Slightly dampened spirits at The Walled Garden, Lower Sunbury.

We've had some nice times at the Walled Garden in Sunbury, enjoying the flowers, listening to good music and just basking in the summer sun.

The events are put on by Spelthorne Council but we haven't been for a while now and we realised that the season (like summer) is coming to an end. So we got our chairs together and headed off to Lower Sunbury.

It didn't quite go so well this time;

It rained on us - the umbrellas were out!

And the normally excellent Jake Fryer Trio weren't exactly firing on all four cylinders either. It may not have helped that they were moved from the stage into what seemed like a bus shelter, with acoustics to match.

And every so often the mood was broken by a rather grumpy park keeper throwing chairs onto a trolley.

And the café shut early so we couldn't get anything to eat or drink.

And every so often there was a rather strange sound that Robyn noticed....rather like someone throwing pebbles on the ground.

It came nearer and nearer.....

It turned out that the automated sprinkler system hadn't been turned off for the concert and it activated itself and drenched about a quarter of the audience.

Elderly people, the disabled, their belongings, all scattered by the water. Which was odd, because it was raining and the water really wasn't needed.

We did get an occasional glimpse of the band through the umbrellas;

But generally it felt like we'd outstayed our welcome.

Hopefully the concerts will be back next year.

Neil Harris.
(a don't stop till you drop production)
Home: helpmesortoutstpeters.blogspot.com
Contact me: neilwithpromisestokeep@gmail.com

Jake Fryer at The Walled Garden; Jazz on a Summer's Day'

It's been a lousy summer; grey skies, rain.

As you can imagine it's been a bit of a blow for me. It's not as though we can get away and I've got an unpleasant autumn to look forward to.

We've spent most of our time struggling over weather forecasts. Then they forecast rain and we stay at home.....then it's fine.

Doh!

On Sunday that's exactly what happened; they forecast rain.

In the morning it did rain but then it got better after lunch.

I couldn't face losing another day and just took a chance and dragged Robyn to Sunbury of all places.

Spelthorne Council puts on summer concerts; by accident we saw a brass band at The Lammas Park back in May.

This one was at 'The Walled Garden' in Lower Sunbury; the last one of the 'Summer'.

I came off the Sunbury Cross roundabout (which I've used all my life) onto a road I never knew was there.

Eventually we found Sunbury park and ended up walking through it haphazardly, carrying our own chairs and with no real hopes of ever finding anything.

Then, I saw a big wall.

Then we heard music!

It was a little trio - John Sargeant on the drums, John Blackwell on electric guitar and Jake Fryer on the saxophone.

I looked him up before we left; Jake plays and composes Jazz in the Bebop style I love. He's played at Ronnie Scott's and around the world.

This time he was playing standards, gently with a tight little trio.

And the sun actually came out!

'Jazz on a Summer's Day' and surrounded by flowers in a walled garden.

How good does it get?

There was even a rose garden;

There was even Bread Pudding and a cappuccino.

 

 

 

It really doesn't get any better than that.

 

Neil Harris

 

(a don't stop till you drop production)

 

Home:  helpmesortoutstpeters.blogspot.com

Contact me: neilwithpromisestokeep@gmail.com