Martin Cook
@cookieaob.bsky.social
Interested in gardening, politics, art, cryptic crosswords, sport, wine and funny stuff, no particular order. Very proud grandad to Sid and Penelope Jane. Not a retired skier.
William Nicholson at the Pallant yesterday. Been looking forward to it and not disappointed. His had a genius at painting metal objects and the reflections in them. Knew Lutyens and Gekyll, Robert Graves and Siegfried Sassoon and many other greats.
December 13, 2025 at 8:06 AM
William Nicholson at the Pallant yesterday. Been looking forward to it and not disappointed. His had a genius at painting metal objects and the reflections in them. Knew Lutyens and Gekyll, Robert Graves and Siegfried Sassoon and many other greats.
Another glorious morning St Heln's beach.
December 11, 2025 at 11:13 AM
Another glorious morning St Heln's beach.
Absolutely gorgeous day on the East Wight.
December 10, 2025 at 5:13 PM
Absolutely gorgeous day on the East Wight.
Collected a load of seaweed this morning, blown in on Easterly winds. The asparagus will thank me. The celeriac, garlic and broad beans all thriving.
December 10, 2025 at 5:12 PM
Collected a load of seaweed this morning, blown in on Easterly winds. The asparagus will thank me. The celeriac, garlic and broad beans all thriving.
I'm watching this Polly woman on Newsnight talking utter tripe. I looked at her company website....surprise surprise, utter tripe. Who pays these people?
December 9, 2025 at 10:59 PM
I'm watching this Polly woman on Newsnight talking utter tripe. I looked at her company website....surprise surprise, utter tripe. Who pays these people?
The to the wonderful Barmy Arms in Twickenham for a pub lunch. A walk over the foot bridge to Eel Pie Island.
December 6, 2025 at 9:06 PM
The to the wonderful Barmy Arms in Twickenham for a pub lunch. A walk over the foot bridge to Eel Pie Island.
Really busy day. Pope's Grotto, a remnant from the 18th century property of Alexander Pope. ' A little learning is a dangerous thing ' 'To err is human, to forgive divine' 'fools rush in....' all his aphorisms, that I assumed were Shakespeare.
December 6, 2025 at 9:06 PM
Really busy day. Pope's Grotto, a remnant from the 18th century property of Alexander Pope. ' A little learning is a dangerous thing ' 'To err is human, to forgive divine' 'fools rush in....' all his aphorisms, that I assumed were Shakespeare.
Christ this months Guardian genius xword was a struggle. Spoiler alert....
December 5, 2025 at 5:55 PM
Christ this months Guardian genius xword was a struggle. Spoiler alert....
Trees up. Early this year as trying to entice a house buyer.
December 4, 2025 at 7:54 PM
Trees up. Early this year as trying to entice a house buyer.
Just stacked some free logs, can't believe my luck.
November 27, 2025 at 2:36 PM
Just stacked some free logs, can't believe my luck.
I do hope my lovely maderense geraniums and Aeoniums will survive the winter.
November 24, 2025 at 2:50 PM
I do hope my lovely maderense geraniums and Aeoniums will survive the winter.
A lovely still morning walk after yesterday's bluster. Bembridge Harbour.
November 23, 2025 at 12:37 PM
A lovely still morning walk after yesterday's bluster. Bembridge Harbour.
This intrigued me this morning. Australia has a foreign born population of 31%!..and yet little populist nonsense. Could it be that mandatory voting is the answer?
November 22, 2025 at 10:56 AM
This intrigued me this morning. Australia has a foreign born population of 31%!..and yet little populist nonsense. Could it be that mandatory voting is the answer?
Do we really need AI?
November 15, 2025 at 9:46 AM
Do we really need AI?
That's Crosby hall, moved from Bishopsgate in the very early 1900s and now surrounded by it's own replica Tudor palace. I tended the garden there from 2004 to around 2021.
November 14, 2025 at 2:17 PM
That's Crosby hall, moved from Bishopsgate in the very early 1900s and now surrounded by it's own replica Tudor palace. I tended the garden there from 2004 to around 2021.
Enjoyed a lovely, if wet, guided walk around Chelsea this morning. Sloane Square to the world's end.
November 14, 2025 at 2:17 PM
Enjoyed a lovely, if wet, guided walk around Chelsea this morning. Sloane Square to the world's end.
My Christmas cactus is a bit early!
November 13, 2025 at 7:43 AM
My Christmas cactus is a bit early!
Couple of other things, Cezanne, Renoir and Venessa Bell lovely too.
November 12, 2025 at 6:22 PM
Couple of other things, Cezanne, Renoir and Venessa Bell lovely too.
Lovely couple of hours at Somerset house today. The collection on the top floor is exceptional. This Winifred Gill (1914) caught my eye, I'd never heard of her.
November 12, 2025 at 6:20 PM
Lovely couple of hours at Somerset house today. The collection on the top floor is exceptional. This Winifred Gill (1914) caught my eye, I'd never heard of her.
BBC is obviously doing something right.
November 12, 2025 at 5:33 PM
BBC is obviously doing something right.
A glorious Red Admiral on our Dahlias this morning. Heartwarming.
November 8, 2025 at 2:14 PM
A glorious Red Admiral on our Dahlias this morning. Heartwarming.
I love this mad red Salvia, it's pretty much the last thing to flower in our IOW garden. Think it's Chinese, but have forgotten it's name, if anyone knows?
November 7, 2025 at 10:35 AM
I love this mad red Salvia, it's pretty much the last thing to flower in our IOW garden. Think it's Chinese, but have forgotten it's name, if anyone knows?