Review of 2025

 

I usually start each year's review with pictures from the garden. The one above was taken in June and is now my screen saver. Below are just a few of the roses that did so well this year including the "Blue for You" that seems to get better every year,

The long dry spell in July and August meant all the lawns were in a sorry state. And the tall silver birch was losing it's leaves far too early.

But with welcome rain in September, and the Pro Kleen Grass Green fertilizer, the lawn quickly revived.

The Dahlias in the bedding border were yet another success. Almost at their best in October.

Back in February and March, the daffodils in that same border come up year after year.

It took me a while to find out the name of these bulbs I planted in pots. Tulip Flamin Hot. 

Our holiday in June was cancelled when I developed hives and missed my nephew's wedding. We did rebook for three days in Harrogate in September. Probably our best day included brunch at Betty's in York followed by a guided tour of the Minster.

We were back in Chichester, this time in October as the bungalow was fully booked in September. But we were very lucky with the weather as the blue sky on our circular  tour of the Roman walls shows.

And our day in Portsmouth was equally sunny.

Unlike our day in Oxford in December when the rain curtailed our exploration of their Roman walls. However, we did have a great day in London on our visit to the Wigmore Hall for a lunchtime piano recital.

Some other days out included Ashridge Open Gardens. I have also been keeping an eye on the cygnets at Weston Turville Reservoir ever since they were tiny. All five survived.

Now they are almost fully grown. Here they are in November.

I made a few visits to the theatre this year: Much Ado About Nothing at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, Pride and Prejudice, Sort Of at Oxford Playhouse, La Traviata at Waterside Theatre, Aylesbury, The Constant Wife at the Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon and Emma, also at Oxford.

My favourite film of the year was going to be One Battle After Another, that is until last week I saw Sentimental Value. (Deserved winner of the Grand Prix at the Cannes Film Festival and lots of Oscar nominations). My review still to come, although there are two long reviews in this month's Sight and Sound Magazine. Another year's subscription was a Christmas present. As for books, I am over half way through Greg Doran's My Shakespeare which is an incredible book. For my favourite novel, it has to be Sally Rooney's Intermezzo. 

I started this blog nineteen years ago the month I retired. Where has all that time gone? Well, it's all documented here.