Summertime...

I finally got around to taking the (few!) photos off my camera last night and found these...

This was taken at the end of July after that long spell of awful weather when we suddenly had a day of gorgeous summer sunshine - with proper warmth. It was just before the start of the school holidays and on my weekday off so I was lucky to have much of the beach to myself (that sounds a bit mean! There were a few people there and I don't mind sharing but I do so love empty beaches!!!).

I took a book and just 'sat' and enjoyed the warmth and the sounds and smell of the sea. Oh and then treated myself to one of these...

I hadn't had a '99' for years (and have to confess to thinking, oo, bit sweet, sickly and cardboard cone-y!!) but thought the cone was very topical at the time and seemed to fit the moment. Lousy photo, snapped a bit quickly without checking the focus because the ice cream was melting fast!

Norfolk beaches are full of these...

I love the shape of the structures and the effect that the sea has on them - they are always covered in seaweed and sealife and sculpted by the waves, so all look just a bit different.

Since that day, actually we have finally seen some decent summer weather - in fact, in true British style, there are murmerings everywhere of 'phew, too hot...' although I sense that people have been a bit more reticent than usual to complain, maybe because it has been so awful for the last few months! The last few days have seen us up into the low 30's, which, for us, is a bit unusually hot. Quite nice if you can chill out and spend your day in and out of the shade but a bit rubbish if you are at work! I have spent the last week melting under my uniform...

But Saturday evening Tom and I took a barbecue out to the coast and ate excessive quantities of meat (the consequence of barbecue-ing with a bloke - I very rarely eat meat these days, felt like a bit of an overload!!). Natural smile from my son... (not!), note the essential gadgets balanced on his leg, good to know I'm such scintillating company!!!

I don't think I ever get fed up of blue skies...

This is a very different beach to the previous one (North Suffolk coast as opposed to North Norfolk - bit further round the 'bump'!!) with long stretches of sea-smoothed shingle. Good for barbecues, and great sound as the sea drags the stones along.

How did my 'baby' turn into this skinny stretch of young man? He'll be 19 this week!!

Away from the beach... I have been mostly eating these of late...

These are fresh from my little patch of garden. Way back in the spring I planted potatoes, beans, tomatoes, carrots, salad leaves and courgettes. Most of it has been decimated by a combination of the weather and the determined slug and snail population (no beans, not much in the way of tomatoes, pathetic looking carrots and shredded salad...) and even the potatoes have been pretty low yield (fortunately I don't eat many potatoes!!) but courgette plants must be the endurance plants of the veg patch! I have had a regular supply of shiny green, tasty beasts that I have enjoyed harvesting! Something very satisfying about picking your own!! And the added bonus of great blowsy flowers...

Here's to a bit more summer...cheers!

Til next time

Sx

July - things to remember...

I've kind of lost my photo taking/blogging mojo... At least, I don't seem to be able to find the time or energy or enthusiasm for being creative. I haven't picked up anything crafty for weeks and my apathy seems to have extended to taking pics too. Can't decide if its a time thing or a mood thing - or maybe a bit of a combination - but I've been rubbish at even bothering with taking the camera out with me.  

So, in the interests of keeping a bit of a record of 'events this year', this is more of a scrapbook of things I want to remember and less of a place with nice things to look at. Most of the photos have been taken on my phone so quality not great, but hey, in terms of reflecting where I'm at just now, this is about it!

July finally saw graduation day - officially could stick MSc after my name now (won't! But could!)...

It was a nice day and great to graduate with a bunch of people who have become good friends through the trauma of being part-time students while working full time!

Family and friends were very kind - took me out to dinner and bought me flowers...

July has also seen the odd day of summer sunshine - obviously essential to take advantage with lunch in the garden! This is my rainbow lunch on cheerful stripes...

And of course, who could miss the 'main event' this month - the beginning of the London Olympics with its truly British, quirky, fab opening ceremony, which I watched on the city's big screen with friends. Huge bean bags, chairs and flags were provided, festival atmosphere brought along by the crowd and there was a great buzz...

Festival fun continued with what has become an annual treat to the Cambridge folk festival. I love this mellow day out with a chance to hear amazing musicians, often people I've never heard before, sometimes blasts from the past. This year we saw Ruthie Foster, who blasted out gutsy blues numbers, the highly energetic African singer Angelique Kidje who certainly livened the place up and got everyone dancing...

and Joan Armatrading (remember 'Drop the Pilot'?!!!) who sounded exactly the same as I remembered from years ago. But the highlight of the day for me was Seth Lakeman...

He is an incredible musician, playing several different instruments and along with his band, just looked as though he was really enjoying the performance...

And pretty easy on the eye too... ;-)

The weather was a bit bizarre - over the course of the afternoon we went from glorious sunshine to torrential thunderstorms! When we went into the marquee to see the performers people were sitting on the grass in the sunshine; when we came out it looked like this...

Amazing how quickly lots of feet can turn a field into a quagmire!

The kids were loving it in their wellies...

July...in a nutshell...

Sx