It's a beautiful day

This afternoon has been heaven. It was the usual busy morning with breakfasts and guests but with the help of Angela and our new helper - young Jessica - we were able to get all the work done which meant that for an hour or so this afternoon I was able to relax and enjoy this beautiful spring day. The courtyard at Lambriggan Court is a sun trap and the most perfect place to sit quietly on the love seat with a cup of tea - and just enjoy. It was so peaceful , feeling the sun on my face and listening to all the birds. No wind today so couldn't even hear the waves crashing on the beach over the hill at Perranporth. The courtyard is such a sun trap that we even have our own banana plant which produces hands of small green bananas later on in the year. Next year we hope to plant some vines around the courtyard too - I am sure they will do well. Jon is thinking of vines on a bigger scale. In fact there is talk of a Lambriggan Vinyard at some point - possibly next to the walnut orchard. There are a few vinyards in Cornwall which produce very fine wines. We shall have to research this thoroughly first!
I even had time today to go 'walkabout' around the grounds. I noticed that we still have daffodils out and the Camelias are still blooming. They have not stopped blooming since last year - stunning reds and pinks. There is an abundance of blue-bells and white-bells and a yellow canopy of celandine. A profusion of pink Campion and mauve flowering ground geraniums. The cider apple tree is in blossom along with all the cherry trees and everthing is turning green.
Sitting in the jungle house on the lake I watched the black-necked swans gliding through the water. The moorhen who started off with several young now has only one left ducking and diving by her side. The mallard ducks who have made their home with us are keeping a very close eye on their ducklings but no matter how vigilant they are it won't be long before there are only one or two left. For the moment though it is wonderful to observe them. A couple of sparrows are trying to nest in the thatched roof of the jungle house but it was only newly thatched last summer so I don't think there's much hope. It is so peaceful in the jungle house on the lake - it feels like another world. One night last summer we had a BBQ in the jungle house with our neighbours. With lanterns and the noises of our birds and the sound of the waterfall between the lakes it felt and sounded like we were in the depths of Africa not Cornwall!!!
Back in the house it was time to clean out the ne-ne gosling and it's companion. We had collected a ducking from a friend's farm to keep the gosling company and to stop it from becoming too imprinted ( it is important that gosling knows it is a bird and not a human being!). The ne-ne gosling has trebled in size at least in the last 9 days since it has hatched . At first the two birds were very wary of each other and stayed in separate corners of their box. Now they are the best of friends and stick together all the time. If you are staying at Lambriggan Court later in the year do not be surprised to see a duck and a goose waddling about together . Actually you should not be surprised at anything you find at Lambriggan Court . I'm not any more.....