All Aboard!

Our 'big' holiday of the year - both somewhat apprehensive about how the 'cruise' experience would suit us, but were really keen to see the Norwegian fjords, and this seemed one of the easiest and cheapest ways to do it.  Just had to get to Southampton, get on board, and relax . .  .

Having booked a hotel for the Friday night, enjoyed an evening wander round old Southampton town, which looks like it has some interesting sights of its own.


Embarkation day was a little more fraught - acquiring a taxi to take us down to Mayflower terminal was easier said than done (despite booking in advance, we were still waiting a good 45 minutes later, at which point we hijacked the next taxi dropping someone off!).

Did eventually get to the terminal, then queued to check in, queued some more to get on board, but eventually made it to our stateroom (all very nice, large balcony, and two bottles of wine, plus strawberries dipped in chocolate, as a gift from Martin's parents).


Anyway it was a beautiful first day to be on board - glorious hot sunshine, and as we were the last ship out of port, the fire tugs saluted us on our way . . .

Buttercups and Bees

Sunshine in the garden - and the cameras are out, testing new lenses etc.

Took a snap of the buttercups in the lawn - it's been a phenomenal year for buttercups - the fields seem to be full of them (as is our lawn).

And Martin got some good close-ups of the local bee population going about their business . . .

York - Sights and Shopping

Long weekend in York (on the back of a work thing) - both needed a few new clothes for our forthcoming holiday (cruising Norway), and decided that the sights of York would help leaven the shopping experience.

                   

Also found time to revisit our favourite pub in York, the Mason's Arms, still serving fantastic home cooking - and with some very nice cider on offer too . . . much needed after the trials of taking a man shopping . . . and doubtless for him a much needed pint of beer, after enduring far too many shops!

Sunshine Days

Sunny days, a long birthday weekend, and a family visit . . .  all an opportunity to get out and finally experience some features of Aberystywth that I'd managed to miss over the last 15+ years!

First off, took a trip back out to Ynys-hir in the sunshine:

- watched a chaffinch singing his heart out;

- walked in the woods;

- and took a peek at the Springwatch studio (there were still cables everywhere).


Saturday brought the 'Aberystwyth and Ceredigion County Show'- beautiful day for it - went round the tents, saw amazing varieties of chickens in particular (didn't realise they came quite that big), and tents full of cakes and produce; then there were the show rings and pens with cows, sheep, and horses; lots of stalls and other displays; and parades of agricultural vehicles (from gypsy caravans, to steam engines, to tractors).

Finally, took a trip out to Devil's Bridge on the Vale of Rheidol Railway - beautiful scenery, bit of a jolty ride, but the train was cute.

So that's a couple of things crossed off the list - and a great weekend!

Courgettes and Cabbages

Finally started on the veg garden this weekend, got both plots weeded and dug over, and planted out the courgettes (and butternut squash) in the top veg patch.




Then in the small veg plot cobbled together a net cloche to (hopefully) protect my baby savoy cabbages from the depradations of any passing cabbage whites . . .

Will update on progress in due course!