a hectare ( 1.23 acres) keeps me out of mischief. But we are always trying to think of something new, and can always find room for some new plants.

Trying wherever possible to buy plants that have been propagated and grown here in Latvia is always best, though I must confess we can be tempted by supermarket plants ( if they have not been on the shelves to long) And having spent many years working in one of the best garden centers in Berkshire it frustrates me when I see plants that have dried out and still on sale. 

Many of our plants have a story attached to them, making them personal to us. Like the yucca plant we have. I will tell you about it.

Valerie and I were going to Vecumnieki and passed a pensioner friend who had been shopping and was heading home, she was waiting by the side of the road thumbing a lift, we looked at each other and said “is that who we think?' she can’t really be doing that can she? We did what we needed to in the village and headed back home, and sure enough, there was our friend, still by the roadside. thumbing,,,,, Well, we couldn’t leave her, could we? I pulled in and Valerie opened her window and said “ majas ?” (home) and quick as a flash, she jumped in the back, and off we went, When we reached the turn for Stelpe she gathered her shopping together and got ready to get out and was surprised that I kept on driving, it must be 2 kilometers from our turning to her home. she must have been in her late 70’s.

We pulled up outside of the house and made to drive away, but she insisted she showing us her garden, OK,,, out we jump and are given the grand tour. We eventually left, what must have been an hour later with armfuls of gifts, onions, a pumpkin, a clump of chrysanthemum, and a yucca plant oh yes and a bar of chocolate. So you see whenever we look at our plant we think of this lovely lady and remember her with great affection, sadly she passed away but lives on in our garden.

We have so many stories like that, our iris collection has been given to us by another friend who breeds them, and we have many plants that neighbors have given

A quiet shady corner.

Our garden used to be divided into two parts, the lower part was used for Vegetables and an orchard, and the top half was more veg, soft fruit, with a little given over to ornamental plants, this has changed over the years and we now have ( what we like to think) a more traditional English garden, with flower borders and beds.

Our conifer bed which gives us
colour all year round.

Every few years our local government holds a garden/home competition, with judges coming to look at how the householder has done to improve or change their garden. Four or five years, we took part and were awarded a certificate for competing and a monetary prize. When the opportunity came to take part in the 2019 competition we were up for it, but what could we do to improve our plot?

Time for our thinking caps to go on.

Some time ago I put a fence across the front of the garden (to keep a small dog out, but that's another story) into the fence I put a garden gate from where a path leads up to our door. It was the ideal spot to put some Arches and grow climbers over. Said arches made and erected we planted roses, honeysuckle and clematis, and this year they have been wonderful.

Looking down the front path
towards the gate.

The main project was the construction of a pond. We had bought a pump some years ago and made an attempt at creating a small water feature but with very little success (well no success at all really) so the pump and all the gubbins that went with it were put on a shelf in the basement and left to gather dust

One day Valerie was on Facebook and came across a novel way of making a pond/water feature, from an old tractor tyre, which would go well in a corner that we just couldn't think of what to do with it. What a good idea but where will we get all the bits we need to make it from? 

First we need a tyre, I spotted one leaning against an old building not too far from home and asked our neighbor if I could have it, no problem take it he said. Next, a pond liner that has to come from a shop, which meant a trip to Riga to a DIY store, after some discussion with a member of staff we found what we needed. OK, everything else I had stored away hose pipe, padding to lay on the ground to protect the liner, etc. I have put a record of my progress in the pictures below.

All projects completed and the garden looking great,,, the day of the competition judging arrived. At the arranged time a minivan turned up and the judges wandered into our garden clipboards at the ready keen to see what we had done since the last time. After answering questions and spending time showing the judges round, they left to go on to the next competitor. Leaving us to wait and wonder how did we do? ( to find out you will have to read next weeks blog)

Our philosophy regarding the garden is one of creating a place of peace and beauty, a place to share the blessings we have and a place just enjoy the beauty be it a single bloom, a bed of glorious colour, to listen to the song of a bird or just a place to be quiet.

First I cleared the site and dug a shallow 
pit just a little larger than the tyre.

Cut to size and laid a protective
cover for the liner.

Laid the tyre in the center after cutting
one rim from the tyre.

Cut and laid the liner in place and
filled with water.

Trimmed the liner to size and covered 
the tyre with stones to finish.

I’ll finish as I did last week with a hymn which just about sums up our garden.

I come to the garden alone while the dew is still on the roses,

And the voice I hear falling on my ear,

The Son of God discloses

2.He speaks, and the sound of his voice is so sweet
The birds hush their singing,
And the melody that He gives to me
Within my heart is to ringing.

And He walks with me and He talks with me,
And He tells me I am his own;
And the joy we share as we tarry there,
None other has ever known

WHERE'S ROGER!!

         Hi there, it's been a long time since I was last here and sharing our life in Latvia. I guess one of the reasons I stopped writing my blog as I didn’t want to bore people with repetitive posts, you know, went here, did that, saw this, saw that. When I checked I found I had started “Tales from Upes Iela” in Febuary 2011.

A spot to stop, have coffee and pause
for thought.

          So after some consideration and suffering from Lock-down syndrome, I will incorporate some things from both the local area plus what's been happening in 13 Upes iela since the last blog.

         Please ask me if there is any particular things you would like to know about the area and our life here in Latvia.

Morning mist, the view from a bedroom window.
We watch deer, foxes, and even eagles.

          In my first offering I’d like to tell you about a little mishap that happened to me last year. I think I may have mentioned, modern technology and I don’t always get on. As long as things work I’m fine but if not I’m lost. ( Valerie tells me not to fiddle with things ) but I do love to touch buttons and fiddle.

          I have a smartphone and can take a picture, make a phone call, and use messenger to make video calls. But for a long time, I had passwords on a security app, trouble was I couldn’t remember the password to get into it.

Our little dog taking a nap in the shade, she
is now twelve and a half years old.

          So it was as the song says “ early one morning just as the sun was rising “

          I went through my checklist with Valerie, Boarding pass, check, Passport, check, Train ticket pass, Car parking, and man bag with all else I needed for a week away on my own in the UK. I was heading for Trowbridge to spend a week with family, helping to decorate our daughter Anna’s dining room. ( it’s what dads do ) I was booked on Air Baltic’s 07.45 flight from Riga to Gatwick and from there on to Trowbridge by train. As daylight started to rise in the east I said my farewells to Valerie with the promise I would keep her updated with my progress every step of the way.

This little fellow paid us a visit one morning.
No grey squirrels here.

        Oh the truth of Robbie Burns words “ The best-laid plans etc etc”

        The journey from home to Riga airport takes about 50-55 minutes and I arrived at the carpark in good time and that is when the problems began, I found a space, and by the time I had squeezed out of the car the courtesy van had arrived, so grabbing my flight bag and my trusty man bag from the back seat I shut the door locked it and jumped into the van and was away. , I hadn’t had time to call home. With stage one complete I would ring home in the airport The last time we had flown the queue for check-in was humongous and so seeing almost no one waiting I shot through saying to myself once I’m through I can sit down in peace and call Valerie and update her.

We call it the peat train and have seen the
the engine just three times twelve years.

           I found a quiet seat, sat down and opened my man bag. OH NO no phone!!!!! and it dawned on me only then it was still in the car, What the heck can I do now,stop, think,!!!! don’t panic, Ah I know I can buy a cheap phone and call her. Have you ever tried to buy a cheap phone in an airport? Even in duty-free it just ain't going to happen. But you can buy this one for 350euros that will do everything your PC does, but I have one of those already but it’s in my car! It was at this point I said a little prayer, like please help me, Lord. short and to the point. I would just have to trust Him. Wandering around one shop I was approached by a very nice young sales lady, who asked if she could help me, she must have seen my downcast expression ( for by now it had dawned on me, Valerie would be wondering where on earth I had got to, and this heavy black cloud was hanging over my head) I explained what had happened and how all the things I needed were locked inside my phone and I desperately needed to contact my wife who would be going spare by now thinking the worst. “Oh dear,” she said let me get my phone and you can ring her, but, I don’t know her phone number, it’s in my phone!!! but I do know her email address, ( that was a bit of a eureka moment, OK so we can send an email to her, the black cloud started to lift. I spelled out the address which was a little tricky as the pronunciation of I, e, and a in Latvian is different to the English, but we got there in the end. My message read something like this. Don’t worry, I’m fine, will explain when I get to Trowbridge, Love you, Roger. And we sent it. The cloud lifted a little more, and all was better with the world.

Down to the front path.

        What I didn’t know was that Valerie was by this time in contact with our family and told them “ I’ve lost dad, don’t know where he is, and I can’t reach him on his phone, it just rings and rings, also, more importantly, my email never arrived.

        So whilst I was blissfully enjoying my journey the family who by now were all aware of the situation were sending messages of comfort to Valerie saying don’t worry he’ll be fine. Our son in law set up a group on messenger called “ where’s Roger” so at any time there was news all the family could be updated. He would meet the train as planned and then he was sure I would exit the train station grinning like a Cheshire cat, if I didn’t that was the time to panic.

          Needless to say, I arrived as planned and the crisis was over. The message went out to everyone “ I’VE GOT HIM” so panic over, Valerie knew I was safe,, The rest of the week went as if nothing had gone amiss.

         I would like to share the words of this old hymn because my Christian faith is very important and through all the problems recounted above (all my own fault I might add) I knew that I had someone far greater with me

1. All the way my Savior leads me,
   What have I to ask beside?
   Can I doubt His tender mercy,
   Who through life has been my Guide?
   Heav’nly peace, divinest comfort,
   Here by faith in Him to dwell!
   For I know, whate’er befall me,
   Jesus doeth all things well;

2. All the way my Savior leads me,
   Cheers each winding path I tread,
   Gives me grace for every trial,
   Feeds me with the living Bread.
   Though my weary steps may falter
   And my soul athirst may be,
   Gushing from the Rock before me,
   Lo! A spring of joy I see;

PS. Because of the long gap since my last post the events I have recalled above happened in 2018, so I am playing catchup.