Grandad and Ellie chilling on the sofa

23 August 2008

Granny's spooning in spaghetti with tomato sauce and mozzarella.

Phew - Ellie seems to approve!

Not bad Granny - for someone a bit out of practice! Spot the tooth.

3rd August 2008

Ellie aged 8 1/2 months - back from her holiday in Sweden, so grown and full of fun!

Holiday week 19 - 26th July 2008

I've done these holiday photos the wrong way round so this is actually the last photo under this title - page down to Springhead Mill and it makes more sense!

So Mike really likes - the one in front!

You can guess the one I prefer!

Poole Quay and the Sunseekers are out in force.

A picnic on Portland Bill, handy flat area to set up your chairs, the lighthouse with sea beyond, loos in sight, tea room across the car park and the car to hand. Oh the joys of retirement!

This couple come regularly over from Yeovil for the day, finding it more peaceful than Weymouth in full holiday swing.

We had a lovely picnic here and even remembered all the camping stove equipment this time to make a cuppa. That's a first.

To Weymouth (look at that sky - we did have some summer!) and a giant sandcastle, built for a hotel chain on a promotional basis by the Weymouth Sandman, Mark Anderson (see 9th July 2007). Inside is a family sized room with sand beds where you could stay for £10 a night and lie and gaze at the stars. We didn't - Mike hates sand.

And - getting brave now - this is the view towards home (click on the photo to get more detail - Madonna's house is about a mile from Wingreen but couldn't see if she was in!).

205 spiral stairs down - and did the thighs ache the next day!

So - 205 spiral steps later ....

One of my bright ideas that suddenly gives me a fright - this is Alfred's Tower (www.alfredstower.info) on the Stourhead Estate.

Yes I wanted to look at the famous views but hadn't quite realised it would have to be climbed to actually see the views as, despite it being on a high hill, it's surrounded by trees!

Stourhead in Wiltshire. We loved to come here 30 years ago in the spring for the azaleas and rhododendrons. Just as lovely in the summer and so peaceful despite the car park being filled to overflowing (on a Monday too!).

Originally owned by the Hoare family of Hoare's Bank, London and given to the National Trust in 1946 by Sir Henry, 6th Bt Stourton, because there was no direct heir, his only son having died in 1916 in World War I. The son Harry saw this place for the last time in July that year whilst on leave before going to Palestine where he was fatally wounded. I hope it looked as lovely as this.

Time for a few summery photos! This is Springhead Mill, Fontmell Magna, open under the National Gardens Scheme. It is a Trust so has volunteer gardeners - wonder if they would wend our way and weed ours too!

Very good teas (raspberry and cream gateau with cream) and inexpensive plants for sale (yes we did!).