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.

A FUNNY THING HAPPENED TO ME ON THE WAY HOME.

One way or another it's been a different kind of a week. Before I tell you about it I need to explain a little, As I write my blog I can click on a link which will give me some statistics about how my blog is received out there in the big wide world, it tells me how many people have looked at it today and where in the world they are , but what it doesn't do is tell me what they thought of it,  (comments would be very welcome,,,good or not so good :).

This year it's been cold but not this cold.
'

So bearing this in mind let me now tell you how my week was.
Last Sunday the 17th found me on my way to Riga airport, I was heading for England to attend the funeral of my sister Jean. Though we had never been close I felt I should be there. The flight was fine but running a little late ,as we rose through thick fog up into the bright sunshine we always find above the clouds. This always reminds me of God's love, for altho we may not see or feel it, it is always there and in a world that seems very dark at times we can break through the clouds that surround us and enjoy the warmth of His presence around us,  It was cold wet and miserable and Stansted was full of folk heading somewhere, maybe returning from a holiday on a warm sunny shore ( boy, were they in for a shock) or maybe returning from working overseas and looking forward to time with family and friends, but they all had one thing in common and that was to be in my way!!!
It is at times like that I can see the difference in the life we used to know when we lived in England and the one we have now, one where we can travel 25 kilometers and see perhaps 10 cars on a busy day  . However having fought my way through the crowds of people and their suitcases, I ended up standing waiting for my face to be recognised at passport control , I then realised I had put it in the wrong way round ,so did it the right way, and then I made my way through the labyrinth of nothing to declare and baggage reclaim out into the arrivals hall. This to me is just another bewildering time, those waiting to meet someone need only to look for face in a trickle of people coming through the door, but those coming out are met with a sea of faces,for me I hadn't seen our  niece Lucy,for 21 years, would I recognise her?? I didn't have to worry as she found me before I had chance to go into meltdown mode ,especially as my phone decide it didn't want to work in England,  ,so after big hugs we then headed for the car, and off to Lucy's home, where I was staying.  I at last managed to get a message to Valerie via the internet,who was relieved to know I was there safe and sound.   Being Sunday ,we went to church in Peterborough, which was quite an experience for me, 500 strong congregation, but I really enjoyed listening to the Christmas story, and singing carols,and meeting new people,

The promise of things to come

Monday, the day of the funeral, saw us back at the church, [in a room decorated with Christmas trees and snowflakes.]waiting for people to arrive.
It was great to spend time with all of our nieces and our nephew with their respective families and see how they have grown over the years [some great nieces and nephews ,were not even born ]when we last all met.which was at my mum's funeral,  All to soon my time with them was over , sad to say goodbye, and  hope to see them sometime soon [but NOT another funeral],,,Then I was heading with our son Andrew for Newbury to stay for two nights,he'd come up for his aunt's funeral.

On Tuesday I was off to see our daughter Anna and family, we were going to spend some quality Dad  and Daughter time. 

Ah when I  was a lad this was a train

Here was another forgotten memory ,train travel!! having found train times on the internet it appeared that the only trains from Newbury that stopped at Westbury would leave at 7.50 or 12.00 WHAT!!!!! surely they run every hour??? not a chance so it was an early start, £11.50 the fare so the timetable had said, but oh no £32 the ticket man asked  £11.50 that's the super duper off, off peak fare, what a con. Eventually having picked myself up off the floor it was decided that if I bought a ticket from Newbury to Pewsey and then one from Pewsey to Westbury  I would save money as it would only cost £17.50. WHY!!! I'm sitting on the same train travelling the same distance in the same seat, it just didn't make any sense and I certainly wasn't going to get into a discussion with the ticket man because I am sure I wouldn't have understood why. So to me it remains one of life's mysteries.
Anna and Olivia met me at the station , we went home and had a chat with Valerie on Skype, then off to have breakfast in Sainsbury's  a bacon sandwich and hot chocolate, we had a little retail therapy, lunch in a pub, then we sorted some heating problems ( I hope) Oh yes ,and there was the question,, Dad ,,,can you have a look at my hoover it's not working, got that sorted and then my time with them was over and it back on the train and this time the ticket purchased in a machine on the platform from Trowbridge to Newbury changing at Westbury was £11.50, I'm still puzzled over pricing. So back to Newbury to spend time with Andrew ,Michelle and Thomas   .Oh the joy!!  Gammon and pineapple ,plus chips for supper,
But where was I?  Ah yes rambling on ,lost in my own little world as usual now where did I start? Oh yes "A funny thing happened" Having been delivered back to Stansted (£3.50 just to stop and get out of the car. !!!!!) said a quick goodbye to Andrew and Thomas, and off  into the airport, I eventually boarded my plane, settled in my seat and waited (and apart from takeoff nerves ) felt quite relaxed. The plane was full, not a spare seat and I turned and said to the man one seat along (who I had heard speak english) " looks like everyone is going home for the holiday" He said yes, then he said, " I read a blog written by an Englishman living in Latvia and of his life there" this quite surprised me, as it was my blog he read.  what a small world ,my thanks must go to him, for his encouragement, 

So despite my doubts about Google's statistics ,I now know there are people out there who do read my blog and I thank you and wish you a very Happy Christmas.

OF VINES,TULIPS AND FAIRY TALES

It wasn't the earliest of starts, in fact it was quite civilised for excursions from Stelpe. We boarded the coach after it had delivered the schoolchildren all excited and ready for their day, (well some were)

We were off for the day in Tervetes novad visiting a young man who has a business growing grapes, and then a visit to someone who grows tulips, this would be followed by pusdienas (lunch) and then a short distance down the road to the main destination of our trip The Tervete Nature Park.

After what seemed to be the wettest September in memory we had enjoyed two days of wonderful warm sunny weather and this morning didn't disappoint, it was glorious and as we travelled we watched farmers

out in there fields cultivating and sowing next years harvest. In one field we watched huge machines applying a liquid fertilizer, covering wide swaths of land in a single pass, such a long long way from childhood days when the local farmer would drive through our village towing his muck spreader and filling the air with a distinctly agricultural aroma.

Three large poly tunnels held 100 nes in each.

Trained along wires the vines were above head height.

Large sweet juicy grapes tasting  nothing like shop bought ones. 

Anyway I digress Tervete novad (parish) is about 100 km from Stelpe so just a short trip for us today.

Our first stop was to visit Edgars Zihmanis who has planted some 800 vines outside for vine production and 300 inside three large poly tunnels and these were the vines we had come to see. With varieties from Ukraine, Russia and the U S A, he has selected varieties that will withstand Latvias cold winters with temperatures down to -25 -27C.

At the end of our tour there was a tasting session and believe you me there is nothing quite like a freshly picked juicy grape.

Like so many old buildings here, neglect and lack of funds
has caused  a multitude of problems for those
wanting to restore them  to their former glory.

Valerie took  a shine to this pup

While dad looked on.

Please take me home.

Settling back on the coach we headed for our next call the tulip grower ,here we could buy bulbs ready for next spring flowering, and after some confusion as to whether we should turn left or right we turned left only to find it should have been right, never mind we arrived and disembarked, The man whose business we had come to visit was waiting for us and we heard about his plans for the area, and the business he had. I'm afraid that when we went into his garden we discovered that his dog had had a litter of eight pups and these were the main attraction for many of us, Valerie took great delight in cuddling one pup and was most put out when I said no we can't have one. Mother was a German Shepherd and father looked like Bernese Mountain Dog, well he was certainly the size of a mountain!!

My dining companions.

Our lunchtime venue

Meat, mashed potato two different salads and sauce.

By golly it was good, very tasty.

Finally it was dinner time and we were to eat at the Agrofirma Tervete Ednica, a fairly new café which served an extremely good value for money meal.and very tasty too, excellent service and brilliant price , under 4 euros, for main,course pudding and drink [juice ].  

Our last stop was the Tervete Nature Park some 400 hectares of forest with paths down which one can wander and find giant mushrooms, fairytale caricatures, small homes for folk who live in this magical forest, there are play areas for children and grown-ups, tea rooms for those who just want to wander and enjoy the magnificent trees some up to 40m tall. If you want there is an observation tower which is 39m high and you can look out above the trees over the surrounding countryside. We had a guide with us as we set off and he told us many stories of the folk who lived there. The prerequisite though was that you must believe in fairy tales or you would see nothing at all. The two hours spent there was just not long enough and it is now on our list of places to take friends when they visit us.there is also a land train if you so wish, which some of us took advantage of a ride back up the hill, 

The bridge to take us from the carpark into the
Tervete Nature Park, so much safer than crossing the road. 

Along our way were rather nice places to sit and ponder a while.

How about rabbits this big?

I think Valerie would like one of these for
our garden!!

Just keep caterpillars this size off my plants. 

Practicing being a garden gnome (suites me I don't think)

Des Res in need of some upgrading.

No2 Fairy walk ready to move in to.

This witch was great she fed us with chocolate covered rasons.

Didn't like the size of the spiders though.

Part of the adventure playground, and as responsible adults
of course we had to try it out. Didn't we?,

Sadly our day was drawing to a close and we had to head back towards Stelpe after another great day out with our friends.

Where did summer go. Was it something that I said?

An international gathering from, Latvia, Norway, Ukraine
and the UK. The venue 13 Upes Iela

Those of you who know me will understand that when the grass starts to 
grow in spring and the plants start to wake up ,our garden tends to take over and sitting and trying to write this blog tends to take second place, or even third or fourth place.

There always has to be time for friends to visit, days away, and on the very rare occasion even a night away but all of these come with some cost. Unfortunately weeds and grass do not seem to understand the concept of a day of rest.

The joy of having a garden though is sharing it with friends and no matter what. quoting an old English song “Everything stops for tea” so the door is always open, PG tips ready and there is usually some cake or scones in the cupboard waiting to be eaten so if you have a bit of time to spare friends are always welcome.

The reason I am here now trying to put some thoughts into a blog is Spring and Summer have come and almost gone and we are sort of in between seasons. One day wet (which it is today) one day dull and dreary another warm and the next cold!! (to the point of putting the heating on).

Some bright spark once said “summer should get a speeding ticket” it travels so fast!!

Anyway that be it as it may, we all have to accept Autumn is on it's way some trees are beginning to turn red and the birch trees are showing yellow. I really like the way they seem to have tear drops of yellow leaves amongst the green almost as if they were sad at the passing of summer.

I mentioned earlier that there had been those days away, and I have endeavoured to cover them with albums of pictures on Facebook, one picture being worth a thousand words, and it's much quicker than writing a blog. ( If you are not a friend on FB send me a request and then you can catch up.)

Meanwhile here is a short account of the occasional day off and happenings in Stelpe we have had in picture form,

 (APRIL) Anna and Olivia, helping us at school cooking with the children

Olivia getting some cooking tips from Nanny.

In return a new hairstyle for Nanny.

(April)Our two large trees that had to be felled.

Our neighbour Janis making a start.

TIMBER!!!!!

A job well done. It's great to have good neighbours.

(May) My own humble effort at tree felling,
(Now  you see them)

Now you don't

( May) Our son Mark helping Dad with some barn repairs.

June found us in Lithuania at Kurija  Nerija National Park.
Looking towards Russia.

Sand dunes right on the Russian border.

All together now, a life on the ocean waves.

A little about our boat trip.

On the shore line, just hope the tide doesn't rse to much.

We had a day out in Lithuania with friends from
Vecumnieki, where everything is big!!
From cookng pots

to ants

Snakes

Even the mosquitoes. 

As we left after a long day we stopped for one
last look over the countryside from this 100mtr
viewing high platform.

A few days latter found us heading out again,
this time to Kolka, which is where the
Baltic sea joins the Gulf of Riga.
This is a local fishermans boat.

Lunch in  a fishermans home.

Heading for  Cape Kolka

I'm Glad I never brought my swimming trunks.

A proud moment for grandparents, when we attended Katies
graduation in Winchester Cathedral in July