Re-visited

On Friday we decided to make a return visit to


We had such a lovely day out there at the start of the year and had wanted to visit the Winnal nature reserve again in better weather.

We sat in this spot for ages watching T and S playing on this little deck letting their hands trail in the cool, clear water

until they could resist no longer and off came the shoes and socks. Whilst I was laying down taking this photo G used his camera to take a couple of shots of my backside. I won't be sharing those, in fact I hit the delete button as soon as they were downloaded!

A quick zip into Primark was required as T needed new footwear. Whilst having a very rapid browse I spotted this Tshirt in the girl's department. As much as I love it (and S did too) it didn't come home with us because being white it wouldn't last more than a couple of wears before it would be white with non removable stains!

We then wandered down to the river to eat our lunch where a photo shoot was taking place. How pretty the model looked, the sun highlighted the sparkles on her dress and jewellery so she twinkled.

This was our view as we ate. I wonder how much these properties cost?!

After lunch and another reapplication of sun cream, we went to have a look around the ruins of Wolvesey Castle which had been once been the home to the Bishop's of Winchester.

I was hoping this would be a good place for T and S to play hide and seek, but it was declared to not be as not as good as their beloved Netley Abbey.

Easter Bunnies

Some rabbits only come out at Easter, some are used all year round.

This is the newest edition. I spotted him in the window of Whittards and thought his wheelbarrow would be just the right size to hold a handful of mini eggs. It's empty now because it was just too tempting!


Can't remember where this little chap came from but he comes to visit each year.

One of the pieces of Peter Rabbit Wedgwood china I bought when I worked for them.

A fairly recent charity shop find for 50p. Perfect tea mug when eating hot cross buns.

Our sugar jar. Had this for over 15 years and I love it, love it, love it.

This little bunny was a present from Diane to S. He is just the right size for sitting in the middle of the egg dish on the table. Each day from today until Monday a small amount of mini eggs will be hidden inside just a few of the eggs and T and S will have turns each trying to find them.

Sunny Days

We've been trying to make the most of the weather and getting out and about. After a week of getting along so well it all fell apart on Friday and T and S were moaning, sniping and just plain old horrible to each other. Thankfully a short walk along the shore and an ice cream brought some smiles and harmony for a while. Love S's jacket, it was a present from my sister. Saturday morning was spent in the garden, with the cats for company. Malcolm looked very happy sat up in the cherry tree. His crossed paws made us laugh.

G was keen to get going with more gravel moving and made a start whilst still in his PJ's!

Sunday morning we went to Telegraph Woods. I'm looking very impressed with T here knowing he was giving me the 'Loser' sign which he adopted in each photo taken that day. Don't you just love them when they are like this?!

When we went to the Woods on our first visit we kept to the main path but this time we went off exploring and found a large pond, heard and then spotted a woodpecker, walked past this tree trunk

and found this part of the woods which will look beautiful in a couple of weeks when the bluebells are all out.

G was off with us again today and we decided that today we would head off to Lee On Solent. This was our view as we sat eating lunch. The children were very keen to get their shoes and socks off and go for a paddle which they did as soon as they had eaten

and this was their reaction when they did go in.They ran out again as it was so chilly!

The highlight of the afternoon for G was when T asked him to bury him in the pebbles. I must admit it was very bizarre just seeing T's head!

A Rare Glimpse

This is the bottom of my ironing basket. It's very rarely seen. Not only has all the ironing been done but the 4 items of clothing which had been in there a while because they needed small sewing repair jobs have also been dealt with. This empty state won't last long as I'm savouring this image whilst I can.

Through the Arched Window

I can see trees

and my children.

Whenever we meet up with my friend G and her 3 children the preferred venue is Netley Abbey. It's the perfect location for hide and seek, general running around and outdoor games like 'on which part of the ruins are we going to get the frisbee lost this time' and 'oh dear I seem to have dropped your hula hoop over the saftey rail into the water below.' All good fun with lots of laughing and promises of doing it all again in the summer hols.

River Walk

At the suggestion of the friend we were meeting up with yesterday we went for a walk at Manor Farm. Despite visiting the farm once with my dad, nephew and T many years ago and taking T to a couple of cub activities that way, we have never gone for a walk there. Something we had planned to do as a family with a picnic in tow, after our walk round Burseldon a couple of months ago, once the weather had become warmer. After our 2 and a half hour walk yesterday the children can't wait to go back there taking G with us next time.


I have a feeling this is the bridge which could be seen in the opening credits of Howard's Way.

The children enjoyed playing on this tree for a while, clambering over it's long, horizontal bendy branches.

The mud was so thick, deep and squelchy that wellies would definitely have been lost had anyone been so inclined to step in, so instead of seeing who could throw a stone furthest into the water it was who could throw it furthest into the mud making a very satisfying thwump noise at it hit the surface. A couple of finds made good nose replacements before they got thrown!

There was lots of green lushness everywhere we looked. The views of the river were just beautiful.

T and S found a little stream to paddle in on the way back to the car. The paddling turned to splashing which turned to soaking. They laughed and shrieked and giggled and it was a delight to hear. Leaving the car park T turned to me and said 'thanks for a lovely day out mum.' That made my heart sing I can tell you. And again just as we were saying goodnight he thanked me for a lovely day. A perfect end to a fabulous day.

Paper Plant Pots

Making paper plant pots and then popping in a sunflower seed was one of the free activities on offer at the Spring event we went to on Saturday. S made one of these, although hers was already made up to stage 8 before she completed the folding. As so many of you liked the eco garden ideas last year I was a very good blogger and photographed the instructions to share. The chap making these with the children suggested that once made they could be placed inside the cut off bottom of a plastic milk bottle or tetra pak for watering purposes and then once ready to go in the soil the plant can go into the earth in the newspaper becayse that will just biodegrade. Happy folding!