Superheroes!

I've just woken up in a very warm bedroom, which means that I'm not at home.
I'm on a week's "grannying duty" in Bicester, which is always a treat.
T is now at secondary school and so quite self sufficient although he does pop in for a chat and a snuggle before getting up.
K P's aim is always to beat him to it, this morning she has failed, still asleep.
Yesterday I took KP to school and then roamed the streets of Bicester until lunchtime, coming home laden with goodies to convert into "children in Need" costumes/sell on/ turn into an Egyptian costume for KP.
CinN almost done - a netted ball gown (£1) is now a "Superheroes Cape"!
Any ideas for the Egyptian?

A lazy day today, may even catch "Bargain Hunt"!
I'll probably walk into town for the exercise, no housework to do!

Burne Jones v James Bond!

I had plenty of mundane tasks to do today whilst getting over a cold, but then had the offer of a cultural day in.........Birmingham.

Not a difficult decision really.

We caught the train from Coleshill to New Street (3.60 return) and explored the new station.

It is fabulous, more like an airport, buzzing and welcoming.

After coffee at Pret, we went to The Museum and Art Gallery, I last visited with a school party from KS, perhaps 20 years ago, 

I remember a Ford Maddox-Brown painting from my first ever visit as a teenager, because of it's amazing light.

I now know/remember that it's called "The Last of England"

Even better than I remembered!

The whole place is brilliant so we had to limit the number of galleries visited.

We finished by seeing The Staffordshire Haul, 4000 pieces of Saxon treasure found near Lichfield, by far the largest haul ever found.

The workmanship is incredible.

We considered seeing "Spectre" later, but agreed to spend longer in the Art Gallery, visit the cathedral and the arcade opposite Snow Hill station.

We explored John Lewis in the station complex, bought books in Foyles and caught the 17.35 train back to Coleshill..

About to carve a steak off the gammon joint in the fridge to have with an egg for tea.

Moreton in Marsh

A day out today, having seemingly been very busy of late.
We visited Kenilworth, Shipston on Stour and Moreton in Marsh, which was brilliant.
We pottered around the antique centres, charity shops and drank soup, coffee, tea.......
I bought some odds and ends, including a delightful pair of Art Deco fan shaped EPNS vases, which will shortly appear on e Bay.
The mist did almost disappear and the sun shine through at one point, but pretty fair weather for November.
We have been spoilt over the weekend with summer temperatures.
Saturday was the final mow in the churchyard, I took food along and we had a barbecue to finish, in hot sunshine..
Yesterday, after two church services, we worked in the garden, clearing the remainder of the hedge cuttings, pruning the trees and bonfire building, again, in warm sunshine.

There must be some housework in the pipeline somewhere this week........

Goal!

Three hours in the construction, but a big hit!

Getting in practice for KP next week.

Autumn arrived whilst we were away.

We've spent three days in Shropshire, at The Bear Inn in Hodnet, which was great and an amazing bargain through Travelzoo, booked months ago.
Lovely staff, great food and ambiance, all set in a beautiful little village with Hodnet Hall, gardens and remains of a castle, 10/14 th century church and thatched cottages owned by the estate.
The Bear thinks it has a bear pit in the cellar, but this was actually built 30+ years ago by the local garage mechanic (who now restores vintage cars in a workshop opposite the pub) for a previous landlord, who upset the RSPCA by having live bears in crates on the car park for the grand opening..

We went to the auction at Halls in Shrewsbury on Wednesday but were limited in purchasing power as we were in the Lotus, the Volvo having refused to start!
Three e bay sales whilst away, just packed, Th and friend E here for the day, having a great time with the new goal post.
Three cheers for teacher training days!

Coffee and cake

A great way to spend a morning with friends.
This morning we had coffee cake, baked cheesecake and small, freshly baked scones with cream and jam to accompany the chat.

I collected the Volvo from Witton, cured!
Apparently the sunroof wasn't closed correctly hence the water in the foot wells.
This has got into "the electrics", causing the problem.
Fine and a joy to drive, again.
I delivered spare cake to absent friends, then it was dark.

I spent yesterday gardening, tidying and planting - mini daffodils on the rockery and pansies in the borders.
I swept the yard ......again, whilst being bombarded with acorns.
Another bumper year.
I have to keep having a look to appreciate them before they disappear under leaves again.

Some e baying to do tomorrow (free listing this week) then Solihull then J and Th school pick up, tea, etc".
Must find time and flexibility to do my toe nails, after the holiday.
No mean "feat" after a day gardening!

What's brown with red spots?

Me after nearly a month in the sun.
We spent a few days on Rodus/Rhodes, staying in a small hotel in the old town, exploring.
We took the ferry to Tilos, the next, small island for ten days, staying in an apartment run by a great young couple, in Livardia.
The weather was five degrees warmer than anticipated and too warm to do much walking, apart from round the bay along the promenade early in the mornings.
We made use of the local bus to visit the local sites and beaches, bathed, read and relaxed.
We hired a scooter one day to add to the excitement, visited the deserted village - every island seems to have one - and the capital (museum, two cafes and a shop)

We then ferried on to Nisyros, a larger volcanic island whose centre is the cauldron with bubbling hydrothermal pits.
We stayed in an apartment with resident large hairy spider in the bathroom, who only had to be evicted when he went walkabout - just about fitted under a tumbler
Some lovely small towns, high up, with typical narrow passageways, only wide enough for a scooter and more great beaches.
Buses didn't exist so we hired a car for  three days.
The nice tan had the red spots added, mainly during the one evening spent in a local bar next door to the shop, with fruit counter.

After a week we ferried on to Kalymnos, the sponge island.
The weather was a little cooler by then.
We explored on foot and used the local bus to travel from our green little valley of Vithi to the city.
On Monday we took the overnight ferry to Athens, spent a couple of hours in the Flea Market, a good lunch , then the long journey home.