Blazing July

What glorious weather! Long hot, sunny days to enjoy. After the rain of spring, the countryside looks beautiful and just how it should at the height of summer.
Yesterday we spent the day at Llandanwg, one of my very favourite places at the coast. And I have many favourite places! There was a flower festival in the little church, St Tanwyg's in the dunes with the arrangements reflecting a number of welsh poets poems, including Hedd Wyn, Sion Lewis and the famous anonymous Sospan Fach!
My garden is looking very dry and some of the flowers past their best but my orange blossom and honeysuckle are beautiful and I have a lovely pink gypsophila out.
I hope everyone has been enjoying this lovely weather, back to work tomorrow! Hope everyone has a good week x jane

Countdown

I'm so excited! My elder daughter and her fiancé have set the date! My head is filled with flowers, colours, food, wine, home made confetti, lists and ooo all sorts of lovely things. Also weight loss, not so lovely but I will try to shed a few pounds to fit in my dream mother of the bride dress! Can I start thinking about what i'm going to wear? Yes, I think I can! A happy and sunny weekend to everyone x

Sunny days

The last few days have been glorious. We sneaked a weekend away in a pod doing a bit of "glamping" up at the coast just above Barmouth. On Saturday morning we walked high into the hills above Barmouth getting the most spectacular views over Cardigan Bay and to the Rhinogs. A wander around Barmouth and Harlech followed and a really lovely meal at Bistro Bermo in Barmouth to top the day off. I can't recommend Bistro Bermo highly enough, fantastic fresh food, mainly fish. On Sunday we spent the day at Llandanwg, a national trust spot with a great beach, field to sit in out of the wind, a church in the sand dunes and a great little cafe for an ice cream, perfect! Back to work today, well I gardened all day in our sensory garden, I can't really call that work! It was a pleasure to be with my little group. This week promises more sunshine, I hope you all enjoy it and make the most of it, Jane x

Blue skies

What a beautiful day! Warm and sunny from beginning to end. I've spent the morning cleaning out the garage, visiting my Mum, Dad and sister and my daughter. Then a bit of pottering in the garden followed by a lovely, lovely walk around some lanes a couple of miles from here. So quiet, just some lambs bleating, some birdsong and the most fantastic views over to the Berwyns, the section near Bala. A distance of about thirty miles. In the other directions, views to Trawscoed, Brookland, Llanerchyddol and Powys, country houses and castle. Beautiful rolling hills and the Long Mountain in the distance across the Severn Valley, Welshpool hidden from view. Back to work tomorrow but a truly lovely day today. Hope everyone enjoyed the weekend x

Sunshine and a lush landscape

Just back home from a wonderful holiday in Northern Majorca, Puerto Pollensa and the lovely Hotel Uyal which overlooks the beach and mountains of the bays of Pollensa and Alcudia.
We really did have a lovely time. It was strange to see the lushness of the island after all our snow!  Majorca too has had some strange weather, a very wet and warm March with some significant snow fall on the Tramuntama mountain range. We had one very wet afternoon and evening but otherwise the temperature averaged 24 degrees, just right!
We went to our favourite old towns of Pollensa and Alcudia and spent a day in the wonderful city of Palma. Palma is lovely city with its huge cathedral overlooking the port and the city. The old part of the city is just right for wandering, the squares made for sitting with a coffee and watching the world go by and the large department store El Corte Ingles made for retail therapy!
We have been visiting Majorca now for over twenty years, the island has everything, great beaches, peacefull countryside, mountain ranges, sleepy towns and villages, bustling Palma, beautiful churches,  lovely architecture, art and culture, walking, cycling, just about everything and only two and a bit hours from Manchester airport, perfect!
It was back to work today, lovely to see everyone and catch up. I hope you all had a lovely Easter, Jane x

Be careful out there

Yesterday, I would have looked at the snow in wonder, all be it faintly annoying. But yesterday afternoon our car turned over on the snow and ice with my husband and son in it. Thankfully they are fine, very lucky, the stiffness and shock will go and the car can be replaced. Be carefully everyone out there x

Champions

Well done Wales! What a win, really enjoyed the six nations as always. And well done to Italy for a great tournament too x