Category: Missed a ThameNews story?

COLIN DEXTER on Morse and other Things, by Nicholas Newman, www.oxfordprospect.co.uk http://oxfordprospect.wordpress.com/
THE many television series, based on Colin Dexter?s books have made both Oxford and his heroes, Inspector Morse and Lewis, household names throughout Europe. As you would expect from such a popular writer, he has been given many honours and awards including the Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) by Prince Charles at Buckingham Palace for his services to literature.

I met Colin Dexter, now 77, one of Europe?s top crime writers, over brunch in the garden of his North Oxford family home. What impressed, as we sat in the warm sunlight, was how modest Colin was about his great literary achievements. I felt I was talking to a neighbour, not a giant of European crime fiction, who has turned Oxford into a European fictional murder capital. (Photo: Colin Dexter seated in his garden September 2007)

About the Inspector Morse and Lewis Television Series
Both the books and the television series are centred on two policemen who investigate crime both in the colleges of Oxford University and in the city itself. For the potential tourist, watching the series is often a good way to enjoy Oxford?s fine architecture, and listen to well chosen classical music. The storyline has a disdain for deductive reasoning as exemplified by Conan Doyle?s Sherlock Holmes stories, and tends to focus on the human condition, making one feel it is an attempt by a modern Jane Austin to write crime fiction.

For an Oxford insider, the overarching storyline of the series is the historic rivalry between Oxford?s old university and the city. The police in the stories are treated as unwelcome guests, who are barely tolerated by the fictional characters that represent the University of Oxford. Many locals find it strange that despite the episodes being set in the present day, no mention is ever made of Oxford?s other university, which is Oxford Brookes University.

As part of the deal that Colin Dexter struck with ITV, which produced the television episodes, on the advice of Macmillan his publisher, Colin did not sell his film rights, and as copyright holder, Dexter said, ?I have always retained final approval of all productions.? In recent years, Colin with the new Inspector Lewis productions, decided to change his role, and he now acts more as a story consultant than an author. In fact, as we talked, he got the latest script out to show me, and it was full of his comments and suggestions!

?One of my saddest times,? Colin remarked, was talking on the phone to John Thaw, who played Inspector Morse, just days before John died of cancer. Colin Dexter recalls John saying, ?I could never understand why I was such thought of as a good actor ? all I ever did was remember my lines.?

Writing Inspector Morse and Lewis:
Colin revealed, ?When I started writing the Inspector Morse stories, I did not think of Morse as a complete character; he evolved as I wrote, like me he is diabetic, an atheist, and a lover of music and art.? Unlike Superman characters, Colin has made Morse human, a bit selfish and a snob, though unlike Dexter. Though, he quite frequently falls in love with the ladies, more often than not the crook.. The new Lewis series, have done well, and Lewis has made the transition from Morse?s assistant to the leading character,

?Fans and aspiring writers ask me about my police research; in fact I learnt most of it from reading the works of my fellow crime writers, Though the local, Thames Valley Police, have been very helpful, when asked,? Colin notes.

Lost in Translations:
Colin?s books and television episodes have been translated into at least 22 languages. Though Colin has a working knowledge of French and German, because of his deafness, he finds it difficult to communicate in these languages.

ABOUT HIMSELF ? WRITING BOOKS
Like many a writer, Colin Dexter success with his first novels were not sufficiently rewarding financially to enable him to devote the rest of his life to writing, so he stayed in his full time job, as a Manager in University of Oxford?s Exams Department. What is most impressive is Colin?s ability to write a few pages in his spare time, unlike other writers, who need a special room, word targets and times in order to get just a few pages completed each day. Colin would write if he had time in the evening or on holiday, when he would lock himself in a room for a couple of hours and tell his wife Dorothy and two children not to disturb him. Now since his retirement in 1988, old habits still remain hard to break.

Unlike Conan Doyle, whose first novels were not a success, for Colin Dexter?s first novel, he laughs, ?The Gods smiled on me! I was lucky; I was in the right place in the right time?. After Colin had completed his first Morse novel in 1973, the script was submitted to two publishers. The first turned him down, but the second, Macmillan Publishing, agreed to publish the book, without any alterations!

?When I write, I like writing is a good old fashioned middle class crime mystery, I seek to entertain,? Colin observed. In fact Colin Dexter is not interested in the trend amongst many murder mystery writers like I.M. Banks who try to depress the reader with some sort of sociological commentary. Colin said, ?One of my favourite historical detective fiction writers is C.J.Sansom.?

Colin says ?I only ever review books that I like!? Unlike other critics, as Colin observed, ?the trouble sometimes is that they will reveal too much of the plot, so you can guess who?s done it without bothering to read the book.?

HIS OTHER LIFE
Colin is a Cambridge University classics graduate, born in 1930 in the English East Midlands. His father was a taxi driver and Colin studied Classics at Cambridge. In 1948; he was conscripted for National Service in the Royal Corps of Signals, and stationed near Hamburg, monitoring Russian Military Morse transmissions from inside Eastern Germany. After that, he taught classics (Latin and Greek) in schools in the English East Midlands for 12 years until he was forced into early retirement because of the onset of severe deafness. Colin said, ?I am sorry I had to retire from the classroom, I loved teaching!? After teaching Colin moved to Oxford in 1966, where he worked for Oxford University, until he retired in 1988.

European Matters
?I think we in Britain have a lot to learn from Europe, from everything to getting our public transport right to handling our litter problem.? Colin remarks. He reads much 19th century German literature; his favourite opera is Wagner?s Die Walkure.

Colin has read a wide variety of European crime fiction, not only English writers, but authors from Sweden, Germany and France. Currently he has been reading and reviewing the latest Hakan Nesser novel ?Borkmann’s Point? which features Chief Inspector Van Veeteren.

As for the big political topics that face Europe, the new European Treaty and Europe?s participation in Afghanistan. ?I support the Treaty, but we have made some dreadful mistakes in the war against terror,? Colin commented.

Future Works:
Expect to see the next new Inspector Lewis television series now in production on your screens early next spring, either in English or dubbed into your home language.

As for Colin, he still writes the occasional short story for magazines and does some reviewing. He is in popular demand by his fans at literary festivals, charitable occasions and public events. Colin Said laughingly, ?My wife tells me off for going out so much!?

OBE and Other Awards
Though he was awarded OBE in 2000 his favorite award is that of Freedom of the City Oxford.? He commented. ?It means, in theory, I have the freedom to herd and graze my sheep anywhere in Oxford, is if I had any!?

For Further information:
Inspector Morse Television series
http://www.itv.com/Drama/copsandcrime/morseweekend/default.html
Inspector Lewis Television series http://www.itv.com/Drama/copsandcrime/Lewis/default.html
Colin Dexter?s and Hakan Nesser Publisher – Macmillan http://www.panmacmillan.com/default.asp
Thames Valley Police http://www.thamesvalley.police.uk/
Oxford University http://www.ox.ac.uk/
C.J.Sansom http://www.panmacmillan.com/authors%20illustrators/displayPage.asp?pageTitle=Other%20Titles&ContributorID=69873&ContributorName=C.%20J.%20Sansom
www.oxfordprospect.co.uk http://oxfordprospect.wordpress.com/

I THINK we can formally say it is now Autumn. The leaves are falling and the nights drawing in. How depressing it was yesterday to see it dark by 5.30 ? it?s all downhill now until next March!! This time of year is great for gardening though and there is still plenty to do, not least raking up leaves.
Don?t take them to the tip. If you have space, gather them up and bag them in black plastic bags, compact well and tie the tops. Pierce a few holes in them. Store in a cool place and you will have wonderful leaf mould by this time next year. Alternatively buy biodegradable bags from www.netherwalloptrading.com called ?Love ?em and Leave ?em?.

The bulb order is due to arrive this week and once I have sorted them I will arrange for delivery and planting over the next couple of weeks.

We are really busy at the moment putting a lot of gardens to bed and taking advantage of the mild weather to split perennials and increase stock. We also have a lot of planting to do and again this is a great time of year to plant new shrubs and trees, particularly as they are available as bare roots between now and next March.

I have lots of design work to do with some very exciting projects and plenty of new enquiries coming in. This is going to keep me very busy over the winter months, although I am hoping to have a short break in November in lieu of my aborted holiday.

Friday sees Jeremy and I in our glad rags and off to London. Jeremy entered one of our gardens for a Bali award and out of 300 entrants we are down to the last five and guaranteed an award. We?ll let you know how we get on. The London Hilton will be a far cry from wet and windy sites and it will be great to meet up with other designers and contractors.

RECIPE
Roasted Squash with Roasted Tomatoes and Feta Cheese
2 small squash Extra Virgin Oil
1 Red Chilli Marjoram
Cherry tomatoes Red Onions
Feta Seasoning
Preheat the oven to 180 or Gas 4. Cut the squash into
quarters and scrape out the seeds. Lay them, flesh side
up and drizzle with the oil. Season with salt and roast
in the oven for about 35 minutes until they look slightly
caramelised around the edges.
Peel and slice onions and spread out on a baking tray.
Sprinkle with sugar, some balsamic vinegar and olive oil
and mix together before roasting for about 30 minutes,
turning occasionally.
Half way through the cooking, place the tomatoes on
another baking tray, drizzle with oil and season. Roast
for about 15 minutes. Allow both to cool.
Crumble the feta cheese. Pile the roasted squash and
tomatoes on to individual plates and scatter over the
roasted red onions. Arrange the Feta over the top and
spoon over a little more olive oil.
This is lovely as a starter or main meal with some
crunchy bread, such as Ciabatta.

SEASONAL TIPS
Plant bulbs. Remember to plant two and a half times
the size of the bulb when digging the hole. I think the best way to achieve a naturalised look is to throw the bulbs on to the ground and plant them where they land. This avoids uniform rows. You can continue to cut down perennials and if they are very large split them into new plants (see October). If you have the space it is a good idea to heel them in whilst you decide where you are going to put them. My
vegetable patch is full of all sorts of goodies waiting to be re-planted. Do remember to give them a name tag as they will be unrecognisable as we head into winter.
Remember not to cut down grasses. They can be trimmed if they are slightly out of control, but many of them just need thinning out. Just run your hands through them to take out the thatch and they will rejuvenate next year quite happily. I like to leave the seed heads on as they look quite majestic with frost and spider?s webs during the winter months.
Lift and store dahlias and cannas. Although we have
already experienced a few frosts I don?t think any have been too damaging. Keep an eye on the forecasts and if we are threatened with minus anything it might be wise to fleece the most delicate of specimens,
particularly Phormiums and Agapanthus if they have
been planted this year. More established ones should be ok, but if in doubt give me a ring and I will advise.
Spike and aerate the lawn and work in a topdressing
by brushing it into the holes formed by aerating. This
is a really tedious task, but benefits the lawn immensely.
Plant roses, shrubs and trees. If you order bare root
check when they first arrive and if they look in the least bit dry, water for several hours before planting.
If you have new borders to plant, or indeed the vegetable patch, now is a good time to dig over thoroughly and add good farmyard manure, rotted garden compost or other bulky organic matter. This will help break down the soil ready for planting in the spring.
Check stakes and tree ties before the winter weather sets in.

VEGETABLES AND FRUIT GARDEN
Keep watering if we get dry spells.
Lift and store root vegetables. Many can remain in
the ground but species such as potato, celeriac and
beetroot will suffer in the frosts.
Sow broad beans (Super Aquadulce is particularly
frost resistant) and lettuces.
Clear away the debris of summer crops, such as
Runner Beans and Tomatoes and store the supports.
Start winter digging (see above). The frosts will also help to break down the soil over the winter.
Fruit canes can all be planted out, as can garlic.
Winter prune apples and pears and prune grapes after the leaves have fallen. Apply grease bands to protect against winter moth. Spray peaches and nectarines against peach leaf curl.
Lift and divide Rhubarb crowns.

GREENHOUSE
Fix bubble wrap inside glass houses for insulation
and check your heaters are working. Reduce watering
and feeding.
Remember to remove dead and dying material on any
plants to avoid botrytis (grey mould).
If you have any green tomatoes left on plants they
are unlikely to ripen now. Take them off the plant and
bring indoors by placing them with some already ripe
tomatoes or even a banana. I used my last three at the
weekend!
Sow lettuces ready for harvesting in March.
If you haven?t already done so, clean out the gutters and keep the glass clean to let in as much light as possible.

NOTE:
It is very difficult for me to cover everything that is happening in the garden. For more information on
specific jobs go to:
www.rhs.org.uk/advice/calandar.asp

PLACES TO VISIT:
RHS WISLEY
The new glasshouse is now open and is the size of ten tennis courts.
This month has a display of Chrysanthemums 6th
November ? 11th December

Christmas Shopping Evenings 6-9pm, 20th? 24th November
Christmas Craft Fair 9.00am ? 9.00pm Tuesday
9.00am ? 5.00pm Wednesday ? Friday and
9.00am ? 4.30pm ?Saturday

27th November – Flower arranging ? the Magic of Christmas, 10.15 ? 12.15 then lunch and a guided walk at1.00pm.
Members

NATURAL England staff reveal hidden beauty of Lyehill Quarry
Staff from Natural England have succeeded in restoring a geological site of special scientific interest (SSSI) in Wheatley, Oxfordshire to its former glory through hard work and dedication.

Lyehill Quarry in Wheatley, Oxfordshire is made up of extensive sections of Wheatley limestone that contains numerous fossils of mid-Oxfordian age (approximately 150 million years ago). The site was being used to store new cars and had been in a declining condition for the past six years as roots from developing scrub were destroying the fossils.

Natural England had a month to restore the site while it was vacant before another tenant came in. 11 staff from offices in Oxford, Reading and Aston Rowant volunteered to help with clearance work which involved removal of scrub, shrubs and trees. Cut away areas on the rock face were treated with herbicide to prevent re-growth.

David Russell, Project Leader on the work said:

?I am delighted that staff were able to have such hands-on experience in helping to restore this site. We treated the project as a team building exercise – everyone really enjoyed the work and gained real satisfaction from the dramatic change that they achieved by removing vegetation from the rock faces and exposing the geological features.

?This is an important site in the area which we have been able to make accessible to local education groups by exposing examples of the entire sequence from the top of the Wheatley limestone to its base.?

Site?s importance:

Geological SSSI with extensive sections of the Wheatley limestone exposed.

Natural England works for people, places and nature to conserve and enhance biodiversity, landscapes and wildlife in rural, urban, coastal and marine areas. We conserve and enhance the natural environment for its intrinsic value, the wellbeing and enjoyment of people, and the economic prosperity it brings.

Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) are areas designated by Natural England as internationally significant, and are safeguarded under European law. They consist of some of the country?s very best wildlife and geological sites and include some of our most spectacular and beautiful habitats. It is essential to preserve the remaining natural heritage for future generations.

Website: http://www.naturalengland.org.uk

TOP TIPS FOR THE BEST BIKINI BODY FROM SOLLUTIONS HEALTH & FITNESS!
With summer nearly upon us (?oh really? we say!) and pictures of gorgeous celebrities in bikinis dominating the covers of glossy magazines, you can no longer put off starting your ?Beach Body Beautiful? exercise regime. SOLLutions Health & Fitness has created a list of fun and effective celebrity-inspired exercises, to give you a beautiful body in time for the beach.

Get on your bike for the Kylie ? Do you fear that you?ll never look good in a pair of gold hot pants? Well, in truth you probably won?t, as there?s only one woman in the world who could pull that off! However, through exercise it is possible to tone and strengthen your thighs and bottom. An excellent way to achieve results is cycling, using a bike can help tone your quad, calf and glut (buttocks) muscles. It is also excellent for burning fat. With the nice weather approaching it is an excellent time to get on your bike. If outside exercise is not your thing (and lets face it, the weather doesn?t help!) check out the spinning classes available at your nearest SOLLutions club.

Hit the pool for the Scarlett Johansson ? Swimming is a low impact, low risk exercise which tones your whole body as you use almost all of your major muscle groups. A further benefit can be found in using the breaststroke, as it is especially good for improving the tone of your breast and firming the muscles that prevent sagging. So, short of major surgery, swimming is an excellent way to help you achieve the buxom bosom which Scarlett is famous for. Check out the pool times and classes available at your nearest pool ? visit www.soll-leisure.co.uk

Circuit train your way to the Madonna ? Circuit training is an excellent way to achieve a lean and toned physique like Madonna. Cardiovascular and strength circuit training is a total body workout that involves undertaking a series of different exercises in one session, varying between strength training and cardiovascular exercises. The end results are improved muscle strength and cardiovascular fitness. Why not chat to one of the fitness professionals at SOLLutions for a personalised training programme. For added motivation whilst you train try listening to ?Immaculate Collection?!

Get a ?Star Quality Shape? through studio sessions: If none of the above appeal then try a more varied approach to fitness by attending some of the various classes available at SOLLutions. Choose from Body Balance, Body Combat or Body Pump. Keeping your routine varied will stop you from getting bored and you?ll have your ?Beach Body Beautiful? before you know it! Then there?ll be no stopping you from flaunting your new figure in your bikini, apart from the lovely British weather that is!

For more ideas visit www.soll-leisure.co.uk or call in and chat to one of its expertly trained fitness advisors, who will be more than happy to suggest the ideal exercise regime for you.

THE war-time memories of a Thame Honoury Citizen were rekindled on Sunday, when he was invited to commemorate and honour the life of the medical officer in charge of the liberation of the Belsen concentration camp.
Ex Thame Mayor and District Councillor, Len Webb, was a young army driver in April 1945, assigned to Brigadier Glyn Hughes CBE,DSO,MC,FRCGP, who was the medical officer in charge of the liberation of the notorious Belson concentration camp.
At the invitation of the Yad Vahem UK Foundation, the organisation which, on behalf of the Jewish people recognises the bravery of non-Jews in attempting to save the lives of Jews, Len joined the annual commemoration of the six million victims of the Holocaust on the anniversary of the liberation of Bergen-Belsen, in London on Sunday (April 15).

Now 86 years-old, Len re-called his old boss: “When we went into the camp, it was riddled with typhus and there were bodies lying in open pits. The majority of those still alive were sick with the desease. The Brigadier was responsible for transferring them to the near-by German hospital and ordering the burning of the camp a week later. Despite being a very tall and imposing figure, he treated the sick and starving people with gentleness and respect. I remember one occassion when he ordered German soldiers to carry a couple of old people they were kicking to move then along. On another occasion, he arranged for another couple to be married. Brigadier Hughes was a wonderful and brave man and I am honoured to have served under him, and to have been part of Sundays recognition of what he did, and the presentation of a Meritous Award for Bravery to his son-in-law, his only remaining relative in the UK.”

Apart from the harsh memories of that historic week in Germany, Len has many fond memories of happier times driving the sport-loving Brigadier in his Humber car to play rugby and even golf whenever he got the opportunity, and shares his many photographs of those war years and his tremendous store of memories with poignancy and pride.

Len Webb was made the first Honoury Citizen of Thame in December, 1999, in recognition of his long, exemplary and outstanding public service to the people of Thame, both as a citizen and a councillor.
His achievements include:
* Serving from 1969 to 1995 as a Thame Councillor
* Serving from 1977 to 1991 as a Thame District
Councillor
* Mayor of Thame from 1975 to 1979 and Deputy Mayor
on two occassions
* School Governor of John Hampden school in 1969,
serving for 26 years, including as Chairman from
1975 to 1990
* Helping to set up and Chair ‘Thame In Bloom’
* Setting up and chairing Thame Carnival for many
years
* Setting up and Chairing Thame PHAB Club for the
Disabled for many years
* Becoming a Trustee of The Thame Barns Centre in
1990
* Chairman of The Friends of Meadowcroft in 2000
* Chairing the Thame Golden Jubilee Festival
Organising committee 2002

Photo: Len Webb with his daughters, Alison and Judith who accompanied him to the commemoration of Yom Hashoah, the Holocaust, and the commemoration of the Brigadier Gly Hughes and the liberation of Bergen-Belsen, at Logan Hall, Institute of Education in London.

THE following was received recently from someone researching their family history:
Dear Editor
I am trying to trace members of the Honniball family who are linked to my own family through my late Grandfather Frank Jarvis, who founded the Conway Stewart Pen Company in the early 1900s. Frank’s sister Kate Jarvis married Evan Honniball and they had three or four sons who attended Epsom College.

I would very much appreciate any information on this branch of my family who are also related to Lionel Crabb, the naval diver and war hero who disappeared in 1956.
Yours sincerely

Lomond Handley
rossmorefriends@yahoo.co.uk

Rossmore Community Library
Poole Dorset
BH12 4HR

AFTER years of decline at the hands of lap-dancers and then ravers ? the nadir being a stabbing incident in October ? The Three Pigeons at Milton Common has new owners.
The freehold has been bought by LASSCO (The London Architectural Salvage & Supply Co.) who, with a thirty year history of buying and renovating dilapidated historic buildings and putting them to use, has been tackling the immediate problems on site; fly-tipping, rat infestation and serious flooding being foremost amongst these. A spectacular architectural salvage shop is soon to welcome its first customers.

LASSCO deals in architectural antiques with an internationally celebrated shop on the southern end of Vauxhall Bridge in London – in the Duke of Brunswick?s Georgian mansion ?Brunswick House?. Saving elements from London?s most interesting demolitions and strip-outs ? be it the stone portico, the fireplaces, floorboards, radiators or railings, the garden ornament or doorknobs, LASSCO has been the pioneer in the restoring and selling of these ?Relics of Old London? for thirty years. Recently the BBC followed the company for their series ?The Reclaimers?.

The purchase of The Three Pigeons and continuing refurbishments in Brunswick House, has realised enough space to enable the company to relinquish its original headquarters at St. Michael?s Church in Shoreditch, East London, and centre its activities in Vauxhall with its grand eighteenth century spaces and central location on one hand complimented by the space and accessibility offered by the Milton Common site on the other.

Latest clearances, all on offer at ?LASSCO Three Pigeons? include a wide selection of marble and scagliola sculpture pedestals from The National Portrait Gallery and numerous display cabinets as well as Victorian plaster casts and further marble pedestals from The Victoria & Albert Museum. In the gardens, currently undergoing landscaping, can be found a series of enormous relief-carved stone plaques ? an half-ton each ? depicting the old signs of The City. These remarkable sculptures, the work of Sir Charles Wheeler, President of the Royal Academy in the 1950s, were commissioned for the Lombard Street home of Barclays Bank. A delightful panelled room of nineteenth century Chinese wall-papers laid onto mahogany panels has just gone on display having been removed from an huge demolition underway next door to St. Paul?s Cathedral. You can buy large chunks of Piccadilly stonework for the garden or perhaps the staircase balustrade from the Royal Albert Hall? the list goes on.

LASSCO, characteristically, has committed wholeheartedly to the Three Pigeons project. Anthony Reeve who has managed the Shoreditch shop for a number of years has moved to Great Milton and enlisted the help of Amanda Garrett to run the shop and numerous Oxfordshire tradespeople have already been involved in the project.

Anthony and Amanda are researching the history of The Three Pigeons and are keen to track down source material and any records of the site ? particularly its early days: How soon after the intersection of the turnpikes were buildings first erected? Was ?The Hutte? located on the Three Pigeons site? Did the ?Three Pigeons? name come from a precedent in Thame or was it Tetsworth? Does anyone have references to the gibbet at Milton Common and the hanging-in-chains of John Price in 1785?! ? or of his victim Thomas Knight who lived in Great Milton.

The opening of the shop will soon be announced ? all are welcome to come and marvel at the latest discoveries. Readers of the Thame News are welcome to come to a preview if they telephone prior.

or more information see: www.lassco.co.uk
Contact Anthony or Amanda on 01844 278328 or 3pigeons@lassco.co.uk

I HOPE you all had a lovely Christmas and New Year. We had a very relaxed time catching up on everything, including sleep and I am feeling really excited about 2007. I have some lovely projects either underway or about to start and plenty more to design. My ?to do? list now runs to three pages!

I spent New Year?s Day with my Marshall?s Seed catalogue planning the vegetable garden for this year. I invested in a new juicer over the break and have been stunned at the delicious recipes. My veg patch is going to reflect a lot of the ingredients I will need, including a new blueberry shrub. I have also decided to get rid of my fruit cage and all the fruit bar one row of raspberries. I think they are past their sell by date and I found I couldn?t physically eat all the fruit. This will give the extra space needed for the more exotic vegetables I want to grow.
www.marshalls-seeds.co.uk

If you missed sowing sweet peas last year, Marshalls offer plug plants which they send out at the appropriate time.
My grand hopes of digging it all over during the break were thwarted by the inclement weather and lack of physical energy, (plus needing to do three months worth of accounts) but hopefully I can get out there this weekend and start preparing the ground. The timing will be perfect particularly if we get some sharp frosts as these help to break down the soil ready for planting in the spring. It will also be a great opportunity to empty my compost bins and incorporate this into the soil.

Thank you to everyone who gave me contacts for the database. I have had to put this on hold for a wee while, but having said that a friend gave me a very good idea on New Year?s Eve which could push the whole idea ahead more quickly than I anticipated. I just need to find time to make some phone calls and find out how much it might all cost.

NOTE: We have been experiencing technical difficulties with my website. If anyone has tried to reach me via the ?Contact? page, do please try again, or give me a call. We think it has been out of order since May!!

RECIPE
Roast Vegetables
1 Squash Sweet potato (optional)
Carrots Parma ham
Potatoes Peccorino cheese
Garlic
Rosemary
Olive oil

This combination goes really well with almost anything and has a slight sweetness to it. It is equally good as a meal in itself.
Chop all the vegetables into equal sizes. The sweet potato is optional ? not a favourite of mine, so I tend to leave it out. Leave the skin on the garlic and bash it with the back of a knife. Use about five cloves. Chop up the rosemary and toss everything in plenty of oil.
Put into an oven about Gas Mark 5 or 180 Electric and roast for about 30 minutes until golden brown and not too soft. Add the parma ham, ripped up and return to the oven for about 5 minutes. Flake the peccorino cheese (you could use Parmesan) and sprinkle over.

SEASONAL TIPS
Although we still have a few months of horrible dank, cold weather to endure, I can?t help getting excited at this time of year. As already mentioned the seed order is in the post and I will probably get some of them started in the kitchen as soon as I can, in the hope of an early crop.

I finally pulled, or dragged would be more appropriate, my pots of Agapanthus into the greenhouse and hope they will be comfortable there for the winter. As mentioned last month, do start putting protection around the more tender plants, such as Phormiums and Astelias, particularly if they were planted this year. If you need any advice, please contact me.

All my tools are sitting in the shed ready for a clean. This is a good time to do it, although it is best to clean tools after each use. My intentions are always good, but I am guilty of not following my own advice and tend to leave it. I also try and wash all my pots ready for all those seedlings, using warm water and washing up liquid. At the same time the greenhouse will get a good clean and tidy up.

Some of my grasses, particularly Miscanthus floridulus and Miscanthus zebrinus have really taken a battering by the wind. Normally, I would leave them until early spring before cutting them down, but they are looking tatty rather than attractive, so I shall have a bonfire very soon. I have also lost a huge branch of my buddliea, so this will be going the same way. The rest of the garden is looking remarkably good and just needs a gentle tidy up. I shall be removing any diseased leaves from the hellebores so that I can get the full benefit of their lovely nodding blooms over the next few weeks.

Despite the drought conditions this year, we now have some very wet lawns. Try not to walk on them too much ? this goes for frost as well. The compaction damages the roots and will result in brown patches.

Plant or transplant trees and hedging.
Continue to check ties. The winds have been very strong.

VEGETABLE & FRUIT GARDEN
Sow broad bean, leek, brassicas and onion seeds under glass.
Marshalls sell onion sets and I can thoroughly recommend ?Red Baron?. 100 onions cost about

WHY jump in the car and leave town for Christmas shopping when here in Thame we have so many wonderful shops of our own?
Let Thame.Net guide and inspire you to find the ideal gift for everyone.
SEE Link

IT seems a bit ridiculous to wish you all a very Happy Christmas when it?s still November ? but here goes. I do hope you all have a wonderful time and it doesn?t all get too stressful. Jim is coming home for a few days so it will be lovely to relax and catch up with not a turkey in sight.

It has been an incredibly busy month. I think I had six projects confirmed within four days of each other and all with a deadline of 1st December. I am still quietly working my way through them whilst fitting in five planting jobs, plus on-going builds. It is all a bit crazy, but I love it.

The developer has taken me on, so I am now working on what can only be likened to cliff faces. Perhaps there was no one else daft enough to take on the challenge!! As a lot of you know I actually enjoy working with levels, but these are the worst I have encountered. I am off to Perpignan next week to look at a site ? 8 acres in total – and this one is on the top of a mountain!

The bulbs finally arrived and I have now distributed most of them and they should all be planted by the end of this month. Thank you all for your patience.

Is there anyone out there who knows someone who could help me build a database? I had a meeting recently with three very lovely girls from Lord Bills in Thame and they have encouraged me to get my plant database underway. This would mean I could produce individual Plant Schedules for each and every client, personalised to their garden with details and photographs of each plant and instructions for maintenance. It will probably take me a year to put together?

NOTE: We have been experiencing technical difficulties with my website. If anyone has tried to reach me via the ?Contact? page, do please try again, or give me a call. We think it has been out of order since May!

RECIPE
Jane?s Crostini
1 baguette or ciabatta Red onions
butter anchovies
garlic black olives
sun dried tomato paste Gruyere cheese
dried oregano

Cut the bread into thin slices. Mix together the butter and
crushed garlic and spread on to the bread. Bake in the oven
until crisp and lightly browned.
Cut the onion into thin slices and let them sotter away in a good
lump of melted butter until they become caramelised. Whilst they are cooking and the bread has cooled, spread a thin layer of sun dried tomato paste on to each crostini. Allow the onions to cool and then spread a teaspoonful, or so, on top of the tomato paste.
Finely chop the anchovies and black peppers and sprinkle over the onion. Thinly slice the Gruyere cheese and put slices on top.
You can freeze them at this stage. Finally, sprinkle over the oregano and cook in the oven until the cheese melts.

These do take ages to prepare, but I guarantee your guests will love them.

SEASONAL TIPS
December is the month when we can relax in the garden.
However, this year autumn has come so late, I am still doing jobs
I might normally have undertaken in October/November.

It sounds as though we might be in for a cold winter, so it would be a good time to protect the more tender plants (see November newsletter). I would also suggest you move terracotta pots to more sheltered positions. If you have delicate plants in the borders, mulch around the stem to give extra protection.

This is a good time to make leaf mould. Rake up leaves from the lawn, preferably after it has rained so they are nice and damp. Pop them into a black plastic bag, tie at the top and store. The leaves will take about a year to break down and can then be used as a great conditioner to the flower borders.

Burn any leaves or diseased plant material you might find when you are tidying up the borders. Once the leaves are fallen look carefully at deciduous climbers. Cut out any tangled stems and re-train if necessary.

Clear leaves from ponds. If they are left to decompose they can affect the natural balance of the pond. Put a small ball in the water to act as a float. This helps to stop if freezing over.

I think (?) we have probably come to the end of the mowing season so this is a good time to clean the mower and all your other tools, including pots.

Continue to provide food and water for the birds. Make sure you clean off the tables and bird feeders from time to time to avoid a build up of bacteria.

Check on any stored fruit to make sure it isn?t rotting.

Continue to check stakes and ties after gales.

Start looking through seed catalogues, particularly if you are a vegetable gardener.

VEGETABLE & FRUIT GARDEN
A lot of the tips mentioned in last month?s newsletter still apply.

If you have mint in the garden you can take a small handful of roots and pot them up in a multi-purpose compost. Bring them inside for a winter supply.

It is not too late to prune soft fruit. Apples and pears can also be cut back. Remove any diseased or weak branches.

Protect rhubarb to encourage early growth. Get some straw from the pet shop and pack it around the base of the plant, then cover with a bucket or pot (with a brick on top) to avoid it being blown over.

GREENHOUSE
If you haven?t already done so, clean out the greenhouse and remove algae and leaves from the gutters.

Remember to remove snow from the roof. It blocks out the light.

PLACES TO VISIT

National Tree Week ? 22nd November ? 3rd December
For details of walks, plantings, woodcrafts and storytelling
contact : www.treecouncil.org.uk

EVENTS
Stowe Landscape Gardens
3rd December 2006
Festive workshop using materials collected from the
gardens
01280 822850