GALLERY PART TWO

We're in Chester and have just visited Jane and Mike's old house. We then drove into Chester to find our B&B (quite honestly the worst B&B in England and puts Fawlty Towers to shame - what a crock!!!). So bad, we ended up leaving after one day and coming home early.

Chester (central) was lovely though and most picturesque. We loved the main street and all the exceptionally old buildings with exceptionally new shops in them. We then took a walk along the river and had a bottle of wine in a bar on the banks of the river. A couple more wines and a game of scrabble at another pub and it was time to roll into bed.


We left the next day and decided to take a look around Stratford-Upon-Avon. Given it was the last day of easter, seemed like everyone else in England thoought it would be a good idea too! Will definitely have to go back and spend some time there...maybe see a play or two!

The next weekend trip was to Bournemouth. I had been invited to an awards dinner for the print industry. Our inhouse magazine had been nominated for an award and the design company had invited Bridge and I to accept the award should we win.

It was great seeing the sea again! They have a pier with a fun fair on the end, deck chairs you have to pay for and looks just like you would expect an English seaside town to look. We had a great time looking round. Unfortunately it was really cold and so the 'look around' didn't last long. Oh...and we didn't win the award...but had a good time anyway.

And then the cats arrived...

Be prepared for lots of cat photos!

There trip was without incident and I think we were more stressed about the whole thing than they were. They arrived at Heathrow and we collected them from Animal Control. We drove them home and let them out. They spent the afternoon of the first day exploring the house and were a little bit quiet but by that evening it was like they'd never been gone. Lot's of cuddling, sleeping in laps etc and lots of purring. It really is great to have them with us again.

They're now right at home!

The next set of photos is to celebrate Spring. We're about three weeks away from the longest day. It's light about 4am and isn't truly dark until after 10pm. It doesn't make it easy to sleep as you wake up and think you've slept in coz it's so sunny but it's only 4.30am! Bit tough in the last week as I've been working loooonnnnggg hours and needing to get up about 5am - keep thinking I've slept in!

The last couple of weeks have been a bit grey but this weekend showed England off to it's absolute best. Long warm sunny days without a breath of wind.

At work we have a lake in the middle of all the buildings and it's populated by a host of ducks, swans and small birds that look like Pukeko but don't know what they're called. Anyway, what with spring and all - the ducks just had ducklings. The talk of the campus. This week was a bit cold and here they are all huddled together...and so cute!

Anyway, the garden is looking amazing. The landlords have done an amazing job of creating an 'english country garden' and every week a new flower comes out. As I sit at the computer I'm looking out on HUGE poppies, a lovely blue flower (don't know the name), flowering Broom and lot's of spring growth. Here's what I mean:

you can't really tell from this pic but bright pink and yellow

Just to show you how quickly it's changing. These photos are just three weeks apart...

And here's where we live...

The best thing is the vine on the front of the house is a combination of honeysuckle and mini roses and is fit to burst with flowers in the next few weeks. Will post photos as soon as they come out.

Yesterday we drove to Hungerford (our fav village!) to go to the garden centre, We drove through Hungerford Heath and the heath was filled with buttercups!

Oh and given brilliant weather - we had our first BBQ of the season (well actually of the year!) last night...most pleasant.

...watch this space