Wednesday, July 6, 2016

Juicy June



In June, I mostly:-

- Ran away (or rather flew away) from the grey, wet, cold weather.
- Watched 'Gardener's World' on Sarah's kindle at 33,000 feet.  Am in love with Monty Don. 
- Was inspired by seeing Mary Portas in the Salisbury Festival - what a woman.....
- Was amazed at Clare Teal.  Sarah got a CD signed for me whilst I hid in the loo.
- Had a good rummage in charity shops.
- Tried to stay warm as I watched Salisbury Big Band play OUTSIDE - are they mad?
- Played with my new 'sit/stand desk' at work. Such fun!  
- Went to 2 beer festivals, hic.
- Played badminton in the back garden. 

Had some 'me time' one morning in Wilton Shopping Village in all the vintage, gift and arty shops.


Very cute wool shop

Followed by a most succulent chocolate brownie and pot of Earl Grey tea in Cobbs Tearoom.


http://www.cobbsatwilton.co.uk/

We squeezed a quick weekend away in Spain at Ken & Beryl's villa.  Mind you it didn't start well as the fire alarm went off at Bournemouth Airport just as we were taking our belts, shoes, watches and wooden legs off and putting them through the scanner so we all had to evacuate to the car park.  Also as the airport is tiny compared to Gatwick and Heathrow I didn't think to make a note of where we'd left the car - when we got back to Bournemouth after our weekend away it took us 15 minutes to find it! 

We got there eventually - ah, heat and sun......Mmmmmm

Two things excite me about travelling - the sound of my case wheels whirring along in the terminal building and baggage reclaim!  We put our cases in the overhead lockers this time so it was hard not to go and stand at the conveyor belt.


Is this an almond tree in the garden?

It made such a difference going in June, rather than September.  Not so many mozzys - only one bite, yahoo!  No deafening cicadas and lots more flowers.  And the smell of pine trees and thyme was sublime.


So many lemons - just wish I could take them all home




Even the cactus were flowering



The view of the mountain, Montgo


The oleander was out!



Beans on the bean tree


Lovely old, gnarled bean tree it is too



The bougainvillea was lovely (and spiky) as always


I hadn't seen the purple jacaranda blooming before



The wood eating grub thing that was in the sofa last year was now in the curtain poles!  Nooooo!  So we did a lot of sign language and acting in the local hardware store and came back with some nasty killing stuff.


I did offer to do it (I think)


View from the neya - 31 degrees, phew.


Nice evening stroll in Javea - there's Montgo (sigh)


So nice to go on the beach at six in the evening and swim in the sea!


We did both fall asleep on the sand one day - poor old duffers


We found a nice spot for a cooling drink


Sangria and tapas - that's me sorted




You know you travel too much when you can't work out which way the traffic is coming when you cross the road back home!  I haven't been abroad now for at least four weeks and I'm starting to get a twitchy eye.... :-(


Still, good to drown our sorrows at the Salisbury Beerex with fellow real ale nerds

We sang in Salisbury Cathedral and had an audition in the vestry.  It was very spooky to be in the dim, echoing Cathedral as they are closing up - so many doors!



More sculptures inside too


The garden has been slow to get going


The roses and strawberries were late in arriving




Emma, our mad friend and house sitter getting a run down on the watering before we went away - again!


We had an amazing show of poppies in the village - shame the weather wasn't sunnier





Esme admiring the poppies and cows from the garden.....





Birthday celebrations with Esme to end the month - we had to have an indoor BBQ!

I am cautiously optimistic, the weather is improving.  I am determined to wear my new and only bikini since the 1970's before the summer is out.....

Well there's a half of home brew on the coffee table with my name on it so must go.