I began today with a smoothie, mainly to use up a very over ripe banana and half an avocado I thought was rotten.  The avocado was actually perfect and this lot

plus some of this made a very pleasant smoothie. We decided to treat ourselves to a lunch out.  Lara wanted to try The Milk House but it was full so her second choice was The Goudhurst Inn.  We really are spoilt for choice round here.  I had roast beef with Yorkshire pudding, cauliflower cheese, steamed veg, roast potatoes and creamed horseradish.  Apart from the potatoes which were quite unpleasant (James ordered chips instead as they were barely edible!) and the gravy which was mediocre, it was all very good. Lara and I shared 2 desserts; chocolate and hazlenut torte with honeycomb ice cream and sticky toffee pudding.  In-cre-dible!  Both were amazing and I nearly finished before I remembered to take a photo.  So not good for the diet but a treat worth every calorie. We enjoyed our lunch and it was a treat to not cook or wash up on a Sunday.  We all like the Goudhurst Inn.  Unfortunately the outside area with the lovely view was too wet and cold to sit in today. I like the way this pub and exterior have been decorated. Next stop was a new florists, Astilbe & Sorrel,  which has opened up next to the The Walled Nursery in Hawkhurst.  

The florists has opened up in one of the outbuildings that used to be the seed store and it still has the old cupboard from when this was the garden for the big house.

It is small but very charming with unusual varieties of favourite types of flowers.

I really liked this vintage style bouquet and my neighbour loved the bunch I bought for her which was made with feathered tulips and scented freesias. I confess I did treat myself to this little bunch as I liked the erygniums so much (blue spiky ones).  Apparently I can grow these myself so I might try. I liked the colours and shapes. Back at the ranch I had left George and Dan working wonders in the garden and was looking forward to seeing what they had done today.  It is not easy setting up raised beds on my lawn as the garden is on a slope but they are doing a great job. I now have 2 new beds, creating an “L” shape around the BBQ House. They will be back next week to put down the gravel and fill the beds.  I can’t wait to see it all finished. The extension to the veggie garden has been designed to create one large vegetable garden so I can walk from one section to the next without having to go through a gate.  When I use the BBQ House, we can remove 2 gates and we have a gravel path leading straight to it from the lawn.

There will be a new greenhouse and fruitcage too.   The tomatoes I sowed in the coir pellets have finally germinated.  I am behind with the tomatoes but hopefully they can catch up as they have a new greenhouse coming for them!

We had a picky supper of pitta bread, taramasalata, an apple and some cheese.  Not the most diet friendly but it was easy and pleasant, munching in front of the tv.  There is a large glass of wine with my name on it so I am going to enjoy that now.  Cheers 🙂