What a busy week it has been (get comfy with a cuppa; this’ll be a long post!). Bilbo arrived in Gloucester fresh from his stay at Bag End in Cumbria but feeling somewhat tired and achy from a bone shaking ride in the back of the post van. As luck would have it I had an acupuncture appointment booked so Bilbo was able to have a little needling for his van-lag, eat some goji berries to boost his energy and have a chat with Dr Wang about the benefits of chinese herbs. 
We left The Chinese Medical Centre feeling relaxed and recharged and headed for Gloucester Cathedral. A fan of the Harry Potter films, and a bit of a history buff, Bilbo wanted to explore the corridors of Hogwarts and the Tomb of King Edward II. I was keen to show him the trees and shrubs that were planted by this year’s artist in residence to attract birds into the garden of the cloisters (as part of a sound installation uniting the voices of the Cathedral choir with birdsong relayed from the garden, recordings of the dawn chorus from around the County and the nightingales from Highnam Woods).
Down at the allotment Bilbo displayed a knack for caterpillar spotting and we were glad of the extra hands for the continued runner bean and raspberry picking and the lifting of the potatoes.
Over the weekend the happy harvesting continued. 
It wasn’t all hard work. Bilbo made some new friends and learnt the secrets of long life from my 92 year old nan. And we visited our friends’ Dan and Ruth to see if the tomato plants I gave them were faring better than mine….
…hooray (deep sigh), phew, happy to say their toms are blight free and ripening beautifully. Rory was pleased too but I think his smiles had more to do with the number of Bilbo’s raspberries he’d eaten!
Mikey pretended not to mind saying farewell to Bilbo, Billy lavished kisses and Poppet was uncharacteristically quiet.
If you’d like Bilbo to come to your garden next leave a comment here (including where you are in the world) by Sunday evening (see the rules of play below). I’ll draw a name on Monday 14th September and will contact the successful blogger for postage details soon after.
(ps. if you think this was a long post you can click here to see how much longer it could have been – that’s if you’re not bored of Bilbo photos by now! And the Dirt Princess has links to all Bilbo’s hosts since he left her Alabama garden in April)
RULES #1) COPY & PASTE these rules into your post on Bilbo if you receive him. The post must be titled WHERE IN THE WORLD IS BILBO: (your city). If everyone copies the rules, then the person you send it to will know what to do. If each post is titled the same, we can keep track of Bilbo and follow him on his adventure. PLEASE do not forget to copy and paste these rules into your post if you receive Bilbo. #2) In order to participate you MUST leave a comment on the post about Bilbo with the blogger that has him. That blogger will draw names from the people who left comments on that post. Once the winner is selected Bilbo will be on his way to see your garden. #3) When you receive Bilbo please take a photo (or photos) of him in your garden as well as a photo of yourself with Bilbo. #4) Rules are linked to http://northmobilegardensociety.blogspot.com/ . Please leave a comment on The Dirt Princess’ page so she can keep track of him and let other bloggers know where Bilbo is, and post where bloggers can see his latest travel. #5) Please try to get Bilbo out the door as quickly as you possibly can. If at all possible please try not to keep him more than 7 days. We want to get him to as many places as we can in 6 months. #6) Bilbo will travel for 6 months, April 21, 2009- October 21, 2009. If you have Bilbo at the end of this 6 month time frame, you will ship him back to the Dirt Princess at http://northmobilegardensociety.blogspot.com/. #7) When Bilbo arrives back with the Dirt Princess, there will be a great post letting everyone know where Bilbo has been, when he visited as well as links to the bloggers posts that had Bilbo. #8) There will be a list enclosed with Bilbo for each blogger to sign once they receive Bilbo. That list will be sent back to the Dirt Princess. #9) Should anyone have any questions please contact Dirt Princess at http://northmobilegardensociety.blogspot.com/. #10) The blogger that has possession of Bilbo is responsible for shipping him to the next blogger. Please handle him with care. He is ceramic. #11) Bilbo may be shipped to countries outside the United States. We want everyone to join in on the fun! #12) If you would like to throw in a little something with Bilbo to ship the next blogger, please feel free. Add to the excitement. See what Bilbo brings you when he arrives at your door step
What a wonderful, lively and humorous entry. You sure know how to bring a smile to peoples faces. Bilbo has had an excellent time with you and your friends. I especially like the photo of him watering the caterpillars, wash them wash them away….
How much more spoiled can the ‘gold one’ get?!
That’s fantastic! what a brilliant post. I recognize the coridoors at Hogwarts school there! Glad to see Bilbo enjoying himself in Gloucester!
You have given Bilbo a wonderful time and I am sure he will be very sad to leave Gloucester.
He probably needed a break from all that strong local ale which Matron and I have been tempting him with!
That’s a fine harvest you got there missus, I reckon nearly a complete Harvest Festival {smile}
What a great time he has had! Rory is precious!!!! I enjoyed Bilbo’s trip…how fantastic! I can see you two had a lot of fun!
What a great visit he’s had! I wish I could comet there for a visit. He is a lot help in the garden I see. He’s already visited me, I wanted to come by to see his visit there.
What a wonderful hostess you were to Bilbo. I would love for Bilbo to come back to the States and visit me in Tallahassee, Florida.
What a great time!!! I love the pictures of Bilbo with the (impressive) harvest, and the kitties!
(I’ve already had him, but I vote for him to go to Darla next — she’s been faithfully following him everywhere!)
thank you all for your kind compliments. Bilbo was chuffed to see that Matron, big Bilbo, April, Catherine and Ginger had come over to see him again and sends a big ‘hello’ back. From what I can see Darla really has been following Bilbo’s adventures from door to door so I think I shall turn one of my pumpkins into a carriage and send her to the ball. It’s your lucky day Darla – I can count the number of people who read my blog on 2 hands and on just 3 fingers those who have gardening blogs. Fortunately for you half of them have had Bilbo already and Mangocheeks, who would have been a fabulous host, is away this week. So I’m with Ginger on a democratic fix of the draw (well not really as you’re the only one and it’s evening here so I can close the entries) and will book him a flight to the sunshine state :o)
GET OUT OF TOWN~~~~~! I am really going to get a visit from Bilbo? It’s 5 in the morning here, what a great way to wake up! Geez, now I am going to stress until he gets here….LOL I have to clean the house and tidy up the gardens…..oh my goodness!!!
I think you’ll have plenty of time for that Darla – I tried to find out how many miles you are from here and all I got was ‘can’t calculate a distance that far’!.
I am putting Gloucester England on my bucket list of places I HAVE to visit. I am in awe of your beautiful place to live. Looks like our friend Bilbo is having a grand time touring the historical places and playing with the children.
be sure to let us know Becca if you do – we always welcome visitors at the plot (no traditional english tea there though only herbal brews). And doing a little sightseeing on your home turf is a good way of being reminded of how much there is to be thankful for ;o)
What a great time Bilbo has had there with you. I would love to visit the Gloucester Cathedral. What beautiful, delicate architectural details.
I really would love to visit Dr. Weng’s healing place. DH and I are just getting into Chinese herbs. We already take different herbs for our health and well-being, and these will add to our herbal healing stock of alternative remedies of dealing with our health..
Thanks for a wonderful tour this morning.
FlowerLady
Gloucester Cathedral is a fabulous, awe inspiring place. And amazingly peaceful considering how spectacular it is (lovely people working there too).
Dr Wang is a real blessing too and I swear by her herbal remedies and acupuncture as a first resort for all things illness related. And I’ve never felt healthier :o) In fact combined with the fresh air and digging at the plot I’m having a go at aging backwards!
I just re-read your post, and I have to tell you — Bilbo has visited some great places, but yours is really the best yet! Your pictures are so funny, and so well-shot!
oh Ginger (blush blush), that’s so lovely. I thoroughly enjoyed being creative with Bilbo and my family and friends were very co-operative even though they all thought I was bonkers!
Hehe! That’s so lovely!!! If I had any kind of allotment I’d be clamouring to have him visit me here in Buckinghamshire.
On my cooking forum we had a travelling spatula who went round the world several times, along with his diary. It was such a great little project and he ended up with all manner of costumes – a sombrero, a feather boa, a pair of glasses, etc.