Back in touch with the World Wide Web I mean! We suddenly had the plug pulled on us by Talk Talk on 27th November after they told us that we had approached another provider. Not true we said, we have not been in touch with any other provider, doesn’t matter they said, we are cutting you off. It didn’t matter what we said, they just wouldn’t listen and cut us off.
Christmas cactus.
We were then told they would reconnect us on 13th December, we checked with the engineer, they hadn’t received any notification and said it would be the 15th.
Primula.
I don’t know how many phone calls later, the undergardener was speaking to supposedly the chap in charge of Talk Talk, He told us we couldn’t be reconnected as now there was a fault with British Telecom, it would now be 24th December! Too late to wish you all a Happy Christmas as we were away visiting our daughter and family for Christmas.
Cyclamen coum on the front drive.
All the photos for this post were taken on either Christmas Eve or this morning.
Iris unguicularis on the front drive.
Winter Jasmine by the front door.
Snowdrop Mrs McNamara by the front door.
Winter flowering heather by the dead oak.
Mahonia Charity by the dead oak.
Bergenia.
Vibernum bodnantense Dawn
I wonder if these flowers will survive the frost we had last night.
Most of the roses have been cut back now, but Iceberg is still struggling on.
Also Bonica must be cut back soon.
Chaenomeles by the back door.
Snowdrop Midwinter.
Just about showing colour is Hamamelis mollis in the woodland.
Sarcococca also in the woodland.
Cyclamen coum in the woodland, this doesn’t spread anything like as much as C. hederifolium.
Snowdrop Farringdon double, but who has been chewing my label?
Snowdrop Anglesey Abbey, this is an all white one, no inner markings.
Garrya elliptica in the corner of the back garden.
From a distance, I didn’t think the flowers had opened, but on looking closer, I found that lots had.
It is good to be back home once again and in touch with you all, I missed you and it’s going to take me forever to sort out all my e.mails. I wish you all a very Happy New Year and a better internet connection for us!
Oh Pauline it is good to hear from you as I was getting a little concerned and thinking one or other of you might be particularly unwell – I was considering emailing, actually, just to check you re OK, but that wouldn’t have done any good in the circumstances, would it?! What a bizarre experience you have had but hopefully all is well – I trust they will be compensating you in some way for the inconvenience? Good to see all your blooms – your Dawn is way ahead of mine but my witch hazels are mostly in full bloom. I am pleaed too that your Chaenomeles is doing its usual stuff as I always look forward to seeing it on your blog. Welcome back and I hope you had a lovely Christmas with your family.!
It is good to be back Cathy! Thanks for your concern, but no, your e.mail wouldn’t have got through!
The flowers on the Viburnum, Mahonia and Winter Jasmine are far better than they have been in the past, I don’t know if the weather has had anything to do with it or not. The main stem of the Chaenomeles has died, so I will have to cut that away and see how many secondary shoots are still alive, at least I will have a few flowers on it this year.
We did have a wonderful Christmas with the family in Bristol, our grandsons are now 16 and 14 and shooting up, I’m definitely “little Gran” now!
Those are lovely pictures Pauline – looks as though you have also had a mild Christmas. So sorry however about the problems that TalkTalk have put you through. The logic sounds quite ridiculous. Gerrard
Love from Zurich x
Thanks Rosemarie, glad you like the photos! I see you are with your family, no doubt having a wonderful time in the snow!
Welcome back! You’ve so much blooming in your garden right now. Amazing. Hope you had a grand Christmas and wish you all the best for the new year!
We have had a lot of mild weather in the run up to Christmas Peter, all change now though with frosty nights. We had a lovely Christmas thank you, with the family and I wish you a Happy New Year!
Good to hear from you again – I did wonder where you were and if all is well. You have so much in bloom, you are much further on than ever are, even in sunny Sussex. Happy New Year to you both.
Thanks Anne, it is really good to be back, I’ve missed you all! Our weather has been very mild for most of December but nights are frosty now so I think flowers will stop opening for a while. A Happy New Year to you and your family.
So glad you’re reconnected again Pauline and I hope you both had a lovely Christmas. And lovely to see this post with such a wonderful selection of flowers so early (or is it late?) in the season.
So am I Denise, I have missed being in touch with everyone! We did have a lovely Christmas with the family, thank you, I hope you did too.
We have had a very mild December 16C the other day, but now we are having frosts at night so I think it will slow the flowers down.
Wishing you and yours a Happy New Year!
Good to hear from you Pauline – I was also wondering where you had got to… Aren’t those internet problems simply ridiculous? Glad all is working again now. Your garden is looking as lovely as ever with so many flowers in bloom. Even roses! As I’m too late for Christmas I shall wish you both a very happy new year instead!
Yes, they are ridiculous Cathy, being without for so long was so inconvenient, no last minute ordering presents on line!
I usually have all the roses cut back by now, but only have half done so far.
Happy New Year wishes to you and yours Cathy, I hope it’s a good one!
I wondered where you were, how nice to have you back. And lovely to see your winter blooms doing so well. Happy New Year!
Happy New Year to you too Liz and I hope you had a good Christmas! It’s so good to be back and in touch with everyone, I’ve missed you all! I think all the flowers are due to a very mild spell through December although we are now having frosty nights which is more as it should be at this time of year.
Welcome back online, Pauline, what a bothersome time you’ve had with TalkTalk. Clearly you have been missed by many and it’s lovely to see what’s looking good in your winter garden. What a stunning Garrya elliptica, I must see if I can find a good spot for one here. Happy New Year to you both.
The Garrya is a lovely shrub for December and January but I have to admit, a bit boring for the rest of the year, it needs plants around it that will draw the eye away through the summer! Happy New Year to you too and I hope it is a good one for gardening!
Oh that must have been frustrating but welcome back…I’ve been away healing a shoulder injury but hope to be back soon….wishing you a fabulous New Year!
Yes Donna, it was very frustrating! I hope your shoulder soon mends and that you have a wonderful New Year!
And here’s me thinking you had gone on holiday! What a nightmare you’ve had, so glad that all is sorted, no internet is a real pain, it’s hard to imagine life without it now.
Lovely to see your winter garden in bloom, I’m amazed to see iceberg still going. Have a happy, healthy 2017.xxx
If only Dina, that would have been a wonderful holiday!
Mild weather has certainly encouraged the flowers on the shrubs, I’ve never known them so beautiful before, they are covered! Roses need cutting back, only half have been done up till now, must get the rest done soon. hope you and your family have a wonderful New Year!
Good to see you back. What a wonderful array of blooms in your garden – especially considering the time of year. I think I need to work on the winter garden – especially seeing what you have achieved. I hope you have a good New Year.
I’m so glad to be back Sue, it seemed to last forever!
I think the garden is on hold at the moment with frost and fog, I can’t see anything else wanting to open up at the moment. Having little winter corners are fun, especially if you can see them from the house without getting cold!
Wishing you a wonderful 2017!
I also wondered where you were! It is great to see you back. Having had computer problems myself in the summer the hassle of sorting them out is still very fresh in my mind! It’s lovely to see the blooms and colour in your garden – a reminder that it isn’t all bleak and grey outside at the moment.
It is certainly good to be back Wendy, I missed you all!
More and more flowers are opening each day and making sure that I go for a wander in the garden, no matter what the weather. Each bloom is so precious and a sign that spring can’t be very far away.