14-Apr to 20-Apr 2013

Sun 14-Apr

A day of firsts today... the first coffee and cake sat outside on The Dolphin patio admiring the bridge and river; the first swallow flying over the bridge, arrived freshly from South Africa; the first cycle down to The Legion in the evening on the pashley. Think spring has arrived at last!

Mon 15-Apr

The granddaughters' school holiday trip today. Unlike the grandsons' trip, which just happens and ambles along at a leisurely pace with no definite direction, the granddaughters' trip is always a major planning event. No chance of picking them up without definite and approved plans in place. Today followed the safe and previously approved route of Houghton playground and then McDonalds. 

To add some variety I'd invested the princely sum of £1 on model making balloons... bound to get double benefit by using them as jet balloons as well as knocking up some balloon models. The jury's out on the models, since both the macaw and rabbit I knocked up looked strangely similar and as far from the subject matter as was possible. Blowing the balloons up and letting go, watching them rocket 25ft into the air to catch them as they floated down was something Connor and Sammy would have gone crazy for. Not a whisper of interest from Paige and Izzy.

Here they are scoffing at McDonalds, camera shy as usual.


Tue 16-Apr

Having finished the new slabbing for the back garden redesign last week, managed to steal a few more hours this afternoon to start edging with patio bricks. Only concreted in the princely sum of nine bricks before I had to rush off to collect Sammy, take him up the allotment to collect Linda, drop Sammy off home, pick up a Chinese, return home to print out docs for meeting, scoff Chinese as Connor arrived, then head off to this month's archaeology meeting. Can't believe I seriously thought I'd finish the garden redesign by summer 2013... at this rate I'll be lucky to complete it for summer 2014!

Wed 17-Apr

Walked Jazz out this afternoon with Connor and Sammy. Connor though it would be an achievement if we could reach Woodhurst, a round trip of about five miles. Would be the third time he'd done this walk with me, but since it was Sammy's first time we were entering unchartered territory. Add to that their conviction there was treasure somewhere out there if only they could examine every pebble, and it was evident we were in a for a long haul. Here they are about 200 yards into the walk, Connor finishing off his water supply early. Returned them home after almost three hours, Sammy's legs tired, and Connor with a rather interesting looking figurine he found which might be quite old!

Thu 18-Apr

Off with Linda this morning on the 5 mile walk from Somersham to Colne. Forgot how exposed parts of the walk are, across open fields. The wind was so strong we nearly didn't make it to Colne. Lunch at The Green Man gave us strength for the return journey. Here's Colne's old grave yard, and a small remnant of the church that fell down in 1895. Wouldn't like to be stuck here on a dark windy night!

Fri 19-Apr

In my never ending search for the perfect pen, pencil, notebook combination, here's the latest purchase that arrived this morning... a Kaweco Classic Sport fountain pen. Pocket sized, but a very smooth writer. Cost £18, but didn't feel too guilty since I'd just received an ex-gratia cheque for £30 from British Gas after complaining about the hassle they caused in arranging the annual boiler service. 

Sat 20-Apr

The sunniest day of the year so far, ideal to meet up with Becky, Barry, Beth and kids at the Crocodile Farm for lunch. Went with the objective of snapping all four grandchildren together, but an early attempt on Paige and Sammy was enough to tell me I had no chance. So here are my beautiful daughters (and Amelia hidden in Beth's tummy) just after lunch.