06-Jul to 12-Jul 2014

Sun 06-Jul

Walk into town early this afternoon with Beth & Amelia to listen to the Music on The Waits, scoffed one of Vito's cherry ripple Italian ice creams,  and wander around Holt Island. Here we are, ending up seated outside the parch church with three of their cream teas. Took Amelia for a wander in the church, which she loved.

Mon 07-Jul

A few hours on the allotment today tending the tomatoes, cleaning the pond, composting and cutting the grass. Also planted two buddleia plants, this one a spectacular more reddish colour with a heavy scent. Both plants for free, being cuttings taken last year.

Tue 08-Jul

Walked the Needingworth Nature Reserve from the Bluntisham end this morning, surrounded by tortoiseshell butterflies, dragonflies and a beautiful fen sky. Here's a panorama image, click the image to get a better view.

Wed 09-Jul

Good day for DIY today... screwed Beth's doe cupboard door back on and fixed (as best as it ever will be fixed) her kitchen goodies drawer. Even better, managed to offload the task of taking down the dog run. Popped back later to take Connor and Amelia out while Paige was at ballet. Here's Amelia with a look of mischief... she's got the Xbox controller!

Thu 10-Jul

Bit of a grey and rainy day which saw me pitching up at golf to play John, Linda in tow aiming to walk around and watch us for the first time. Unfortunately we had to sit in the golf club cafe with drinks watching the rain fall and have a bash on the driving range, before calling the match off at midday. Bowls league match in the evening was slightly better. No rain, but grey and cool. Then, as I headed home via the Local Cafe for Linda's spicy potatoes, the clouds cleared and a setting sun shone over St Ives. Here's the view of the parish church from The Waits.

Fri 11-Jul

'Babysitting' Paige and Connor this afternoon until Beth returned from work, collecting Amelia from nursery on the way. Hardly babysitting these days... here's Paige playing Minecraft over the Internet with her friends, Connor outside with Luke doing something furtive on his mobile 'phone.

Sat 12-Jul

Oh dear! Hope the volume of that music is turned down this afternoon! Here I am at Hill Rise Park this morning setting up the gazebo etc for our stall at the St Ives Carnival & Music Festival. Arrived at 9.00am and thought it would take me an hour to get ready, In the end had to jog all the way home in hot sunshine (the car being left behind the stall for loading back up at the end) after 11.00am to ensure I was back in time for our annual family get together to watch the procession of floats up Ramsey Road and then attend the carnival. The stall attractiveness was much improved with displays of plants and vegetables, cakes, bunting and chalkboards the other members of the team brought when they did their shift attending the stall from 1.00pm to 5.00pm. Most time taken fixing the history posters to the side of the gazebo. Must get proper poster bars.