Harlow Carr

We spent most of today wandering around the RHS gardens at Harlow Carr. Lots of flowers, OK , that's a given for a botanic garden, but at home the flowers are mostly over for the year, and here it was still like summer, warm, wasps and colour. Trees all still green, flowers still blooming. I used to go there a lot when I lived in Leeds nearly 30 years ago, it was much less polished then, but a great place to wander and chill. Always seemed empty except for the staff, certainly not the case now. Ate twice at Betty's, once in the garden cafe, and then in the tearoom. That's just plain greedy. Saw several plants I wanted but seriously not practical to buy here and keep in hot hotel room or even hotter car for two days.

In the afternoon we went for a wander around Harrogate, lots of expensive clothes shops, lots of restaurants and coffee shops, lots of rich people. Acquired Nicky's present, Warhammer as requested. Then investigated baa ram ewe. Very friendly staff who checked the amount of wool I needed on Ravelry. Managed to keep my acquisitions down to two wools for one shawl. Would have been more, but I had a mental blank about what was needed. Oh well, Saturday comes soon. (That's the British Wool Show).