We've had a new arrival :)

An Elephant Hawk Moth.

'aint nature a wonderful thing!

Sue's Wedding

An amazing backdrop for a wedding - Painswick Rococo Gardens and the follies therein. It was quite a pull up the hill from the lake but Sue made it :)

... and 30 years on, as with fine wine ;)

Mary (left), Marilyn (centre), Sue (right) - then and now.

Wild Daffs

Harbinger of Spring

Colesbourne Park is undoubtedly one of the best places to see early, and varied, snowdrops in profusion. The collection at the park was started by John Elwis at the turn of the last centuary - he even found a unique specie in Turkey in 1874 which is now named after him, Galanthus elwesii. Now his great grandson Henry, his wife Carolyn together with Dr John Grimshaw tend to, and develop, the collection. Colesbourne now boasts over 160 varieties of snowdrop.

Early spring colours are unbeatable. Soon be daffodile time :)

Spring Has (almost) Sprung

Chew Valley Lake

A wonderful walk on a rare beautiful day when even at the end of January spring seemed to be in the air.

With the lake still part frozen a group of snowdrops were blooming merrily amongst the undergrowth. Here @ home Gloucestershire is home to the national collection of snowdrops - Marilyn and I visit each year to look and marvel at the amazing variety of snow white teardrops..

Even in winter natures colours can be quite spectacular:

Let it snow

Let it snow

Let it snow

Happy New Year 2010

Cheers n a merry crimble from us all






Just what you need. Marion's pressie to Jean. It may look like a big cuddly doggie but it's actually a hot water bottle - just what you need in current day arctic Britain!









After the trip North it was down to London for a theatrical break. Starting with Dick Barton @ the Croydon Warehouse - the theatre in the attic.

Sister Act @ the Palladium. What energy - Patina Miller is just amazin, n Shiela Hancock put in a good performance too. The casting was excellent.


Then on to Glen Miller @ the Barbican for some of the best swing music ever.

Didn't make the fireworks. Standing in sub zero temperatures hemmed in by seething masses - not us, warm hotel room, bottle of champers n saw it on the telly :)







But did get to Winter Wonderland on New Years Day. A Hyde Park extraveganza complete with singing Moose -







What a finale!