White wisteria over an Islington wall
Just under two weeks ago this cascade of white wisteria greeted us as we looked out of daughter no 1’s windows into the garden. Last week as the vicar and I left London, it was still lovely though dropped petals were accumulating beneath it like over abundant confetti. On Sunday, I returned to London to help the political journalists out during the election and found that wind and rain had robbed the tree of all its glory and magic, although – as clever planting reveals itself – the white rose is moving into the vacuum left by the wisteria. What a difference a week makes in an English summer.
Wisteria embroidered coat
I embroidered this coat a couple of years ago and at the time I took wonderful photos of daughter no 2 wearing it on the morning before she caught a flight out to her job in Vietnam. Rush, rush rush – the story of our lives then – and now. As luck would have it, my computer died shortly afterwards (can’t even remember why now) and, having lost some great photos, I never blogged the coat. Once more I collared daughter no 2 hours away from a flight to Vietnam, though this time for a month’s holiday there, and wouldn’t you know it, once again technical problems intervened, this time with my camera. Photos were instead taken on daughter no 2’s iphone but by this time I had got into such a flap, few were any good. Well you can’t always fight fate, so here they are…
Wisteria embroidered wedding coat
Our removal from London to Cheltenham was not as smooth as we would have wished owing to what I can only charitably call inexperienced individuals doing the removing. Unpacking at the other end was equally traumatic and thank goodness we had a garage to absorb the 50 boxes of books there was no room for in the house itself! (We’re not worried about this as once our bookcases are up and attached to the wall, these will absorb the contents of packed boxes as a black hole absorbs light. erm ish…)
Wisteria embroidered coat: detail of left side
On the plus side of the move, the cat behaved impeccably. Last year we put her into kennels for 10 days during our move but we had to pick her up after a week when the staff reported she hadn’t been eating and was not happy. Once in London, relieved to see the vicar again, she followed him everywhere or sat nearby when he set up an office under a parasol at the bottom of the garden. (July and August were rather good in London last year.) She did later venture over the fence but never for long and not often. This time, we left her in the garden during the 2 days of packing and in spite of her unease at the sight of suitcases, she remained calm. The travel basket was introduced at the last moment but speed of action and the vicar’s (rather dirty) fleece was sufficient comfort. We had no noise at all from the back of the car throughout the journey. It was a warm day so a towel damp from the shower draped over the basket kept her cool. The next day she was perfectly happy in a new garden, as long as she could pad round after the vicar from time to time. Phew!
White wisteria, Islington, May 2017
The vicar has remained in Cheltenham and is doing heroic things with domestic organisation. On our first day, he visited the local delicatessen (very good home made ice cream) and bumped into a potter he had worked with 20 years ago! He has since wandered into our local church and was delighted (well, almost ecstatic!) to find it not only open on a weekday but full of singing. It is a Seddon church, a bit dark and C19th but home in another way for him as his first wife, who died of cancer before I knew him, had written a thesis on this not generally known architect. It all augers very well for the future.
Breathtakingly beautiful white wisteria in an Islington garden.
White wisteria – inspiration for embroidery
Gorgeousness over the garden wall
12 Comments
Good to know the cat has settled in, but I have to say that I’m more interested in the coat – that’s beautifully done!
Yes, somehow the coat has become secondary. Will try to take another photo of the right hand side. Glad to hear you like it, Rachel.
The coat is a triumph – so beautiful. I hope you settle very happily in Cheltenham
What a nice thing to say, Caro. Thank you such an uplifting comment.
The coat is exquisite. I do hope that you will soon be able to get back to creating more beauty. I am glad too that the cat is happy. Obviously the Vicar is the focal point in her life. Perhaps he will be able to do a bit of vicaring should the fancy take him.
Yes, it’s exciting to think that I should soon have more time for embroidery.
The vicar will also get back in harness when we have breathed out a little more luxuriously.
Meanwhile, Anne thanks for letting me know you like the coat.
Cheltenham is very special. I feel like there is a different pace of life there. When I visited my grandparents on the edge of the town when I was younger, I always felt very tired to start with and they had some theory that it was the to do with the hills, so if you are feeling a bit exhausted, it will pass. I hope that you and the vicar and the cat will be very happy there. bx
It’s lovely to hear this, Becky. The vicar had a similar feeling when he lived in Cheltenham and for me visiting relatives in North Wales produced a similar sensation – perhaps it is being surrounded by hills. We shall see…
Just gorgeous. Thank you for the beautiful posts.
So glad you enjoy them Connie – thanks for letting me know.
Now I really wish I had planted white wisteria instead of common purple. It looks like a fairyland!
Have a white one too Amara!
I’ve always found them impossible to get to flower, so for me flowers of any colour would be wonderful.
We seem to have had a rather strange summer and recent hot weather (really hot for England) has resulted in many wisteria blooming for a second time, though not so prolific as previously but little touches of loveliness all the same.
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[…] Daughter No 1 is just as lucky with neighbouring wisterias as we are, although the one that so generously hangs its flowers over her wall is white. (See below and http://www.addisonembroideryatthevicarage.co.uk/2017/06/07/white-wisteria-and-a-coat-for-summer-wedd…) […]