Cast not a clout 'til May be out

We may have lost the real May Day to the forces of reaction and there are even those who want to change it again into a celebration of nationalism, the blight of the 20th century and now infecting the 21st.
In this puritan era where anything that distracts from the the purposes of commerce is frowned upon, we have forgotten that, since the reform of the Catholic Calendar, May 1st is the Feast of St Joseph the Worker, the patron saint of workers. Seeding has been completed by this date and it was convenient to give farm labourers a day off. In France, the Fete de Travail is kept in the letter and the spirit "Saturday 1 May 2010 Le Premier Mai: Fête du Travail. Being a bank holiday, it rained. We knew everything was closed; even the Géant said ‘Fermeture Exceptionelle’. The boulangerie in the village was open for a short while in the morning, so I went down for croissants and a baguette. Got soaked on the way"

http://www.livingvillage.blogspot.co.uk/2010/05/week-in-aveyron.html

This was the time we had a puncture in France and were unable to buy a new tyre because everything was closed but it was hardly the end of the world!

Anyway, now at last and in spite of the rain, May blossom is coming out.

I caught a scent of it as I came in from walking the dog one evening earlier this week but what we really need is a few warmer afternoons and a bit less rain, then, as in previous years, the high hedge opposite our houses will erupt with the sight and scent of Spring and early Summer.

As well as the heady scent of May, the verges are filled with the stems and flowers of Cow Parsley, which as children we called Keck. It's a type of wild Chervil and, so long as you don't mix it up with similar-looking Poison Hemlock(!) and Fool's Parsley, you can feed it to horses. Cow Parsley adds to the almond-like perfume of the hedgerows at this time of year.

If only the rain would stop for a decent length of time.
 

Patriotism is…

Call me an old cynic, but I believe that patriotism is believing that my country is best because I was born there. I say this because, wherever I’ve travelled, everyone says “This is the best place to live; it’s got (weather/food/culture/freedom) etc., etc.” Now, with the world cup almost upon us, I see England flags sprouting all over the place and it makes me a bit uncomfortable.

I love England; I love its damp, cold weather that suddenly turns into bright Summer or breaks into storms. I love its people and the way we do things. I love the sense of fairness even though I bemoan the mob mentality and our venal newspapers (News! Hah!). But, growing up politically in the late 60s and 70s, I came to associate the flag of St George (who he?) and even the union flag with racism, white supremacism, English nationalism and all the things I hate. I see nationalism as the great blight of the 20th century and I’m not sure it’s going to be any better in the 21st. As far as I’m concerned, “the more we do together, the merrier we will be” (sic). I don’t know what it proves to drive around with tiny flags of St George fixed in your car windows – “…more patriotic than thou…”?

Anyway, to happier things; the Olive tree we thought we had killed by not keeping it wrapped up during the pretty hard Winter is springing buds! And there was me thinking it had gone to the great olive press in the sky. We’ve been giving it a bit of feed, though I wouldn’t normally do this with an olive. Hopefully it might get off to a start and build up its strength before I have to move it into the Summer House for the Winter.

The May blossom is now out on all the trees opposite and the scent is overwhelming.



Our black tulips are just about hanging on, but the Lilac is a picture and, for the first time, the Wistaria, Cinensis Alba, that we bought after seeing the one at Wisley, is in flower.

We’re still buying plants for our huge collection of pots. I went down and supported the Gardeners’ Association – “…the more we do together…” and bought enough to be going on with but haven’t had time to pot them yet.


Ought to have a bit more time now that the Lord Mayor’s year for the charity of which I’m vice-chair is coming to an end. It’s been hard work, but I think we’ve done well. Now we have to think of our ongoing fundraising without the help of the Lord Mayor’s Committee.

http://www.justgiving.com/Charity/Donate.aspx?cid=188152