My new rose apparently doesn't care about the shite weather we're having, it's blossomed anyhow and it's looking quite delightful. It's even nicer than I remembered and a lot nicer than the photo on the website I bought it from (see below) - not even sure that's the same rose.
And while we're on the subject, it's a well-known fact that I've never been a fan of yer common carnation (dead posh, me) until I noticed these babies in the supermarket the other day. Feckin gorgeous, quite frankly, and inexpensive enough to render them almost more important than food. They have a delicate vintage look about them and, mixed with some creamy-coloured stocks, make small areas of my house look nearly sophisticated(ish).