West Country Wander

I've had many more west country wanders than when these photos were taken back in February but this was my first and, therefore, the most exciting as I didn't know the area at all.

I had no idea that the caravan was so near the Severn bridges!  What a view, even on a miserable grey day.

Look at all those chimneys!

From the caravan, you can take the National Cycling Route 4/ 41 which takes you along to Severn Beach, a two or three mile walk.  I love the fact that Finn and I can go for a walk without having to get in the car first and, although Finn can't do it completely off the lead, there are bits where he can come off and have a mad dash around.  

Of course we're so near the border too, but this sign did make us chuckle as we headed our way back to the caravan.

This is Finn relaxing after our walk.  He likes a lot of room!

And this is Andy and I relaxing afterwards!

Finn likes to do a lot of relaxing!

I took some individual cheesecakes with me for the weekend - it was my valentines treat to Andy.   (Unbeknown to me at the time was how calorific they are - I had recently started Weight Watchers and was struggling to keep to my 23 points a day - and afterwards I discovered these were 19 points each!)

Luckily though, we did a LOT of walking this weekend, which meant I could walk some of these calories off!

Wet Wintry Walk - Hunstanton

I'm typing this today on a day that couldn't feel less wintry - 28 degrees on the dashboard thermometer this afternoon!

Back in February, while Amanda was in New Zealand, I decided to get my lazy arse off the sofa and go and do some exploring.  I do find it hard to get motivated to do anything on my own sometimes - I can feel so settled at home, and I could easily become a hermit, so need to push myself every now and then.

I can't actually remember why I chose Hunstanton - perhaps it was the wool shop?!  I do remember it being a freezing cold and very drizzly day and I welcomed the hot chocolate I had while there.

As can be seen from the photos, there weren't many people about!  And to prevent Mum and Dad taking Sid out for a walk and getting soaked through, I rang them up and offered, so then jumped in the car and headed up to North Elmham to do my daughterly duty!

Other People's Gardens - July 2018

Due to the drought conditions and extreme heat of the past few weeks, my gardening work hasn't exactly dried up completely, but it has died down a lot - I've even given up on my own garden as I can't keep everything watered and I'm sure I've lost a lot of shrubs.

One of my customers decided that they only needed me once a month, although, when I went to work there on Friday, conceded that they had no idea how much work was needed in the garden, so my fortnightly visits have been reinstated!

It seems that everyone has been after shade, including the cats.

In this particular garden, which has little or no shade, I've been spending a lot of time sitting down!  And the cats have generally come and sat with me, wanting some fussing.

Not that I mind the sitting down of course!

The photos tell the story of the lack of water and the scorched grass.  We have since had some rain so everything has greened up again nicely, but I do fear that it's too late for most of the shrubs.

Seeds and Stuff - July 2018

Oh this weather!   Because it's been so hot and gloriously sunny, but with no rain, everything has come and gone too quickly - I've never known so little colour in my garden.

There's been very little to flower in the garden at all and even a lot of the foliage on my plants and shrubs is parched, dusty and brown.  It's so sad!  But I mustn't complaint about the weather.

The agapanthus is pretty much the only colour I've had in the garden for the past couple of weeks and even that's confused me as, for the first time ever, it has four flower heads on and not the three that sporadically appear every couple of years.

I'm so confused by it all!

Odds and Sods - July 2018

July is the first full month I've had without college so I've been spending a lot more time knitting - the weather has been so hot that I haven't spent much time out in the garden, so have been indoors with the doors open, curtains shut, and knitting needles in a frenzy!

This shawl has now been finished off with all ends darned in and is on the Folksy website.  I really enjoyed making it in a summery 100 per cent cotton, and I'm going to have a go at doing it in a mohair next for a lovely winter shawl.

I've finished this lovely feather and fan scarf - this one's for me.   On the way back from Northumberland to Norwich last November, we popped into Knitting Pretty wool shop in Knaresborough and I bought this yarn as the colours reminded me of the autumn colours on the trees on our holiday.  It's finally done!

And I've cast on, knitted, and cast off this cowl!  More photos to follow in the Odds and Sods post of August.   This one is a Christmas present and was completed on a weekend away in Bristol - so quick!

I've had a number of weekends away - both with and without Finn - and there'll be more posts to follow - eventually! - I'm loving this summer, the weather has been glorious and everything just seems so happy and hopeful and sunny.   I had no idea that I could be so affected by meteorological changes, but it's been very clear to see this year!

Talking of Finn ...

He's always got to get in on the action somehow!

Made or Grown - July 2018

July's made or grown was pretty much all about mint.  In my tea, in my gin and tonic, and occasionally in my pimms.

2 July 2018

9 July 2018

13 July 2018

14 July 2018 - actually I think this was a ready mixed cocktail from Aldis.  A cosmopolitan?  I'm really not sure now, but it had mint in!

17 July 2018 - oh, back to tea!

28 July 2018 - I'm actually wearing something!   This is my gold shawl which I wore to a summer barbecue.

29 July 2018 - oh, and we're back to tea again.

Must try harder!