So take a look if you want to xxx
I am just going to include a few slideshows of just nice days we all had together either out and about or at Mum's and Julie's otherwise they get lost in the mix. So take a look if you want to xxx That's all for now xxx
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Just to keep myself up to date with what I am doing Spring is definitely on its' way here in Central Otago. My peach, plum and apricot trees are in full swing a sure sign of milder weather. This morning I have been out in the garden digging in all the green compost blue lupins I planted in the autumn. There are hundreds of them all to be cut up and dug in. It has taken me hours and I am not even half way through yet. They give back much needed nitrogen to my poor and sandy soil so that has got to be a good thing. Also I have horrid bugs eating my grass roots, grass grubs to be precise so they have got a dose of some very nasty smelly stuff from Nicholls to hopefully kill them off. I got lots of grass seed too but that can't go down until next months. The joy of gardening eh? Anyway today I am thinking of the Spencer family as my lovely brother-in-law has his birthday today, Happy Birthday Michael. Another year older, wiser and all that stuff!!! I hope the cold you started with yesterday hasn't put too much of a damper on your day so far, well you are not up yet by my time frame so hope the Lemsips work!! I got to see quite a bit of the Spencer boys this time which was so nice. Being at Julie and Mike's on a Thursday night helped as they come home for their dinner before going to football practice. They got to play with Dax and, to Phoebe's delight, her too! Both enjoyed their company enormously. Phoebe has a deadly accurate right arm from all the cricket practice at school and playing ball in the garden no doubt and loves to play 'tennis' too. We also got to spend time with their other halves as well which was really nice. With their very busy lives it is a hard thing to do but we managed to pop over to Dan and Helen's lovely flat in Brockenhurst one Sunday then all drove over to the White Buck in the New Forest for lunch. We all had a lovely time and the girls even played with Phoebe in the playground which was so nice of them. I do think they enjoyed it just as much as she did! Phoebe even got to teach them how to make loom bands - those things just went everywhere with us! I think they got the hang of it!!! I'm so glad we got to know you a little better girls and hope to do so again next time. Also good luck with your house move Jess and Ben, I know you were hoping to move by now but all good things come to those who wait. So TTFN for now - be good to each other. xxx
Brownsea Island Ferry Can't believe I have been here nearly a week now, it has gone so quickly but I have done so much. It has been sunny and very hot all week too which has been a huge bonus. Thin I got to Thursday so here is Friday which started a little cloudy but promised great things (and it delivered). Becky and Phoebe picked me up around 9.15 and we headed over to Julie and Mike's. Phoebe hasn't seen Mike for ages and it was lovely to see them together. He took us down to Sandbanks which was much less crowded than on Wednesday when we couldn't get a parking space there to get on the beach! and we caught the ferry over to Brownsea Island - my goodness has that all gone up in price! And poor Becky was freaking out a little as she doesn't like boats but was thankful that it only takes about ten minutes to get there. I grabbed a 3 wheeled buggy for Phoebe just in case she got tired and it also helped to transport our heavy bags full of food, towels and camera equipment! The island is a haven for peacocks and the males strut around majestically. They made a lot of noise but didn't display for us this time. Julie bought some bird food so she and Phoebe feed them and the chickens joined in! We walked around the island - it is around 1.5 miles long - and a very nice walk with great views of the harbour and Dorset in all it's loveliness, looks a little hazy in these photos. We also went down on the beach there and Phoebe and I paddled as the water was so warm and very shallow. We watched a fat worm being attacked by the little fish and prawns poor thing but left well alone and saw crabs too. The island was full of scouts, guides etc who come out here for their hols to learn what only scouts do. We saw them learning to sail which they were having great fun with. It is a safe environment for children to play here, the island is safe and the sea shallow so a great place for them to explore too. Although there are lots of people on the island at one time, you never seem to bomb in to more than a couple and it is so nice to walk through the woods, very tranquil. We also went in to the bird hides that back on to the channel where the channel series to Jersey etc go. The area is full of terns and wading birds and we had to be very quiet in the hut to watch. We didn't get to see any red squirrels though Julie did spot one near to where they were digging out a tree to make a boat. We had a lovely day anyway and Mike picked us up at 4pm on the other side.
That evening Julie and I met up with old friends Ellen, Fleur and Anna for a get together meal which was so nice. It is lovely to catch up with them and I miss their company. There is nothing like chatting the evening away with old friends, you just pick up where you left off and it is all very easy, fits like an old shoe. They came came back home with me and we watched some of the opening ceremony for the Olympics parts of which were spectacular. Saturday I went over to Julie's early (Phoebe was going to see her Dad) and we shopped for plants for my garden to cheer it up and clothes, always a nice thing to do. I got some navy and white things to buy a different colour other than cream or grey! I left Julie at 12 and went over to Castle Point where I bumped in to Benjamin, Julie's friend Karen and family and then Jane from badminton which was nice. Bought some more clothes in M&S and a swimming costume in Next, so nice to do some serious shopping - I think I have missed doing that too. Did a quick shop in Asda as Kathy and Greg came over to me for the evening and a meal. They make a lovely couple and we had a really nice evening getting to know each other. So now it is Sunday, sunny so far and I have to do some chores but will be off out again to see Mum and Becky. What a busy life I am leading at the mo. I am catching up with Derek too and he has started his own blog which is very good, talented man I am married to. See you soon xxxx |
AuthorMy name is Helen Baker and I am now living back in the UK with my husband Derek after living for for five years in New Zealand. I am a Mum and Grandmother to two daughters and 6 grandchildren who are my whole world. I love taking photos, patchwork and scrapbooking and this page is here so that I don't have to write lots of letters home but can still keep in touch with those I love x Archives
August 2016
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