We Had Decided If It Was A Nice Day,

we would go out for a drive,

 as I was writing the blog the sun came up, blue skies and a few vapour trails from high flying aircraft, that was it, breakfast over and we were out,

  to the local Kwik-fit, the rear nearside tyre was as flat as a pancake,

 I used the air compressor that was in the boot to inflate the tyre and here we were, just our luck, a flat tyre, the first time we were going to use the car since we had arrived home 2 days ago, and Kwik-fit was packed, 

 so off for a coffee, Kwik-fit called  so back we went, £149.00 later and we were on our way, but here is the good news the nice chap at Grange Garage, Myles Hill suggested a 2 year tyre and wheel car package, if you get a flat or scuff the aluminium wheel it is replaced/repaired, a quick telephone call and we were assured we would be reimbursed, so that was alright then,

 then we were off, to Polhill Garden Centre,

 first stop,

 breakfast!

 a dash of peppered vinegar, and we were good to go,

 crayfish tails for Diana,

whelks for myself, delicious!

 then the visit began, with a quick pose by the giraffe,

 inside a riot of colour from these Cyclamen,

well I had to have a pose,

 also the primulas,

 were putting on a wonderful show,

from plain white, 

 to bi-coloured,

 with so many strong colours in between, 

 some of the trays on display were mixed,

 others just one colour, 

 the ornament no garden should be without,

 next crocus,

 so much bigger than the ones we see in the park,

 'I want that one!',

 and here it is, a beautiful dwarf iris,

 on to Auriculas,

 with their fabulously patterned flowers, if you are interested in the difference between Primrose, Primulas and Auriculas, have a look at this article, 

 next a tray of insectivorous plants,

I just love the Venus flytrap, (Dionaea muscipula),

 another favourite of mine,

 air plants and this one with a cute little owl,

 and of course bonsai, so many different plants that I like,

 but this is what we came for, some of Diana's succulents are taking over the window box, so we are replacing them with slower growing ones and repotting the fast growing ones into separate pots,

 we also kept having a look around the huge store, some tin metal garden ornaments,

 a huge dragonfly, about the size they were in prehistoric times,

 pink flamingos, I have not seen many of those in the last 2 alcohol free weeks!

 mouse and cat, Gerry and Tom,

 there seems to be a move into miniature gardens,

 with all manner of items for sale to help in the miniature theme,

 like fairy houses,

 more tin plate ornaments,

 from sheep,

 to the British Bulldog,

 we passed by the walls of artificial flowers, then back in the car and we were off to Westerham,

 we;parked the car and made our way past some grand houses,

 and up the hill,

 to the Castle Antiques Centre, where we had a look around,

 looking back downhill to the road that leads to the car park

 we walked along the High Street,

 past a few of the shops,

 to the green,

 at the front of which is a statue,

 which I remember visiting on a school trip many years ago,

 it is of General James Wolfe who was born in Westerham,

 we made our way along the top of the green,

to here, the Tudor Rose Tea room,

 we made our way inside,

 first a pot of tea, 

 then the sandwiches, cakes, scones cream and jam arrived,  

 there was plenty of it all, 

 and it was a good job we were both hungry! 

 in actual fact we could not eat it all, but it was so nice Diana bought some cake to take home, the price of the afternoon tea was £11.95 each,

a last look across the green and we made our way home, for our evening meal we just had a small snack, we were still so full from the cream tea, in the evening it was fee up for a few from the Blake Mysteries, Bargain Hunt and Antiques Road Trip, as the midnight hour approached we were off to bed.