sirkevinshistoricfacts

The House

Morning mist clung to the heads of cornflowers in the meadow beyond the house walls. The tracery of fine silk spider webs hung low in the corner of old wooden door way of the stable .

far off the sound of dogs barked and for Mark the help the day had already started when Mistress Emma appeared in her bedroom window still sleepy and moth like warm in her gown .

Mark dared look up at her beauty but soon head down polishing brasses as the foot fall of old Simon Holland came before him.

“Fine day for a ride boy. Saddle the bay hunter. I will be at the bran bring her around will you. “His word was law at Rentondale Hall. He was not one of the family but had served with the Master at The battle of the Somme in France. He had served as his Batman and after that his gentleman butler .

In the hall meanwhile Master John was reading the post that had come up with the milk from the village a mile off the great iron gates .

Around the breakfast table sat in second place Lady Grace the wife . Next to her Lord Sinclair and then Lady Emma his sister.

“Anguish on your face my dear . Not cramps again I hope or have to summon Henry from town.”

‘No not a doctor it is the Government again. Spanish Flu out break again in Batshot village I fear. Seems we fought the war to victory but cannot win the blasted peace. This thing is traveling faster than the Prussians to the front dear. “

She sat upright and looked at him. He felt her yes on his face and looked up. “May well go the other way not come near us. Should not worry. Any more tea in that pot dear.?”

For the mounted butler hard pressed to reach Morley common prior to the train. . He galloped onwards down the dale jumping the gate out of the moor and onto the lane leading to the tiny rail station . There waiting was his own daughter .Frail and pale she smiled and waved .

The girl was to join the house staff .It had been arranged that very week to hire her as kitchen maid to Betty Thimbel the old cook . Her father had hoped she would pick up health and be feed well. aiding Betty was not a hard job as with training she would fit in. . She mounted behind her father and he trotted slowly back to the hall. In conversation she told him her breathing was better and she looked forward to being with her father if only in the kitchen. She was 15 years of age lived with aunts and uncles since death of her mother of Tubercolusis when she was only 5 years old.

.At the hall the ostler took the horse for grooming and feeded.

So My dear Holland this is young Mary your daughter is it. Hello and welcome to our home . “He rang the bell and Mary was to follow down stairs to the kitchens to start her training with some apprehension .

The two men stood talking as Lady Grace came down the main staircase.

“I must break in to your converse gentlemen . John a word in your ear “

“You mean to say that he died of this Spanish killer?”

His wife nodded and withdrew into her wardrobe. The Butler to his duties and Master to his study to phone his doctor for check up.

At same moment in marches Lady Emma headed for the stairs . She was intercepted half way up by the Butler coming down stairs.

“Oh! Holland what an awful mess- “

“My lady?”

“You know the place its now hung with banners .Red letters and filth.”

” Which place is that ?”

“The Deanery of course, where else .”She raced up to the next landing and vanished leaving the Butler unsure what she meant .So he decided to talk a walk up to the village pump to see for himself. The Deanery was an old sandstone fronted building once the church property but now a public house. For sure banners did hang outside of it as he had been so informed.

Back in his study the master placed down the receiver and sat back in his easy chair in deep thought .

Lady Emma was resting in her room. The kitchen was the only place in motion.

‘Come on girl I asked for flour not the sieve for it. “

: Sorry Cook thought flour would be inside it.”

‘Well my lass we know what thought did. Flour goes off waiting to be used. Be in sack not in sieve. Clean out every time one uses it. Understand?”

“I do Cook yes . ”

“Dinner tonight is rabbit pie .So learn by watching me making pastry .”

“Yes thank you Cook.”

The evening meal was served by cook herself as her ward had much to learn and sharp time was to learn it. She watched from the wall as Butler served wines to poured at each course.

She only had to learn how to serve plates .When to take way empty dishes and from which side of the diners chair she should be at each operation . It was daunting but she was not slow at catch up thankfully .

Outside on the gravel yard a car sped to a halt . The Footman appeared for luggage but soon noticed the two men in the open top car where policemen .

More next week.

Thank you for reading and staying with me.

Christopher Marlowe

We can batter away until we have not pound . It is a no end story of a James Bond early Tudor born man .We have ,when it boils down, only two ways this mystery ended.

Now who was Kit Marlowe . He was born son of a upmarket shoe maker and a girl from Dover . 26th February 1564 and baptized Anglican in Canterbury Cathedral . He lived only 29 years and died in London 3th of May 1593.

They are the know facts . His early life he was schooled and may have been paid for by his fathers gifts of shoes and boots to the head master and under master

He however learned and loved Latin and won a place at Cambridge university Christ College.

He shone at many subjects and won a BA degree and later an MA. In records we have main masters and Don saying that Marlowe was brilliant but had missing time at lessons and lectures. This may have been his recruitment into Sir Francis Walzinghams intelligence underground service as a spy. We know that many young intelligent men are enlisted from University from MI5 even today .

Marlowe became a great playright and a Latinist whom worked on ancient Roman poets work into English . He said he was not a believer in God . This may have been to stop the Catholic build up against Queen Elizabeths council and rule that may have seen him as one of them .

In a Deptford boarding house and not as claimed in the Mermaid Tavern a group of men gathered to play the game of Backgammon . After a meal an argument came about as to who was to pay the bill. The 4 men .Kit Marlowe, Ingram Frizer, Nicholas Skeres and Robert Poley sat in debate. Kit is said to have set a blade at Frizers head and Frizer then driven a knife into Marlowes head just about right eye. Death was instant.

That is what was recorded in court later . The trial of the 3 men ended not in guilt of murder and all of them became titled estate owning gentlemen soon after . Who awarded them but none other than Walsingham and Queen Elizabeth.

When one digs a bit deeper it is not shock that hit me but joy to find someone found documents relating to this hidden in records of period . You see the spy was cleaver but mouthy and a man who knew that six men who ruled England under the Royal lead where in fact none believers in any God. This spelt execution if found right, a crime even under English law .The play Edward 11 that Marlowe wrote had appeared on London stage. In the wording of two characters Marlowe had clearly hinted that he knew the secret of the six heads of Government and its Queen.

This was said to be painted as Kit Marlowe but doubts still arise of truth as to who this young man was

Marlowe was set up to murder . He somehow was killed that day and his body speedily buried in a shallow grave in nearby church. An unmarked grave at that . We have no real way of knowing how he was killed but the story wrapped around it is pure invention. Marlowe had to be removed he had crossed the line for sure.

If a body lay in that grave in Saint Nicholas churchyard in London we have DNA . If a red herring we have no idea how Marlowe died.

He was in truth the greatest play writer ever yet we have not one real picture that we can say yes ,that is Christopher Marlowe .

A hot head a spy a class act in Latin and brilliant sharp mind in English play production . At 29 murdered by command of the Queen .Planed out by her spy master and acted on by men promised riches for killing Marlowe. Can be no other way as all evidence newly found points the finger to murder ,on grounds mentioned.

Never was a young man so immortal in his many plays even today .But who he was we have no real idea . All was sponged out soon after his death by his killers and Government of England at time.

Hope you read Marlowes work .Its violent and interesting at every word .It hits the point but he failed in facts relating to death of King Edward 11 . He may have lived out his life as monk in Italy .Read my blog on this story for more detail.

Yours Sir Kevin, sweet dreams .

my gardens .

To be truthful it came to my ears that lots of readers wanted to see what I was sometimes talking of on line. My garden build .I did do a short blog on first start on the old cow pasture to hope of English gardens .

Well! here are a few of my photos that record some of the damage s man can do in altering natures plan to be wild.

Im not the greatest landscaper but I did have a full plan in my head and 5 years to do it . I have battled with nettles ,twisted 2nd World war tank lids buried in my proposed Iris bed.

Then the idiots who cut down forest woodland and released a herd of deer into my gardens . Overnight some 3000 euro worth of damage. Thought it a salad bar .Hedges of Tuja clipped to the very trunks . Roses cropped to ground . It was heart break and panic attack at daylight next morning .

I had worked day and night to build a garden set .I had ploughed in cash and had not planted a single plant until all borders had been made .Double dug weeded dug over again and finally black plastic and car tyres on top over winter and following Spring . Weeds kept coming up in furry .So spent months digging them out. Not until all had gone and only annual weeds remained did I dare risk build borders of flowers . Then this happened.

I spent all I had on fences and wire rolls . It worked so from seed planted up .The folly built and painted.

The above photo of main drive way with farm fields behind was blasted with deer that ruined hedges both sides so had to plant rose Rugosa hedge Hansa to right of photo behind sunny border as nothing was left of 5 year old Emerald green Thuja hedge .Some 23 trees devoured to stumps 6 inch tall from 5 feet high young plants .Fences only way around such a problem .Lost not just hundred plants over all but time lost growing hedges cant make up for another 5 years . Bambi was lucky it did not end life in my oven as payment for loss. Then people who chops forests down are more to blame I suppose

again. The hedges have not been replaced . Only what remained that could be saved are in the gardens now . Trouble is with fences weeds love to grow up them .Spray is my only weapon.

What you see in these photos is what took my plan to the winning line .Sheer grit and English determination .At 72 it was a feat I never thought possible. Then look at the land it has been wilderness perhaps since time began . A head on collision with a garden builder after 60 million years must have shocked Mother Nature as it took the strength out of me .

Im now on way to having my dream .A garden of beauty and just weeding planting pruning and mowing .A garden lovers job . A garden finished .

Then is a garden ever really finished ?

and plans and changes. For now I like to do a bit then sit and view . Do an hour more then tea and cake in my folly. “Tottering by Gently” as some one dear used to say . David Austin bred a rose using same name but it is too gentle for this set of gardens . Here, we are zone 5 but suffer minus 30c in winters . Summers of 32c .Hot and moist to very dry . Plants are all tested before being planted from pots and seed trays .

The work goes on and maybe next year my last big job the Roman water fall bath .

Thank you all for being with me reading this. Yours Sir Kevin.

Reaching the festive season soon. So have a good rest and enjoy what you can. Here ,as in Britain greed has risen its ugly head. Food prices following Jeremy Clarksons stupidly nasty comment that all food was too cheap. All prices now up 200 % higher across the whole board. Winter heating briquets a ton…

by sirkevinshistoricfacts December 2, 2022

Letter from Latvia, winter 2022

Hello to all . Christmas just around corner but we have started early with unexpected snow falls. Colder days now and still planting iris tubers in the warm insulated soils covered with inch of snows on fields and gardens . Time to rest in front of the great log fire in lounge room in house.…

by sirkevinshistoricfacts November 19, 2022

Hero

Group leader Wing Commander of 617 squadron heavy bomber command Guy Gibson had flown 172 missions for RAF before taking over as Wing Commander 617 squadron .In 1942 he was only 24 years old and faced his greatest task .Bomber Harris and Churchill saw a need to stop German production of arms and machinery in…

by sirkevinshistoricfacts October 29, 2022

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I lost many of my old roses from England and was able by determined searches to find Canadian bred Morden Research station roses that can stand the winters here without cover. John Davis ,John Cabot are but two of the best roses to buy. Both climbers that can reach 10 feet x 10 feet . Here not a rose can cope where I grow these two explorer roses. Then Kordes of Germany roses. One or two can survive .I was surprised when finding Madam Le Gace de Sant Germain shrub rose as it is hard as old boots and a lovely old French rose of pink many petalled with yellow centres. It flowers all over and lasts 6 weeks . Scent it truly has

Solet an old lovely Moss rose also is a stunner and just as hardy. Big bush it makes and one treasure to find outside of France .Fabien

We ask for only the truth.

It is hard to say and perhaps many of us feel this way over the Prince Harry story.

Did he leave Britain to marry yet another Mrs Simpson or was because few believed he is Prince Charles son. When Charles refused to grant proof by DNA is only made matter far worse.

The thing is just this he Harry was told he had given up Royal duties to the state and lost many of his rights he could not now insist he mist have British security staff on tax payers money out in America.

Today we are told it is now being discussed as Harry insists it his right to feel safe.He has the cash so can pay his own body guards I say.

It is because of this plot one brings back that old Chestnut is he ,or is he not Royal .

He married well below him into another race even. I cant pretend to say I like his wife but that is his choice of partner and so glad this war hero is happy.

Then how far will it go before the British tax payer is told the gospel truth .

DNA to show he is not the son of Dianna to the red headed lover she took .

Then maybe tax will pay to protect him if it turns out he is Charles son .

It is unfair to ask the tax to pay for him other wise . I hope you all agree its not an attack against Harry at all it must be who pays his bill . If he is Jack nobody all the time.We do need proof its is our right I say as it is our funding that keeps the firm in top jobs . It could even be a focus for anti Royals to force issue and that adds fuel to their fire. .I myself are pro Royal as it is safe and brings in millions each year in tourism . Not just that a president would cost us far more . It is historic theatre and builds moral . I say its normal for England to have it as its is .

Only can we have the truth. No one would complain no one wants a row only the truth as your asking us to pay his bill and it matters surely who he is we pay for if that is the case we have to pay it . If not we do not pay anything until your respect us and then all will be aware of what is truth .

I would like your comment as it is broad church and am I right to mention the problem at all? I see it as a tax of the people going to waste and there in a nutshell is the problem. If this had not come to light today who would have asked for that real truth of who he is .Harry started this by begging security team to watch over him after packing his bags doing nothing for us and loss of all duties to the public asks us to pay for his protection in USA the land of the gun . Time is now for us all to know the truth or is they pay we need to argue they have no right to used hard worked for tax from our pockets on a no body

Yours Sir K

Code of the house. final part.

The kid leather case laid out of the hall table shocked both men. It was a sparkling Emerald green stone set in silver claw case surrounded by sixteen pink red rubies. A ladies necklace of amazing worth.

The two men stirred at each other. The morning sun lighting the hall from the closed stained glass front door made the necklace burn with sunlight on the polished table surface.

“So the question is Rubens old stick. If my uncle was so broke why in Gods name did he not sell this item?”

“Sir it was not my place to know.”

“Quite. So who was it for.He married and she died .Did he take it back. To me it looks as if has no war and not moved out of this case since new. “

“Another mystery sir. Your uncle was a private man whom near his end became terrified of that man in the garden folly that vanishes with no sign of being in that building. Yet even I have seen the shadow move up the steps .”

” I too Rubens. Shadow is the best word for what I saw. We need to did deeply into this.Nothing in his papers relates .Did he keep a diary do you know?”

“Indeed he dis sir. Where he kept it I do not know”

‘If he wrote down here it must be in his desk of library . Ill search the desk you make a start in that books shelves .”

The sun hung low across the terrace .The hour was late in afternoon.

“Nothing in desk .Under drawers each place looked . Must be in this room . “

Leaning against the great black oak fire surround a panel opened at his hip . Amazed he stood back open mouthed, words failing him

Inside the vault the answer to the questions came as fast as machine gun bullets.

In his past he had stolen jewels from India as suggested. He was later haunted by the curse. No human came to take back the gems now so carefully cut into the necklace he had had made for someone?

The spirit of a dark vapor that rose from out of the lake haunted that masters last months and he knew instinctively what it meant .He was terrified to death as the curse came true.

“WoW! some story sir.No wonder we could not find his foot prints. “

” Poor devil what happens when one takes not what is his. . Ill have a shot of gin and a talk with an auction house I think may help with funds Rubens. “

” The necklace sir must find its way back id say?

“Indeed I do agree . I was referring to the car Rubens .We can do without it . Then to find a business for me to run. “

“The black shadow sir ?”

“Somehow I think it some sort of trick .Not real but sent by mind advanced to do this . Beyond me but I am sure teleport shadow man is just that.”

” We sell the necklace and we are just as guilty sir?”

“You think so Rubens do you. I say get it out of my house and all may stop .If not we move to stop the shadow that is not existing by ignoring it . Bring in help such as Indian guru from over at Cricklewood .I read about him in last nights newspapers.”

“Fight fire with fire and hope for peace sir “

“It is all one can hope for .Any tea in the pot.Im ready for a top up Rubens ?”

The code of the house .Part two.

The evening sun fell in the sky hitting the red rose climber as it dropped. The blooms in abundance illuminated by soft strong golden daylight on the wane .

The new master had watched the folly only rarely but this evening he sat dreaming of winning the pools .The house had almost drained him with incoming bills.

It was only then that his eye caught a dark shadow standing watching over the dark waters of the lake from the steps to the folly.Just for a split second did he see it? It was gone as he adjusted his eyes to the oncoming dusk .

‘ Dinner will be served at 7pm as instructed sir.” Announced the Butler from the casement at the doorway.

‘I have seen your dark stranger Rubens old chap .We need to go and search again as he pays no rent to me whom ever he may be.”

Rubens said no words his eyes cast down bowed and left to room .

The day came and the sun hung low over the garden. The path to the folly at the far side of the lake was empty .The slight smell on sulpher came to the owners nostils as he marched on in. I was a dust filled old room with one small window facing the lake.A strong door on iron hinges swung freely through much use. No trace of foot makes no effect there to give the clue. Then on leaving Both master and his man servant experienced a chill as if someone one was observing them from the house .

The pace had picked up as they raced back on the path around lake to the garden door. On search the house was void of trespassers of any sort.

“Why man did my uncle not call police when he witnessed someone occupying his garden house?”

: He said sir that whom ever it was needed a home ?”

“How very strange.As if he knew who it was Id say. Put a padlock on that door .Who ever it is cannot pass beyond it then. “

‘ Very well sir .Ill purchase a brace and lock from the locksmith shop in the town perhaps the handy man can apply it to the folly door sir”

The day passed calmly but at night,just before he retired he discovered papers in the library room that went back to his uncles war days. Bringing them to the desk light he spread them over and sat down to peruse the wording.

Next morning broke and he woke furtively still in situ . He struggled stiffly to his feet and out of the papers fell a note. On closer inspection it was in Hindi script. Hi uncles 7 years in Ceylon was not covered at all in any of the details on the desk .

It caused the owner to know have the note read. His only known Indian was Doctor Pandit Barkat from Bombay who had a surgery in town . He soon found that the note was a demand for the return on a book from the man who had loaned his uncle it. The book was late found in the safe .It was a book on the black arts . Why it had not been returned had the new master pondering the situation .It was then that the butler appeared with tea and cake.

My gosh is it that time already Rubens? See here this book in Indian .Did my uncle speak Indian ?”

“Never know what he could do sir .Very private man indeed .Bought this house in 1923 aged just 22 . I often wondered where his income came from. He seemed to have millions .The car in the garage is a 1950 Rolls Royce .Used only a few times to take him to London for meetings. “

‘ Where is the car now ?It must mean it now belongs to me?”

“Yes and the garage too is adjoined to the side of this house but only way in is through the read wooden doors facing the front street.”

So off the two men went with keys to open the garage up and there under blankets and oil sheet a sparkling 50 year old car .

‘ I say Rubens only 1200 miles of this clock?”

:He bought it but he never learned to drive it . His driver was who ever could and who was available you see. In end he gave up on it. Doubt if he even recalled he had a car sir.”

“Meetings in London what was that about Rubens?”

“Again sir he told me nothing . I came to work under the code of the house. Ask no questions get on with duty . So I did . “

“Who would know ?”

” Mr Brown the Dentist drove him once .He is still alive in a nursing home in Brighton sir .May still be clear of mind. Shall I get my coat sir. “

“Will this car start man?”

Battery in the cupboard in kitchen sir. Needs charging but no tax on car .So even if it starts its still unable to move. “

:We must try later as if a runner I can drive and what a car to use.Mind you cash is a bit tight so lets take the bus .”

: Train sir is faster and almost door to door.”

The old man was too weak to sit long talking but said that his uncle was once part of a raid on an Indian temple. Four men stole the Rubies from the tomb of a Moor buried with his wife near the temple alter. .The army demobbed them and they vanished . A curse was said to have been placed on all of them by the head servant of the Temple. .He was then taken back to his room and could not remember a word he had said an hour later .

The rails took the master and Butler back home on the last train through . Once in side he raced to the car doors with the key. Inside the glove compartment a kid leather case was found .

Part three next weekend .

Thank you for reading and peace and love to all.

The code of the house. Short story.

The Squire sat still in his easy chair gazing across the lake to the old folly building on far side. His eyes clear from care his whiskey at his reach a pain in his chest .He felt it creep across him like a suit of tight armour . He saw the figure come from the folly to the very lake side waving at him. He knew his time had come . There was a taste in his mouth of indigestion .His chest being crushed his arms unable to release the vice like hold on his breathing.

He slumped back in the cozy folds of the chair . It was over and he knew it .No fight left his man from the folly had come out at last to laugh at him .

“So what time did you call on him Lord Derby.? “

“It was as Rubens here let me in .Seconds after 11am this very morning .:Replied the Peer.

:Rubens has the body been moved at all?”

‘No doctor just as you see him is how I found him as I let Lordship in I went to wake master .He often takes a nap you know. “
The man was visibly moved and so Doctor Howes released him from the room.

He then marched softly over to the dead mans body .Slumped in the chair ,as it was, hoping for clues.

Police arrived at noon and the body seen close up.

“So heart attack Doc or fowl play?” uttered the Inspector from Scotland Yard.

‘Unless that whiskey is poisoned I would be sure its natural causes.Suffered heart trouble over time did old Henry Vane . “

The police Inspector bagged both bottle and glass.

‘Well im no use here .Best drive back to London for the meeting at 5pm with Prime Minister. Who will inherit then Rubens?”

“In fact I cant say as master changed his will last month end when lawyers came here. Could be his nephew Charles Pernell or that Mister White . “

“White the news hound .My word what was Henry thinking?”cried his Lordship.

‘John White is an historian researching the Neville line of masters family . Ill have to ring and tell him sir as its his day for calling .”

The night air came in close as the corpse was carried out into the wooden box provided by Sherwoods Funeral Parlour in the village . Rubens had butlered for Sir Henry over 43 years with never a complaint .Then at 70 himself he had no place to go now it was all over. For now he crept back to sleep once more in the bed in his room. Forget it all as he took one of the bottles of wine down and de corked it. Set it to rest and wondered what it felt like to drink it. Master gone his wine cellars soon to be someone else. He took it by the neck into his little room and closed firmly the door with his foot behind him.

It was 10am and someone knocking at the front door. Rubens had only been up a few minutes and felt sick. “Yes good morning is this the home of Sir Henry vane ,my man .”Spoke the words of a stranger. A man in a long black over coat .

Rubens was not in the mood and worried about his future. “No this is not that home anymore . ” And closed over the door . He was feeling badly after drinking a whole bottle of claret from the bottle before passing out.

The knocking continued and it was not all from inside his head .”Sorry sir there has been a death in here. What is your business?”

“You are ?”

‘Rubens the butler sir. “

“You not well old sport look rather pale.”

” No shock only .Can I help?”

The man in the long coat smiled .”No perhaps not. Who got the old drum then?”

The butler looks puzzled

“The house who got it then.” explained the man.

‘We are not in that knowledge as yet sir .One must wait for the will reading.”

“And when will that be my man?” laughed the caller.

Rubens had not a clue so after a while the man left .

It was later it happened.Rubens had been polishing to table in the masters largest room . He heard a noise from the lake as if a boat had hit the water.He was forced to look up and there as sharp as daylight he saw a figure dart across from the boat into the stone built folly room . He was a tall man all in black as if wrapped in a cloak. He lay the cloth on the table and opened the door in the glass bay .There he could see a fire was lit in the folly .Gray smoke whisped up into the morning air from that tall chimney set against the hillside . It was a long walk around but in fact he had nothing to do .No one to serve and no job at all left for him.

He reached the steps to the little arched doorway in side of the small building .The door firmly closed .He did not knock in announcement but stretched to see into the leaded window . He fell back wards almost into the lake. He picked himself up and fled as fast as his old legs could carry him. Panting he arrived at the glass bay door and was sick as a dog on remains of wine and pure shook at the sight of what he saw in very that room.

The will read the victor ,nephew Charles Pernel took charge of the house keys. The assembled left with best wishes to that man.

Up from the kitchens came the Butler, bag in hand,he saluted ,in time honoured fashion the new master and left the home he had now for 45 years .

He walked aimlessly into the park and flopped down on a empty bench to think what to do next.

He was miles away in deep thought when Pernel came to his side.” Tired are you dear mister David Rubens .Me thinks you have much work to do to introduce me to my uncles house and ways . “

“I can do that for you Sir but I am to sign on for new work. “

“As is your wish .Then I have a job in my home if its likeable to you. “

“To be your butler sir is that your intent?”

“Make no mistake my man you are?”

The two walked back happily to the house.

” So whats that hut on the horizon .He never told me about it you know. ?”

‘It is an odd building sir .Placed there as an decoration called an English garden folly sir. Some one inhabits it at times .My master watched it daily but as much as I asked he never said a word about it . Sat in that same chair he did watching always watching . He was badly infirm by fall from his hunter four years ago. Never left that chair slept in it ate in it . I had to bath him as his legs had no power his back injured you see. “

‘ You say its occupied,by whom ?”

‘ I do not know sir but can say its not of this world and best left alone . “
‘How very interesting. So my Uncle watched to see it did he?”

:He was a good man until he had that accident . He changed into fear and upset soon after. It is all I can say of the matter .He told me nothing of that building ever. Will you be dinning in sir ?”

“Yes Rubens . What is for dinner ?”

‘ Roast pork and apple sauce and selected garden greens sir .”

” Jolly good sounds wonderful .he told me you cooked too. “

‘ Yes sir man of many tricks. We are perhaps low on certain items I must bring to your attention. “

” Just write what you need down and have them deliver pay on delivery Ill give you permission “

Part one ended .Part two next week .

Thank you for reading yours Sir K

Latvia in May

We have endured the hard winter and now into Spring than fast into summer.So we have to move fast to keep up with gardens and work hits us hard after resting all winter time. The brain work of design now to perform .

Weeding pruning chopping and clearing repairing and tool sharpening all takes its toll .Must be age but dont mention it .

Shifting boulders at 72 is pretty scary but somehow alone its either look at them or shift them.Drop one side on barrow against it wedged and slowly move the stone rolling into barrow. Then try and pull the barrow up from side with stone inside. Surprising how fit it keeps one .Or is it just me that thinks that.?

Wheel to the rockery and then ladder and roll the boulder up onto top. Sheer slavery but once in place wedged in all looks worth the sweat .Only four more to attack then nice cup of tea in my summer house.

Many roses to cut back .Die back must be cut right out as it is a killer . Winter damage. Only roses that never have to prune are Canadian John Davis and John Cabot climbers on my gazebo each side with benches for 8 people to rest at party time.

I bought more conifers and filled that gaps in my woodland garden. Shrubs too but need loads of rain now which never comes. Clay and sand soil with about two inch of top soil. Much effort in earning that I can tell you. More farm manures left two years in piles .We are using only now manures well rotted from two years back. Ill cancel the next years load as by then my mountains of dung will have to be gone on garden boards .Mixed with water as tea drink for plants .

Im delighted that my heated propagator produced enough Comfrey plants for making tea as plant food .Ill grow the 10 plants near my work site for grass cuttings to add to compost bins slowly. They grow big and wide so row them down East side but still in sunlight but not in danger from barrows full of grass cuttings. I made 4 bins for composting quicker . It will replace the five years of spending 50 euro now 85 euro a load of shit.if you will forgive the expression. He ,the farm tractor driver, said cow cake feed has gone up 100 % I said so had the price of shit it seems. Six ton at a time is helping the garden at a price. Once all trace has been used plan B is already growing .

My sweetpeas are looking good and could be planted now .Greedy feeders and we have the stuff they adore in the bed at base of trellis . This is divisional to garden room beyond is my conifer garden. Rose climbers and clematis later but will hold off with sweet peas as frost I can taste in the morning air. Can come juts as one plants up tenders and boosh all dead next morning. Took me two years before i began to face it this is not England . Sunny for a week then one morning at 6am wake to find one inch of frozen white killer frost covers the land like a blanket hugging the land . Once only then back to 77f at 6am 84 by luncheon time. Can reach 98 f by 5pm . One year it reached 112 f and sat on parade all day.Unbearable and shriveled all plants up. It is gardening on the hard side of all things holy .

Then when it settles like India the monsoons arrive and I love it rains .Now is the time we fill all ponds and tanks we have had empty .Rain for water lilies say in 4 inch of muddy water now up to the neck burst into amazing scented pink flowers floating happily on top of rising waters in the formal pond. From here on in summer is just perfect at 86 f tops from July to October its lovely .maybe odd day of rain from September on. Summers at best are perhaps the best in Europe .You can rely on it.

My need to make ready with grape vine roof over the oven I must build will herald the dawning of my first real garden party and entertaining a first in these gardens.

Watched many internet videos on brick oven build so having taken note designed my own my way. Im itching to start my build but many jobs still to do outstanding before hand I fear.

My Japanese flowering cherries are near opening their swelling buds to welcome late May early June blossoms at the waterfall room .

I have to trench in power for pumps and tall London street lights in the drive way.Also the folly needs power of electrics and the pergola roof lights too.

When complete if im not tired to death Ill kneel and thank God who held me upright and set in working so hard for so long. Its been a dream for so long and now its happening. More still to do but its no longer a maybe it is beginning to be what I wanted at first site I knew this flat land was able to aid my plan.

Rest for a day now as need too as I just do too much in a day. Im nearly there but the end game can wait a day or two. Five years of hard slog made a rough pasture into an English garden some 2000 miles from home.

I was told cant do it I said it was possible with hard work .Then I admit I had no idea of just h0w much hard work it needed . I am arranging photos for next weeks blog on my garden. Again its relying on other people with better camera that works and can be loaded onto blog. I seem to have lost the will as so many try and no win.

Yours always ,love Sir Kevin.

A very good story

It was over breakfast one morning in May. There I was about to delight myself with boiled eggs. The plate of toast ,served as soldiers and for my Marmalade after that.

In comes Anita with a strange look on her face. “Marmalade again. ”

Indignant of the comment and the look ,one cracked open the last egg in the holder and dipped on hot buttered toast as if no one else was there.

Again the call. I cleared my mouth and spoke my jolly mind. “Marmalade is a British thing. Love it or hate it depends decidedly on tasting it my dear.”

She had been rather slow on the take up but now by Gad it happened. Wide eyed I looked up from the finished egg and watched her slide a knife into my marmalade jar in somewhat somber motion.

I had no need to ponder it was instant and positive and flowing was the occasion and her countenance told it all.

Since then I have to make twice as much marmalade.

To think that reference to the product is stamped in the pages of English recipe books going way back into the days of good old Queen Elizabeth. .Then when it was made with Quince fruit not Spanish sour oranges.

So Saville in Spain had 80 tons of sour oranges and somehow the British bought them .Today the entire market is that of Britain .Spain has no other customer for her oranges of Seville are that sour one is hard pressed to find anyone other than Marmalade makers who adore the said fruit .

It changed from Quince grown in England to oranges grown in Spain around 1800. Queen Victoria so loved Marmalade that it became a product for the business man to produce.So much so for most households the only thing was to make ones own . Cooks in big houses made pan fulls of the stuff. The common workers bought oranges when spoiled as cheap and so made marmalade in the little kitchens .From that it became a sport as one cook challenged others all across the cities of England this went on.

Womens Institute WI or to us men Wild Indians made jam circles to sell at fairs they had open to public. Each member made a jam or Marmalade and brought jars to sell.

So it became a truly British thing over time of ,many centuries. When in 1953 Hillary and Tenzing reached the summit of Everest mountain they opened a jar on Marmalade and spooned it out to enjoy the victory .

Scott had taken Marmalade to Antartic cirlce . Sugar content stopped the jar freezing.

I believe it may even have been taken into space.

So is it good .Indeed it is a jar that trapped sunshine . It is fruity heaven and now two of us like the taste.

When ever one can find the sour fruit in Europe one can set too and cook up a batch of Marmalade . Not often enough are the sour oranges here as Latvia is not a Marmalade nation. Then not to fear I simply visit Lidll shops and there one can find the real thing on the shelves. Dundee Marmalade is common with the Germans also hooked by the taste it seems .

I try to have six jars always on my shelf to eat when I want.

The story of Italian chef seeing his lady Mary Queen of Scotland ill decided to make her a fruit jam to revive her mood . It is a nice tale but with little fact as he called it My Mam malady . Do not thing so .

Marmalade is a thing that brought millions of housewifes to compete making it .All over Britain they judge who makes the best. Even sell it on stalls at summer fetes. Why not it is the peer in the range of jams that brings back my youth with its taste in every bite of toast. Fresh and orangey sweet and delicious .It sparkles in the sunlight in the glass jar from pantry to the dish on breakfast table. Anita now conversant supports my efforts now but says rather have honey but marmalade is good too?

The truth is a thing called Meladosa made with oranges and lemons into jam existed in Portugal in the 11 century .So the Marmalade may have come from that .Our Quince jam goes back to much the same time . The oranges replaced the quince around 1800 in England and I add the juice of a ripe lemon to my marmalade making as it helps the flavour I say .

What ever, a good story and a great British product . If one adds a thimble full of Malt Whiskey in the mix after cooking you have Scottish Marmalade and to be honest I like it so much as it is not same product otherwise.

A bit of rest and light reading.I do so hope you liked it.

Russia today

Putin has lost the war in Ukraine but says we now start World war 111 target is the whole Nato alliance .

How silly this cancer ridden fool is to think he has not been set up by Nato to come out fighting instead of hurling abuse.

He cant win against public in Ukraine what can he do to a mighty war machine called the West .

In a way we can finish this and Russia divided into many parts .Siberia belongs to China anyway . Then Ukraine may like a nice slice of land around Moscow and Petersburgh handed to Germany .Polish must have a big slice of the pie and Latvia takes back the land stolen from then in war time by Stalin the butcher

All will be happy if Russia just makes its move instead of threats and sabre rattling . Like children they need handling properly but if out they march it will be as we all hoped the end of threats and loss of Russia as warned of in 1856 treaty of Paris signed by Russian leaders after we beat the daylights out of them in Crimean war 1854-56 .

Putin broke that law in invading Ukraine . Crimea is part of Ukraine too.

I doubt if leaders behind the dying Putin will want a war with West it is just as always threats to lead to fear. But no one fears Russia and never did .It is a system of a form of Communistic evil starve that public tell them only what we need them to hear . Ill sod hungry we can control them. Then now is the slumbering population slowly waking up to what is really going on.I think its possible ,yes .

Putin is seriously ill he needed a win in Ukraine not just to have his way but because he is under they eye of evil big brother who will replace him now. That may be better for peace, or worse.Time will tell .Giving us time to build up even more our objective . Today Russia said Ben Grant a British soldier from Chetzin army aiding Russia against the enemy Ukraine he will run forever but death sentence has been placed on him . It is fine for other nations to help Russia but if any aid Ukraine its murder for them. It is typical cowards and brainless talk of idiots . I think Ben should be a medal holder for his way of helping Ukraine. His mother is Conservative MP which will fuel the situation no doubt. But it shows you just what trash the Russians are. News of Putin at best he has five weeks to live said Russian doctors to news press in Moscow. Published and on sale in Baltic shops . Cant see it being wrong myself. Good riddens to him I say .

I doubt Russia has much left to fight a war with .Only Nuclear which is old and mostly volatile . Meanwhile two British super ships are lined up on Moscow from sea off shore from Baltic knock out takes 12 seconds with all fired on them nothing will survive .So fear not the news it is all over in a flash if the rat pops its nose out of its hole its certain it will turn to vapour.

Yours with peace in defense, Sir Kevin.

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