A meeting of like minds
By macpat
22 comments
Due to her interest in my Hoya blog, I had been exchanging messages with Cinders and discovered that she lives in Wiltshire where I was about to travel to spend time with my sister. My sister living in Swindon and Cinders some mileage away, we arranged to meet somewhere in the middle and chose the market town of Devizes. Both of us were bringing plants to exchange and I had promised one of my Hoya cuttings, which although small was thriving.
The plants were easy to transport to my first destination as my nephew was collecting me, but the trip from Swindon to Devizes had to be done by bus. Having contacted Cinders, we chose to meet on a market day…..let me tell you that the bus I travelled on contained the world and his wife, plus a few pushchairs and an endless amount of shopping trolleys! My poor plants were getting squashed at every turn.
Even though we had never met, we recognised each other….I guess that a woman struggling off the bus with bags of plants and another standing on the corner surrounded by more plants was a big clue.
It was a gloriously sunny day and Devizes market is amazing, a proper market, absolutely throbbing with life, the like of which, isn’t seen in my neck of the woods. The first thing we did was to locate a café for a cuppa and a toasted teacake and there we sat chatting about gardens, plants and family as if we had known one another for ages.
Feeling refreshed, we proceeded to find a quiet corner in order to exchange plants.
On the way, we passed an Antique shop and outside, stood a metal chair which would have made a lovely garden feature. I was very tempted but the price tag brought me back down to earth.
Plants exchanged and photos taken, we ambled round the market and I was taken to the most wonderful herb stall where we met and chatted to Alan, the stallholder. He told us that over the course of a season, he grows over 200 different herbs, many of them, exotic species. All his plants looked wonderfully healthy and after tasting several, we each made a purchase. I bought Moroccan Basil, Hyssop and something called Black Mint which had the strongest flavour I have ever come across. I am going to plant the mint in a pot as it looks to be an even stronger plant than the mint that I usually grow.
Time then, for another cuppa in the Corn Exchange where an Antique fair was taking place.
All at once, two and a half hours had melted away and it was time for us to catch our buses home. We said our ‘Goodbyes’ and we will keep in touch.
This was a very pleasant encounter and Has made a lovely memory for both of us to look back on and I hope we will do it again.
!
28 Sep, 2010
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Comments
Yes Heron, we didnt stop talking , but it was great,we both enjoyed our day.
Good blog Macpat ! Still love that chair !!
28 Sep, 2010
What a treat for you both to meet, exchange plants and chatter. The herb stall manned by Alan looks amazing.
Now about that lovely antique chair.....bet it was hard to leave it there but the prices of some items just yell "ouch" and we have to walk away. Good you got a picture of it though....it does look like it would make a pretty garden feature alright.
I was thinking too....you two could almost be sisters from the photos :)....well gardening sisters anyhow...lol
28 Sep, 2010
what a lovely intresting blog. I really enjoy reading it, love the chair to.you sure could be sisters.
28 Sep, 2010
How lovely to meet up like that - I know what it's like - you feel as though you know each other well, don't you!
Love the chair - mind you, how would you have coped with it on the bus? LOL.
28 Sep, 2010
A great blog and so pleased you were able to meet, loved the photos of two lovely like minded people.
That chair is fab.
28 Sep, 2010
I'm so glad you had fun ;o)
29 Sep, 2010
How lovely . It's nice to meet fellow GoY friends. I have met 3 myself. I'm glad and not surprised you enjoyed your day.
29 Sep, 2010
i've met two including a nice guy called Hywel...lol
sounds like u had a lovely time. i love the plant stall his plants look lovely..
and im loving the chair..:-)
29 Sep, 2010
Hi Sandra :o) x
29 Sep, 2010
A lovely blog Macpat and so nice that you two get on well. I too love the chair :-))
29 Sep, 2010
Thanks everyone for all your comments.
Cinderella and I did have a lovely time....should have bought the chair though! You are right Spritz...it would have been a bit of a struggle on the bus. I guess I didn't think fast enough or I could have got one of my nephews to pick me and the chair up.....it was a LOVELY chair.
29 Sep, 2010
well girls I think thats wonderful, love the photo's of you both and of course the plants,so glad you had a lovely time together.
29 Sep, 2010
thats a fab blog and so nice to meet others on here ,you just feel like you known them years .we have got together wther heron a couple of times and looking 4 ward to meetig again. hi heron ;0))))
29 Sep, 2010
Lovely blog.Macpat...it is nice to meet fellow forumites...I have met up with a couple too and had a lovely time.....yes....you could be taken for sisters!! :-))....just one question...I dunno whose who????
29 Sep, 2010
I am the one on the right, Macpat is in blue. Thanks for the comments.
29 Sep, 2010
How lovely for you both,and very pleased you had a lovely day together.Quite a few of us have met up with other members now..isn't it good ? I was wondering who was who,so glad Amble alice asked..as you both had a Heuchera beside you,and Cinders kindly sent me one...about the same size as that one now,I'm pleased to say...lovely to meet you both in the flesh..so to speak.Lol...
29 Sep, 2010
what a lovely blog...i like the chair too!
29 Sep, 2010
Thanks Cinders !! :-))
30 Sep, 2010
How lovely for you both, agree with Amblealice, like peas in a pod !!! lol
30 Sep, 2010
Great blog, and nice to see both of you. The heucheras are fantastic, of course, and those herbs look so good, too. Glad you had a great day, and the weather was favourable. Am sure that you'll be doing this again, next time you're in Wilts, Pat! :-)).
30 Sep, 2010
Nice blog. Glad you have met up with Syliva. I only live a few miles from her and we have visited each others gardens. She is a real Spret Queen! lol!
1 Oct, 2010
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Wonderful thing the internet init' I too have met two new friends on garden forums. Looks like you've both had a good time, bet your jaw is aching now ;-))
28 Sep, 2010