Spring Into Action

With T staying up in Salisbury with Grandma because he was taking part in another charity sponsored swim and G at work it was only me, S and my mum who went up to the local park for the annual Spring into Action event. As usual there was plenty to see and do and we spent 3 lovely hours eating our picnic and wandering around. The city parks had a display of photos showing previous entrants and winners of the City's 'In Bloom' competition. I liked this idea of the colourful wellies.

There is a organisation which appears regularly at these events which brings along farmyard animals for the children to get up close to but it's the first time I've seen this model of a cow which you could have a go at milking. If you look very closely you can see S did manage to get something out, but it was water, milk would have probably got pretty pongy!

Another regular is a chap who brings along more exotic animals. Can't remember what type of stick insect this is

but it's this little one I feel in love with, it's a tenrec from Madagascar. So cute.

A quick trip to the nursery next door and I came home with one of these plants. I have always liked them and now the garden is getting a bit of attention I thought it was time I bought one.

The park always looks lovely, not matter what the season but the star of the show yesterday was definitely the tulips. Lots to colour feast the eye on.

Hope everyone is enjoying the sun.

I Spy

with my little eye somethings in my garden today beginning with C.

Cat no.1. Melvin looking very majestic.

Clematis buds so near to bursting into full bloom.

An old colander waiting to be planted up.

Cat no.2. Malcolm looking thoughtful.

Cherry blossom, lovely and frothy against a

clear blue sky.

Cat no.3. A new cat to the neighbourhood who came to visit and tried to make friends.

Colour, lovely springtime colour.

And a ladybird, it doesn't begin with C but it's to cute not to be included.

R E C A P

A recap of the last few days... I was more than Ready for more work in the garden on Sunday after I had donned my new wellies, a most fantastic Mother's day present from T and S. Strangely enough polks dot wellies featured on my Spring board.Isn't the clour of these just so ZINGY. And as if they weren't fabulous enough on their own stuffed into one was a packet of Maltesers and Minstrels in the other. On Saturday we put down a tonne of gravel in the back garden and yesterday we did more clearing and cutting and tidying and boy oh boy it's looking so much better out there. A long way to go yet but this weather has meant we have made a good dent in the jobs that need doing. So I was feeling Exhausted when the alarm went off at 6am this morning as I had to take T to the hospital for an MRI appointment. He had one of these last year and didn't enjoy the experience but today he was an absolute star and just got on with what needed to be done. I am very pleased with the subject of this next photo because it's proof that I can now (sort of) Crochet. Stop laughing Clare! I know it's a bit shall we say uneven, but with practise I hope to improve.

Last Thursday I went into town to meet one of my friends as we had arranged to go to the Andy Warhol exhibition which has just started at the Art gallery. His work doesn't float my boat exactly but we did have a laugh trying on the different wigs, sunglasses and clothing in the room decorated in homage to his Factory.

On getting home from work on Friday I was delighted to find a Parcel waiting for me. I was one of the incredibly lucky winners in Mummy Boo Bear's giveaway at Stitchery Pokery and inside the parcel were all these goodies. A cute card, a UJ postcard, a chocolate egge each for T and S and two wrapped packages for me.

I had won one of the fabulous British @ Heart cushions, lucky girl that I am, doesn't the red, white and blue look so fresh and jolly.

The second parcel was the cutest little heart shaped keyring MMB had hand painted, she is so clever! Thank you again MMB for all the things you sent us.

A rosy glow

Today is the birthday of a very special friend.

We've known each other since 1980 when we started senior school together.

As you may remember I do like to give themed and for hers I chose roses.

A pair of silver rose ear-rings, rose patterned socks, a rosy scarf and of course there had to be chocolate and the obvious choice there was a mini box of Roses.

When I spoke to her earlier she told me they were eaten quite quickly after the parcel was open, sensible girl.

March Scavenger Hunt

A collection- my bracelets. I made a this from covering a small cork board I bought in a charity shop covered with an old pillowcase I bought at a jumble. Something green- brussel sprouts in Sainsburys

Peeling paint- iron railings around a cottage in Hythe.

A shadow- the shadow of a lamp post reflected onto a white wall at Hythe marina.

A rainbow- no real life rainbows spied this month. This is taken from one the children's books about weather.

Something as old as you- I found this book last year at the local plant nursery. They are a charity and sell books to help with raising funds. It was printed in the year I was born. 1968 in case you were wondering.

A lamb- snapped in John Lewis whilst out with Clare and Diane.

An empty chair- so pleased with this one.

On the way to S's swimming lesson a couple of weeks ago she said 'mum what's that chair doing over there?'

' I have no idea but it's fantastic that is it,' I replied as I whipped out my camera.

A fancy gate- this one I am the least pleased with. Struggled to find one and this probably comes under the catergory 'was fancy once.' Another picture taken on our day out to Hythe.

A ring- love this one as it reminds me of a snail's shell.

Something sentimental- my dad ALWAYS had a hankie on him. Now I always carry one of his inside which ever bag I am using.

A lion- there's a few here to choose from!

Can't wait to see everyone else's photos for March.

paper chains

Looky look at what I found in the Cancer Research shop on Saturday. Lovely union jack paper chains. They are being sold along with other patriotic paraphenalia for the royal wedding for the princely (sorry, couldn't resist!) sum of £1.99.

Over the water

During the Easter school hols last year I took T and S on the ferry over to Hythe. We had a really lovely day out and the children wanted to go back in the summer with G. We never got to do it then but this weekend with the weather being so glorious we thought it would be an ideal place to spend a few hours out and about. Here you can see how diddy the ferry you get over to Hythe is compared to the Red Funnel ones which go over the Isle of Wight. At the docks today there something larger still, one of the huge cruise ships was in.

The view back into town of South Western House on the right and on the left is a building which featured in the film Titanic.

This is the view in front of you when you have either taken the little electric train or walked up the pier, very picturesque cottages.

We didn't get going very early today so it was lunchtime when we arrived and our first stop was in the pub for a drink and lunch.

These were something different. G had a toffee apple cider and mine was strawberry and lime. His was nicest. They are made by Brothers though not Magners.

We had some info with us to possibly do one of these healthy walks, click on the picture to see the hearts marking out the trails, as one of them led to a woodland which links up to a nature trail.

Instead we opted to stay by the waterfront and follow the path round the marina.

Obligatory photos of family on afternoon out.

Did someone say 'sit up straight?!'

There was a very interesting map of the local area showing it's connection with different aspects of WW2. Like the fact the Mulberry harbour was assembled at the docks before being towed to Normandy and where we live was the SuperMarine works where they made Spitfires.

We watched boats coming in from Southampton water and going through the lock back into the marina. T and S were very interested to see how that worked.

When it was time to make our way back to buy and ice cream before catching the ferry home we passed this fountain which had a sign prohibitng paddling. It said nothing about splashing!