Geraldine Rowe
@geraldinerowe.bsky.social
Cats, books, nature. What else is there? London, UK.
My hibiscus has bees feeding on its flowers, my pelargoniums are not only in bloom but producing new buds, and my spring bulbs are popping up. It's also November.
November 2, 2025 at 2:54 PM
My hibiscus has bees feeding on its flowers, my pelargoniums are not only in bloom but producing new buds, and my spring bulbs are popping up. It's also November.
A Fantasia jack-o'-lantern this year.
November 1, 2025 at 11:58 PM
A Fantasia jack-o'-lantern this year.
They said we might get some good autumn colour. This is by the entrance to Bromley Palace Park where I was delighted to be surrounded by huge flocks of long tailed tits and goldcrests. Lovely!
October 22, 2025 at 12:37 PM
They said we might get some good autumn colour. This is by the entrance to Bromley Palace Park where I was delighted to be surrounded by huge flocks of long tailed tits and goldcrests. Lovely!
I went on a bat walk in a local park this evening. We saw pipistrelles, and heard on our bat detectors (but didn't see) daubenton's bats. You can hear the bat detectors in the background.
October 5, 2025 at 8:38 PM
I went on a bat walk in a local park this evening. We saw pipistrelles, and heard on our bat detectors (but didn't see) daubenton's bats. You can hear the bat detectors in the background.
Having complained about the state of a Church House Gardens I didn't have much of an excuse not to turn up to a volunteers day recently. In just three hours we cut back and uncovered the path behind the lake that had been completely lost to overgrown plants. More volunteers days to come.
September 24, 2025 at 9:35 PM
Having complained about the state of a Church House Gardens I didn't have much of an excuse not to turn up to a volunteers day recently. In just three hours we cut back and uncovered the path behind the lake that had been completely lost to overgrown plants. More volunteers days to come.
This was my elevenses. Portuguese hot chocolate. Not sure what's different about it being Portuguese, apart from the fact that it was DELICIOUS!
September 2, 2025 at 1:54 PM
This was my elevenses. Portuguese hot chocolate. Not sure what's different about it being Portuguese, apart from the fact that it was DELICIOUS!
Brown hairstreak butterfly just landed next to me in the garden. On the red list and not often seen this far east, I believe.
August 11, 2025 at 2:01 PM
Brown hairstreak butterfly just landed next to me in the garden. On the red list and not often seen this far east, I believe.
Rather passive-aggressive of @thestorygraph.com AI 😂
July 25, 2025 at 8:07 AM
Rather passive-aggressive of @thestorygraph.com AI 😂
Good grief, it's still July!
July 23, 2025 at 9:36 AM
Good grief, it's still July!
My attempt to stop the squirrels getting at my hazelnuts. It was too difficult to net the whole tree, particularly in a way safe for birds, so I've used organza bags on individual clusters of nuts. Not sure if it'll work, or if the squirrels will just chew through the bags. Time will tell.
July 2, 2025 at 2:34 PM
My attempt to stop the squirrels getting at my hazelnuts. It was too difficult to net the whole tree, particularly in a way safe for birds, so I've used organza bags on individual clusters of nuts. Not sure if it'll work, or if the squirrels will just chew through the bags. Time will tell.
Bluewater might have fancy robotic cleaning doo-dads but their air con can't cope with 33° temperatures 🥵. Also, it was completely the wrong day to treat myself at the Lindor pick and mix. The filling turns to liquid in this weather and just squirts into your mouth. (Although you might like that.)
July 1, 2025 at 6:48 PM
Bluewater might have fancy robotic cleaning doo-dads but their air con can't cope with 33° temperatures 🥵. Also, it was completely the wrong day to treat myself at the Lindor pick and mix. The filling turns to liquid in this weather and just squirts into your mouth. (Although you might like that.)
Poor you! Sending you healing wishes and a very big hug. Here's a picture of Lucia pulling snails off the fence, and one of a bee in a pink poppy.
June 29, 2025 at 1:07 PM
Poor you! Sending you healing wishes and a very big hug. Here's a picture of Lucia pulling snails off the fence, and one of a bee in a pink poppy.
Oh, and here's my haul: a jar of guindilla peppers, two rainbow bagels, Belper Knolle cheese, banana cake, smoked sprats in pistachio oil, spicy mackerel, two tins of mini sardines, Turkish delight in a Shard-shaped box (present for Ian), and three cheese straws.
June 25, 2025 at 3:31 PM
Oh, and here's my haul: a jar of guindilla peppers, two rainbow bagels, Belper Knolle cheese, banana cake, smoked sprats in pistachio oil, spicy mackerel, two tins of mini sardines, Turkish delight in a Shard-shaped box (present for Ian), and three cheese straws.
It was an extra walk, but I decided to come home via Blackfriars rather than London Bridge station as the views are better.
June 25, 2025 at 3:28 PM
It was an extra walk, but I decided to come home via Blackfriars rather than London Bridge station as the views are better.
Decided against raw seafood after my recent experience with a dodgy oyster in Whitstable in April. Had some Turkish coffee, overpriced chips and an amazingly refreshing cider slushy proper scrumpy cider too.
June 25, 2025 at 3:28 PM
Decided against raw seafood after my recent experience with a dodgy oyster in Whitstable in April. Had some Turkish coffee, overpriced chips and an amazingly refreshing cider slushy proper scrumpy cider too.
Had a little day out and took myself off to Borough Market today.
June 25, 2025 at 3:28 PM
Had a little day out and took myself off to Borough Market today.
Of course the well itself is relatively modern, and the water in it is pumped from the lake rather than the ancient spring it would have come from a thousand years ago. Some say the nearby stream is from the chalybeate spring but I'm not convinced as it's not leaving any mineral deposits.
June 10, 2025 at 8:53 AM
Of course the well itself is relatively modern, and the water in it is pumped from the lake rather than the ancient spring it would have come from a thousand years ago. Some say the nearby stream is from the chalybeate spring but I'm not convinced as it's not leaving any mineral deposits.
So pleased to see the volunteers at Bishops Palace Park (which seems to have been renamed Bromley Palace Park, but I prefer the original) have restored St Blaise's Well to working order. Their work has been phenomenal. The park has improved a thousandfold since they took over.
June 10, 2025 at 8:53 AM
So pleased to see the volunteers at Bishops Palace Park (which seems to have been renamed Bromley Palace Park, but I prefer the original) have restored St Blaise's Well to working order. Their work has been phenomenal. The park has improved a thousandfold since they took over.
Well done little orchid. At least 19 years old and still sending out flower spikes. Every time one dies back I always think it'll be its last, but it keeps proving me wrong.
June 7, 2025 at 6:04 PM
Well done little orchid. At least 19 years old and still sending out flower spikes. Every time one dies back I always think it'll be its last, but it keeps proving me wrong.
Only six weeks late, I finally had my birthday meal tonight. It turned out to be a rather 70s-inspired feast. Frogs legs, lobster and king prawn Thermidor, chocolate fudge cake, and an Irish coffee. Delicious.
May 27, 2025 at 9:05 PM
Only six weeks late, I finally had my birthday meal tonight. It turned out to be a rather 70s-inspired feast. Frogs legs, lobster and king prawn Thermidor, chocolate fudge cake, and an Irish coffee. Delicious.
I don't expect food delivery people to have a degree in quantum physics, but knowing not to store a pizza end-on should be a basic requirement. This is why I don't like apps that make you tip beforehand.
May 25, 2025 at 5:48 PM
I don't expect food delivery people to have a degree in quantum physics, but knowing not to store a pizza end-on should be a basic requirement. This is why I don't like apps that make you tip beforehand.
Well, I think the UK was absolutely shafted by the public vote. But you never can predict #Eurovision.
May 17, 2025 at 11:49 PM
Well, I think the UK was absolutely shafted by the public vote. But you never can predict #Eurovision.
Decided to treat myself to a day at Fortnum's on Monday. Not entirely successful. I usually walk from Victoria, but they were changing the guard at Buckingham Palace (🎶🎵) so I had to walk a long way round, and the main restaurant at Fortnum's was shut. Got a good but restrained haul though.
May 14, 2025 at 10:54 AM
Decided to treat myself to a day at Fortnum's on Monday. Not entirely successful. I usually walk from Victoria, but they were changing the guard at Buckingham Palace (🎶🎵) so I had to walk a long way round, and the main restaurant at Fortnum's was shut. Got a good but restrained haul though.
This is a weird weight too. I got suspicious when I struggled to get my hand into the opening of this new bag.
May 5, 2025 at 3:49 PM
This is a weird weight too. I got suspicious when I struggled to get my hand into the opening of this new bag.