Walking

Two weeks ago, on what was then the hottest day of the year so far, Finn and I walked fourteen miles from Windsor to Marlow on the Thames Path.   The original plan was set aside - again! - because we were supposed to walk from Shiplake to Marlow - slap bang in the middle of the Henley Regatta.  Not a great idea for either parking, public transport or a highly exciteable dog who loves nothing better than jumping in the river at every given opportunity.  So plans were changed - as always - and we skipped a section and then walked the next section backwards.  If you're going to break your own rules, you might as well break them properly!

Although it was very hot, the path afforded a lot of shade - most of the route was tree lined with lots of branches overhanging the water - and there were plenty of fairly shallow bits for Finn to jump in and have a swim.  There were even little "beaches" where I had a paddle too - beautifully refreshing.  I walked in my walking sandals rather than boots and, boy, am I glad I did so.  I carried three litres of water and made sure we had plenty of sit downs for drinks and shade - normally, we go hell for leather to get to the end of the walk as soon as possible, but we did these fourteen miles in six and a bit hours which was very casual and comfortable for us both.

The houses we walked past were stunning - and, at one point, we were actually walking through gardens - the owners had fenced or hedged off the bit by the river so I had to put Finn back on the lead periodically to stop him running up to the houses - although he'd have had a long run to get there.  These properties and gardens were huuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuge!

Maidenhead was about half way on our walk and things got a bit busier here - as expected.  Plenty of people sitting by the river having barbecues and picnics and lots of people swimming in the river.  We carried on as I wanted to have lunch somewhere quiet and without temptation for Finn - he's a bugger around other people's picnics!   As we headed towards Cookham, we came to a lovely little beach looking over to Cliveden National Trust property.  Finn went for a swim and I had a paddle and then sat and had my lunch, while sitting with my feet in the river.  Bliss.

We were flagging a bit in the afternoon - a combination of the heat and the mileage, but it didn't take us long to get to Marlow.  The houses here were a bit smaller than those we had passed so far, but the houses on this stretch had the benefit of beautiful views with the Chiltern Hills behind them.  If I had a choice, I would rather live in these houses than the ones I had seen earlier.  Although I can't imagine I'll ever have a choice like this one!

Heatwave

We are in the middle of a heatwave - temperatures over the past couple of weeks have soared - some places in the UK have seen temperatures of thirty degrees.  We haven't had it quite so hot in East Anglia and some days we've even had some lovely sea mist to cool us down.

Everything in the garden has gone a bit bonkers and I have to remember to water all the foody things out there each day.  In fact, the only watering that gets done here is for food and herbs - there is an unwritten rule of my garden that flowers do not get watered.  If they cannot fend for themselves in extremes of weather, then they don't deserve a place in my garden anyway.  I am an eco gardener! 

Ninnies

It's been a very busy few weeks which is why I'm playing catch up with this, my on line photo album.  I was thinking about this today - in the good old days when we got our photos developed for our scrapbooks, it always took me ages then to catalogue them.  Nothing changes, even with new technology.

Our lovely little knitting group seems to be becoming more productive and industrious.   Even Shirley needed no intervention this time and, in fact, started creating before the rest of us had finished our puddings!  We've discovered that the more effort we put into food, the less we put into our knitting, so we're on pizzas and finger food again! 

First to arrive was Ruth, who rushed in to watch the tennis with Amanda - no sense out of them for a little while at least!   Ruth has been buying wool on the internet apparently - this is the start of a slippery slope.  But Ruth is in very good company!

Amanda trotted out all her makes since the last time we met and put us all to shame.  How the rest of us didn't just give up and hit the cheesecake again, I have no idea.

Shannon has been hectoring me for more hexipuffs and I have to admit that I'm a bit bored of them and want a new project now.  Shannon has, however, sewn up three beautiful hexipuff cushions so far for our craft fairs - you never know, I may find some more inspiration once I've got over my current granny blanket obsession.  Shannon did spend some time measuring up my back garden for her new project - I am hoping to have a mosaic path and steps some time soon.   Shannon had to reign in my enthusiasm and silly ideas - apparently unicorns, hot air balloons and pink flamingoes are not suitable subjects for a cottage or seaside garden.  I think I was just giddy with excitement!

Michele has finished her beautiful throw but hasn't strictly started a new project yet.  Michele will not make anything that doesn't use a certain size of needle, which is quite interesting!  We'll soon convert her, I'm sure.

Mo is still making the gorgeous scarf, but that's because she seems to have taken up journalism/ magazine editorship since we last all met up and has been busy with that.  Mo tried to teach us a different style of casting on, but I was lost almost immediately.  It looks way too complicated for my poor little brain to cope with. 

Topics of conversation this week included the porters at Colman Hospital - this is a standing item on our agenda! - chefs-turned-make up artists-turned-medical students; knitted knickers and crochet triangular bikinis.  Another lovely evening - where gorgeous things were made; much food was consumed; and nonsense was spoken.  A perfect evening, if you ask me.

Poppies

My garden has now been taken over by poppies and they are beautiful.  I've been reading a lot about a Facebook campaign - next year marks a hundred years since the outbreak of World War 1 and we're all being encouraged to buy a packet of poppy seeds and go and sprinkle them in hedgerows and country lanes to commemorate this milestone.  I've got tonnes of packets of poppy seeds so I just need to work out where I'm going to sow them now.  I'm always astounded that poppy seeds - which are teeny tiny - can lay dormant and not get blown away in the wind, but that they just lay where they are month in, month out, and still flower prolifically each year.  How does that happen?

Aldeburgh

Mum, Amanda and I had a jaunt yesterday to Aldeburgh on the Suffolk coast.  We had a week's holiday about this time last year to Saxmundham and went to Aldeburgh for a visit - we had Sid and Finn with us which caused much anxiety.  Sid is fine around people but Finn was a monster - being on the lead makes him aggressive.  Dad also can only handle so much sightseeing before he gets fed up and wants to move on to the next place.  So, for all these reasons, we girls decided we would go back another day minus dogs and Dad - it's taken us a year to get our act together.

Aldeburgh is basically a high street and a shingle beach - but so pretty.  The houses and cottages are all painted in different pastel colours and there was a real holiday atmosphere to the place - lots of lovely places to eat, heaps of fish and chip shops (all with very long queues outside), and some lovely arty-farty shops to browse in. 

It definitely felt like it is in another time - very unspoilt.  Parking all along the high street - side on to the pavement like a little market place - and all for free!  

It is Dad's 80th birthday next week and we've been racking our brains trying to think what to get him - what do you get an 80 year old, who wants nor needs anything, every time you ask him?  However, we found the perfect present in the first shop we went in so, even if we hadn't been in any other shops, it was already a very successful outing.  A couple of charity shops, some lovely fabric and arty gift shops and a light lunch later and we were ready to leave Aldeburgh, but we will definitely be back. 

We headed off then to Snape Maltings, the concert venue which hosts the annual Aldeburgh Festival of Music, started by Benjamin Britten in 1948.  We then had a bit more retail therapy and a cream tea before heading home.  Another lovely day and we are definitely going to repeat it - we just need to work out where we're going next!

Summer Solstice

This weekend has been more autumnal than summery, but that didn't stop us having another lovely camping trip.  This time we ventured to a village called Stanwell Moor, very near to Heathrow airport - and less than a mile's walk from where Andy stays during the week.  This is proper wild camping - no facilities, no loos, etc.  So it's a fifteen minute walk for me if I need to go and use some "facilities" - unless I'm feeling quite brave and dash into the bushes.  Too many anglers about this weekend though for that sort of malarkey!

I haven't set foot outside the tent very much to be truthful as it's been very cold - but lovely and toasty and cosy in the bivvy.  As long as I have the things around me that I need, I'm very happy.  A warm fleece, some magazines, some wool and needles, plenty of tea and coffee, Finn laying on my feet.  I love it.

Perversely, I usually always sit outside the tent in the evenings, the coldest part of the day.  The light isn't so good for knitting or crochet or reading, and Andy's generally cooking - barbecues are "man's work" apparently - so that's our time for sitting outside the tent, chatting, drinking wine and laughing together. 

Andy did manage to catch a couple of pike this weekend - maybe about three or four pounds each - and, at one point, he started to use a new technique I've never seen before ..... calling the fish to him.  "Come on fish, come to yer Dad."  I only hope the fishies understand Northern! 

Happy

Sometimes I get all bubbly and hopeful and happy without even knowing why.  The silliest little things make me happy - while walking home, a young girl walked past me wearing the loveliest floral perfume.  And then, when I got home from work, I dashed outside to get the washing in - that made me happy because I managed to get it in before the forecast rain.  And the smell of it!  From now on , I will only ever buy Tescos own brand summer meadow fabric conditioner.  It's beautiful.  And then, while getting the washing in, the orangey peachey coloured roses kept me happy for ages - the smell is very delicate but the flowers are such a gorgeous colour and have multiplied overnight it seems.

Flowers make me happy, whether they're indoors or out.  I'm so lucky to be able to see the flowers in the garden from my living room.  If I didn't see them, then I would probably cut them to bring them indoors.  But they are left in situ.  These chrysanthemums were given to me by Andy weeks ago now and they're still going strong.  And I've noticed some more flowers on the gerbera.  Gorgeous.

Finn makes me happy - he's such a nutcase!  This photo was taken yesterday when Amanda came round with Sid.  Finn was protecting me I think - he gets so jealous that he doesn't like me to make a fuss of Sid.  What a baby!  (Typical - in my pyjamas by about seven in the evening!)