Going away

We are going to France on Thursday,spending 2 days getting to our gite.We then have 2 weeks there.On the way back we are calling in Cambridge and having lunch with our son and family.His wife is just going back to work after 8 years at home and on the Monday and Tuesday following our Sunday lunch they have no childcare for Angus.Would we stay and look after him and get the other 2 to school and back.You can't say no but I would really have preferred to come straight home.We will have car full of wine too,I expect.it also means leaving the garden for longer.I'm sounding really selfish now and I am sure we will have a lovely time.

I have just this teatime finished my matilda shawl in a lovely raspberry pink.It is soaking at the moment waiting to be blocked.I have rushed with it because I want to take it away with me.

I still havn't started my May blanket squares nor my Violet green lace club.When we get back from holiday there will be more squares waiting.i di think of taking them with me but it's bulky with all the different wools.

We have had a lovely day today.A talk this morning to our Art Appreciation group on the Bauhaus movement and then lunch with C and 7 friends which lasted until 3pm.

Tomorrow Sarah and Ruby are here for haircutting and lunch and then we follow her back to pick Emily up from school and look after the 2 of them while sarah goes to her staff meeting.

photos-I hope!

Super colours.Our visit to Tatton NT yesterday.

Not as good as the zoo but at least you can stroke them.

Chicks in the hatchery.

The vegetable garden at Tatton NT.Ruby didn't like the scarecrows!

Now for some garden pictures.

I love the contrast of colours here.

Does anyone know what this is?This in another tiny pond on the patio.

Marsh marigolds at the edge of our tiny pond which is full of tadpoles at the moment.

Flowering cherry, dripping with blossom

Auriculsa-another favourite

I just love these double geraniums.

Computer problems

I had some lovely photos to show you of the garden and also of our trip today to Tatton but this new computer will not allow me to upload photos at the moment.

Our daughter doesn't usually work on a Wednesday but had been given an extra little job to do some marking.We volunteered to look after Ruby.We took her to Tatton (National Trust)in Cheshire.After a go in the play area we went into the gardens which are looking lovely but don't have much appeal to a 2 and a half year old.Then it was into the cafe for lunch which she gobbled down.We then went to the farm where there were a huge array of animals-pigs,goats,cows and calves,horses,sheep,hens, ducks ,rabbits etc(she was disappointed there were no elephants!)At the hatchery they had day old chicks and ducklings which we could handle.Ruby was terrific.She talks non stop and laughs all the time.We had a lovely day out and it's a pity I can't share the photos with you.

We are off to France in a week for a two week stay in a gite near la Rochelle.We are going Eurotunnel with our Tesco vouchers for the first time.On the way to Folkstone we are hoping to visit Chartwell, the home of Winston Churchill and/or Knole both of which I want to see.I am gathering my collection of books together and also some crafty things.I havn't started my Debbie Abraham squares for this month.To be honest I am a bit disappoited with it.

Hopefully, tomorrow, when we are less tired we will work out the photos!!

A busy few days!

Thursday was Emily's 5th birthday.We went over for a party tea and birthday cake.And of course we had to have pass the parcel and dancing.We bought her ,among other things, a digital camera.Within minutes she had got the hang of it and was taking brill photos.It was her favourite present,even better than the bike from mum and dad.

Friday I had coffee in the morning with my best friend and then off again to sarah's.It was Emily's proper party.S had hired a village hall and engaged an entertainer.The hall had tyo be set up and i still have the bruises to prove how heavy the chairs were.The entertainer was brilliant.Mainly a magician but he entertained 30 ,yes 30,children for two hours.He also did all these balloon creations.Absolutely fabulous.Poor Grandpa couldn't go because a lot of these children could be hatching chicken pox.I stayed and looked after Ruby who found it all a bit too much,but I got lots of cuddles.

Saturday saw the arrival of our and his 3 children from cambridge(Jude had to stay and get a project done).After lunch we had a walk at loggerheads and an ice cream.

Sunday sarah and family joined us. We ate out at lunchtime and then went to the bailey Hill festival in our town.Quite a low key affair but something to do.Following that we went to the Art Exhibition in the parish church where Grandpa had entered a painting.Then there 10 of us here for tea!

Monday morning we had a country walk looking for fossils.The kids love being outdoors and walking(and playing endlessly with Lego) and living in Cambridge love our hills.The garden took a huge bashing with football ertc but who cares we had a great 5 days.

WE are absolutely shattered and have a huge pile of washing and ironing to do.

Finally we went back to the exhibition this afternoon.We bought two paintings and C discovered he had sold his painting.He is so chuffed!!!

Bye for now.