Outside in, Sound II at the Crypt and The Curious History of your Home

Outside In. A year of growing and displaying. By Sean Pritchard.

Some books speak to you in a very particular way, and Outside In’ is one of those books. I do have other gardening-related books which I very much like - so much so that I purchased them. However, the explosion of colours in Sean’s book, the frog arrangements all around his cottage, tiny jugs with primroses, and photos of village lanes full of cow parsley... It just fills me with joy.

This book has shown me the beauty of the indoor garden, and the joy of mixing inside and outside with natural life. Early spring does see me bringing in the daffodils, the fritillary, the muscari, and the tulips. I would then stop there.

I’m now embarking on what is for me a bolder journey; one where I’ll fill home spaces even more with the plants I adore. Be them from my cutting garden, or hedgerows. Right now I’m bringing in the cow parsley which is abundant everywhere. The bearded irises are also coming in as I want them indoors as well as in my garden. As the weeks come and go, and new seasons make themselves present, I want this journey to carry on because being at pace with the natural world will keep me alive and grounded. Present.

Sound II at the Crypt. The oldest part of the Norman building

I’ve recently spent a few days in Winchester and fell in love with Antony Gormley’s sculpture located in the Crypt. Every time I visited I found myself admiring it as if it were the first time. A modern figure standing in the least altered part of this Normand cathedral, looking at his cupped hands, sometimes with water up to his legs or even higher depending on how flooded the crypt is.

This is undoubtedly my favourite Gormley sculpture. Very well placed in the groin of the cathedral, in a nearly untouched space. I found myself in a contemplative state, just interrupted by other visitors in the tiny area where people are allowed to stand to admire this work.

Don’t miss it when you find yourself in Winchester Cathedral which is a fabulous building, filled with beauty and you might get distracted by everything else.

The Curious History of your Home. A podcast.

What a great podcast for the curious historians out there. Ruth Goodman whom you might know from TV shows like Victorian Farm, Edwardian Farm, and Tudor Monastery Farm amongst others, takes us on a journey to find out the remarkable stories of the various items that can be found all around you in your day-to-day life.

Each episode brings intrigue, historical facts, and a bit of science. You will never look at ordinary items in your home the same way I can assure you. Ruth Goodman keeps the narrative very entertaining.

There are eight episodes so far: Wallpaper, the Fridge, Baths, Lights, Dish Washing, Forks, Coffee and Gardening. When telling us about the Wallpaper she takes us back to Ancient China, wasps, Silk Road and Oliver Cromwell. I don’t want to spoil your experience so hurry and listen to it to find out for yourself.

Till next week!