Glad you liked the daffs Maureen.........the garden is looking more like spring with the differant colours emerging......daffs tulips primroses bluebells snowdrops & differant bushes in flower.......it makes you feel better with the lighter nights as well. SO SORRY about the cave but as i said on my gallery "artistic licence" same applies to the mackerel sky, but it's still a lovely spot to visit. Please tell your grandaughters sorry but i am no relation to Mary Lennox.........or Annie Lennox the singer..........and definitely not Lennox Lewis the boxer........in case you ask. Have started another painting taking on board your demonstration dedicated to me on your gallery Will put it on the gallery when its finished........i am alway's open to constructive advice it's the only way to learn i find........so thank you once again Maureen. Betty & Max

Have had a look on your blog Thea & left a message........what lovely hellebores !!! Another lovely day here, the garden is looking very colourful we even have a couple of bluebells out.

Have finally added a photo of my black hellebores. They actually look a bit of a non-event in the photo, but are better in real life. My white, yellow and pink hellebores are big clumps this year with dozens of flowers, but the little black one have a special place in my heart. Take care, Thea.

Hi Max, Lovely flowers, there'll be some by the silver plant shortly, watch this space. Hope you are both keeping busy & well. Bit of a shock to find that the cave doesn't exist, I must look for one around here. My grand daughters want to know if you are related to Mary Lennox in," The Secret Garden ", I said that I didn't think so but would ask. Let us know please.

Hope your nerves will withstand the pressure of not knowing how the house is progressing in Norfolk & that the appliances WILL end up in the right places!!.......Yes the winds have been very cold here but yesterday & today has been quite pleasant.........we understand about dogs getting in the way when the decorating is being done, we have had dogs & cats who just brushed against any wet paint & the cats would play with the wallpaper if you weren't looking......so we do sympathise with you. We can wait for the photo of the helebore so don't worry we realise your circumstances............Take care Betty & Max XXXXX

Have you any fruit trees in your garden Patsy?........We don't have any in ours just rhubarb & salad veggies in the summer & of course runner beans grown in a big pot with sticks in to form a wigwam. Yes the shingles have faded now Patsy......... thank you for asking.... hope my cold will go soon. So sorry your back was bad hope it has improved.............hope you enjoyed your trip shopping .........and didn't get knocked over as you said. We think you are sensible in voting against the referendum because of the heat.........it is ok for the young people but when you get older the heat really get's to you does'nt it? Yes i did study the stars while i was in the navy & the sun was just as important as the stars......to find out where you were on the ocean............today Betty & myself have a nephew of 19 who loves looking at the galaxy..............he has met Patrick Moore a couple of times ( the Astronomer) & received a couple of books from him..........so we are still interested in the stars & are told by our nephew when anything new is happening. It is alright stargazing for fun but when your life depends on it it's a differant matter..........from an old seadog Max.........LOL. Betty & Max XXX

Hi Max and Betty how are you both today I hope your shingles are away now Betty...I was going to paint tonight but spent a lot of time on my feet Monday cleaned today ironed too much the old back said enough so here I am blogging again...well I had a nice stroll through the gallery too some nice work in there isn't there...shopping tomorrow hope I don't get knocked over...our daylight saving is over now thank goodness we have had a 3 year trial and then a referendum to vote for or against it...I think though here in the sub-tropics almost 50/50 for a reason the extra hour of sunlight makes it too hot at night so where at first we liked it but now I feel we will vote against it...too much heat is exhausting...the winter sky is on the way now not too clear tonight but the Southern Cross is beautiful and the bottom pointer to the cross Alpha Centauri is gleaming a treat...the old scope will have to be out by May when we get our clearest skies...Max did you study the stars when you were at sea...an old friend of mine who spent most of his life at sea was an avid amateur astronomer which started whilst at sea lovely dark skies...well off to bed now keep well Betty and Max LOL PatsyXXX

Glad you are nearly better, Betty. The biting cold wind has been awful here as well. I have been walking the dogs with my eyes streaming! Last two days have been a bit better. Thank you for asking - yes - daughter is still OK. We are at week 15 now. Still got everything crossed for a good outcome. Thank you for the comments on my paintings - I'll never understand boats like Max does, but I'm trying! Roger is over at Norfolk this week supervising all the finishing of the building work. It is making me nervous leaving it to him, but I can't really be away for a week what with Lucy and also we can't have the dogs over there while decorating is going on - can you imagine - stripey dogs. I would rather be organising it myself (as the main builder in the house), but I sent poor Roger off with three sheets of closely typed instructions. Hopefully the appliances will end up in the right place in the kitchen! Will take the promised photos tomorrow - promise. Take care. Thea

Hi Max and Betty so glad to hear that your shingles are going at last but now a cold...your immune system must be a bit out of kilter at the moment...hope your Tulips survive would love to see them...we get those March winds in September just as the fruit trees are setting fruit usually the strong ones stay on...our clocks just went back an hour thank goodness the last thing we need in summer is an extra hour of sunlight...I'm looking forward to seeing Thea's Black Hellebore too...have been to Max's gallery and left some comments...again it's late so goodnight to the two of you and look after that cold Betty

Yes the daffs are a pleasure to look at just now Patsy, along with other spring flowers, it is back to winter, cold with high winds.........the clocks change here in england this weekend the start of "British Summer Time" we lose an hours sleep "UGH" My shingles have almost gone now but i have a cold & need a box of tissues handy. Glad you liked the daffs Thea !! the tulips are looking good to.......but with these cold winds i hope they can survive it. I (Betty) went food shopping today with our son, Max stayed at home the winds seem to effect his breathing so best he stay's indoors on day's such as this. We are both looking foreward to the summer it makes every one feel better doesn't it. Hope to see your photo of your black hellebore soon.........Just going on your gallery now to look at your latest paintings, will leave a comment. Hope your daughter is still ok. Take care. Betty & Max.

How are you both? Your daffs are a lovely sight and so cheerful. We have a biting east wind today and it was perishing walking the dogs. However, they don't care and had a lovely walk. Still haven't taken that photo of my black hellebore yet, but will get around to it in the next day or so. I've just posted a couple of new painting today - both very different from each other - so would be interested to see what you think. Betty - I do hope that you are on the mend now. What we all need is some sunshine and warmer weather and then we'll all feel on top of the world. I am looking forward to getting out to do some plein air painting as I am running out of inspiration. Take care. Thea.

Beautiful Daffs Max lovely difference colours...sorry your weather has turned cold and hope the March winds don't knock over your lovely flowers...Betty I hope your shingles are on the mend now and that you are feeling better

Have left a comment on your blog.

Yes Max the daffs are here in beautiful abundance. Though I had to stop a 6 yearold grandchild from picking all of mine last Sunday. Not seen any of your pics recently?