If you’ve been following me over on Instagram, you’ll know that we are currently on our holidays back with my family in the English countryside.
Growing up in Warwickshire, which is slap bang in the middle of England, it never occurred to me that we were ‘in the country’. My hometown has plenty of shops, pubs and a very famous school, but you don’t have to go very far at all to find fields, sheep, barns and, much to Ted’s delight, tractors. Our record so far is three tractors spotted in one short walk to the village near my parent’s house.
I wish I could have you all round to see an English spring in full bloom, but as that might be a bit tricky logistically, here are five things I’ve loved about May in the UK:
Blossom, blossom and more blossom: Everywhere is frilly at the this time of year. You can’t turn your head without spotting another tree bursting with pretty petals. All these beauties pictured were in my parent’s garden.
Birthday bonanza: I was born in May and I think I will always associate my birthday with spring. An autumn birthday in Sydney is never the same. (I must admit, after spending my first 23 years in the UK I have to think really hard about what season corresponds with which month in Australia.)
A new princess: And isn’t Princess Charlotte lovely? And how did Kate manage to look so amazing on the steps of the hospital. Even with a crack styling team, that was incredible. I felt I missed out on all the festivities of the royal wedding, so it’s been fun to be at home for this news and watch for updates with my sister.
Bank holiday fun: We get not one, but two, bank holidays in May. (For those outside the UK, a bank holiday is a public holiday; and it’s taken me a long time to stop calling public holidays, bank holiday.) We all know it usually rains, but we plan barbecues and trips out regardless. Today we had sunshine (and a very cold wind) but we managed the barbecue, burnt sausages and all. Thanks Dad!
May Day: One of my favourite childhood books was Helen Cresswell‘s the Secret World of Polly Flint (it was also made into a TV series). It was full of magic, time travel and lots of references to old England – particularly the celebration of May Day which heralds the return of spring. I can’t say I remember us doing much to celebrate May Day (maybe one May Pole dance at school) but it all seems to be coming back in vogue. I love Lou Archell’s wonderful idea to make up May Day posies to leave on a neighbour’s door.
Is this blossom out where you are? Do you celebrate May Day in your part of the world? And if you are an expat down under, do you also confuse the seasons, or is it just me!? I’d love to know x
Love Spring in the UK! Sounds lovely and your new look website is looking FAB babe! xxx
Aleasha recently posted…Link to LOVE / Gary Pepper Girl
Thank you! Have shed tears over setting it up. Managed to crash the whole thing!!! Need to get a new little logo and it’ll be done! Hurray! X
Bex recently posted…A very English spring
Well done, worth the tears! Looks great! <3
Q. Why do your posts never appear in my WP Reader? Is that because you have a .com not wordpress.com web address ? #confused 😉
Aleasha recently posted…Link to LOVE / Gary Pepper Girl
I have no idea about the reader! I’ve just Googled and think it might be my settings. Will see if I can fix it :/
Good idea! Then more people will see your lovely posts! xx
wonderful post… I’m a big believer in birthday months, so yours being May is pretty special – keep celebrating all month long. so much to love this month, but hang .. on the Election didn’t make it into your round up? might be to do with the hysteria 😉 xx
Thank you for reading, my friend! I do love May, but hasn’t it been cold. The weather turned almost as soon as I wrote this post! And how could I forget the election!? I remember voting for the first time in the 1997 election, which was on my 18th birthday. I can remember feeling very grown-up!
May is a wonderful month, I love the blossom too, might even write a blogpost about it 😉
And isn’t all the tech stuff about blogging totally frustrating? I am trying to interest my eldest son, 16, into becoming my personal systeem administrator
Pauline recently posted…The joys and sorrows of gardening
Oh you must! I would send him some work too. I do find myself spending more time fiddling with the tech stuff than doing the writing that I really want to do. It is incredibly frustrating at times, and then at other times it is another former of procrastination, I fear! But… this new set-up should be good for now. No excuses not to get on with the writing.