Over this past week

I have managed to spend a bit more time on line which is a good sign and shows I'm slowly getting back into the swing of things.

Which is a good thing.

Lets' go back to last Saturday when we all went out into the back garden for a snowball fight. No photos of us outside showing me being pelted from both sides by T and G, so unfair, or G using the rake to get to the snow on top of the shed for extra ammunition, or S ignoring us all and trying to make a mini snowman.

But there is a photo of the hot chocolate we enjoyed once we were back indoors and which helped to defrost us.

Thank you to Michela for sending these over to us at Christmas. Topped off with whipped cream and marshmallows it was a real treat and there are still some sachets left for another day.

S kept busy making things at the weekend, she had lots to chose from from all her recent presents and one of the things she made was this snow globe.

Fast forward now to Thursday and whilst popping out to the Post Office I nipped into the nearest charity shop and came out with this book. It was worth every penny of the 20p so that when G came hone from work I was able to pick it up and sing (badly) to him 'Julian, Dick and Anne, George and Timmy the dog-og-og-og.' Anyone else remember the theme song to the TV series?

 Flicking through I found this story, I wonder if it was before his TV a.m days?!

My second purchase for £1.49 were two bags, which I think may have originally contained a bedding set, one of which is being modelled by the very handsome Melvin. They are destined for S's room for her to keep her winter woolly tights in.

I have been baking too. Made the simple cinnamon cake from the December issue of the Sainsbury's magazine. The photo from this angle somewhat disguises the big bump which rose up in the middle! Not to worry though as it tasted ok.

Original plans for yesterday were a day trip to London for me and G but they didn't pan out so we went to Basingstoke instead. No real reason, just that we've never really been there apart from training courses for work and it's on the main line to London and easy to get to. It was lovely to spend some time together, just the two of us wandering and chatting and then stopping for lunch, with some charity shop browsing thrown in for good measure.
As we travelled away from Southampton we noticed more and more snow was still in evidence over the fields and back gardens and although there was no snow on the roads and pavements in Basingstoke there was still some left on the roof of the train station

and nestled in with the hardy and pretty primulas.

A couple of other things which caught our eye was this very languorous lion

and these fruity carvings outside the theatre.

Finally I want to send out BIG

to all my friends and visitors to thank you for still popping by during this intermittent bout of posting. xxxxxxxxxxxxx