good day

Long time no write. I think Facebook has made me a little lazy!

Good day today. Our older daughter has just got engaged (hooray) and we spent the day wandering around Selfridges looking at hideous Vera Wang wedding dresses (sorry, but we thought they were awful) and cooing over wedding stationery and ideas for table decorations.

All this talk of weddings has obviously softened my brain. I would normally be complaining at the fact that the stores were full of Christmas decorations in October, but all I did was smile. This has ruined my reputation of being something of a humbug re the festive season.

Selfridges has hung giant mirrorballs in the atrium. As well as slowly spinning round, they moved up and down on long chains. I could have travelled up and down the escalators all afternoon, watching the play of light against the walls.

Took this with my ipod, so it's a bit blurry, but still pretty.

in memory

remembering all victims of terror & violence
especially those of 9/11

balloon

I love this time of year, when summer takes one last bow, while autumn waits in rustling anticipation in the wings and maybe throws the odd hint of fall colours onto the stage.



Today it has been raining heavily, but last weekend the sun was shining and A finally took the balloon ride that the girls and I had got him for his 50th (almost 2 years ago.) It had been cancelled 3 times, due to wind or rain, or both. But this was 4th time lucky. I stayed on the ground, took photos and then went for a walk while he and 11 others drifted through the evening sky.


connecting the uninflated balloon to the basket


there seems to be a lot of balloon


filling it full of cold air


then hot air


almost ready


up,


up and


away

end of august ...

... and I've managed to blog everyday.

Will have a few days break now and leave you with some images of summer.











1. at the water's edge
2. beer!
3. summertime, and the livin is easy ...
4. you're never too young for a festival
5. purple

music monday - midlake

A new discovery for me. Heard them at Latitude Festival in July and was completely blown away.

weekend

Brief visit to Suffolk to see my father-in-law, who has recovered physically from major cardiac surgery earlier this year, but sadly is becoming mentally frail.

It was typical August Bank Holiday weather. Rain, rain and more rain. With the occasional break in the clouds to remind us that the sun was hiding away up there. The photos are from Southwold, famous for its theatre, pier and beach huts. (There was one of these for sale at a mere £32,000!)



They make a wonderful place to take shelter from the English weather ...

frescos

In the mountains to the west of Lake Garda is a tiny commune, Molina di Ledro, on the shores of Lake Ledro. Having taken shelter from a rainstorm, when the skies had cleared a little we took a walk around the village.
We were delighted to find that the villagers had painted modern day frescos on their houses







I think the one with the sheep is my favourite!