Madelyn's "half birthday" 21-23rd June 2013.

 So, the time has flown and this little princess is 18 months old.

  

                             

A birthday on Christmas Day means that a party on her actual birthday is going to be a bit difficult to organise! So like the queen, Madelyn is going to have two birthdays. This was a mega lovely idea because we were able to buy outdoor things for her,knowing that she will be able to play with them now rather than having to wait months for warmer weather

It was a really brilliant weekend. On Saturday we went to Wickstead Park. 

       

     Faster daddy !!          

 Andy had a bit of a struggle ! Lots of playtime ,then off to feed the ducks

   

           

  Even Grandma took to the water!

      This lolly made an incredible mess.

 

But this was what happened when mummy took it away

                     

     After a lot more playtime we headed back home for presents and a BBQ.

The biggest hit of the day was her play house. She absolutely loved it.

                    

         In you come! 

Now ,if you are going to have a crafty drink make sure you're with your dad

           

                       What me?     

      

                                              Then cry when mummy says " no more"           

  

The morning after the night before. Sooo tired.

Reading with grandma. 

                                   

      Making sure the grandads don't fall over.

                 Hmmm, what's the pass code?

                      

What's this?

One and a half candles.

                                                                    It took a bit of practice.

                                           

   But she got there in the end.

                        

   

We ended a perfect weekend with a dinner at Red Hot, clearly enjoyed by the birthday girl.

                      

     Pudding, always the best bit.

From this ......

To this ........in the twinkling of an eye.

    

    Happy times.xx

Henley Craft Fair. 21/6/2013

Every so often I get e-mails from the lady who made Emma's birthday necklace telling me about craft fairs that she is going to be at. Nearly all of them are in Wales so I can't go. However ,this weekend she was displaying her jewellery at a fair in Henley on Thames. We were going to Jo and Andy's on Friday so made a bit of a detour so we could go to the fair.

Kate Lewis is a lovely lady. She was quite touched I think,that I had made an effort to go and see her. It was great to be able  to see all the jewellery too.

The fair was a right old collection of stuff, if it could be called "designer"it was there. It was actually very poncy and ridiculously expensive, but the well heeled folk in Henley clearly loved it, especially the jewellery. 

As is often the case, these people don't like you taking photos, so I had to be a bit sneaky and only take photos outside.

    

These guys were playing in the area where people were sitting to eat. It was that sort of jazzy stuff that always sounds good outside, but you know it would get on your nerves if you were trapped in side.

                

These bronze figures cost a couple of grand each 

   

These were also expensive . They were outdoor mobiles and looked pretty funky.

 This was one of those weird things that you look at and think "what's the point,where would I put it" 

A chicken ! There is always a chicken!

By far the most attractive things on display were these

                                       

                                     

            They were all made from chicken wire.

Needless to say, we didn't buy anything. 

National Gardens Scheme.

I

Today was National Gardens Scheme  open day. The gardens are all privately owned and for a short time they are open to the public to raise money for charity. We chose to go to one in Tatsfield . It was a bit of a miserable day so we didnt want to go far. The garden was listed as "the chauffeurs flat" which made us curious from the start. All I can say is that he must have earned a packet driving cars!  

The garden was tucked away down a lane next to Tatsfield church. The " flat was actually a semi circle of house set in a massive courtyard. The other half of the circle was divided up into what looked like separate houses . Bit difficult  to take a photo with the owner standing there though .

                                             Fabulous view from up here.

                                                 

  Dragon quest.

The couple that live here met at University. They both studied art. She specialised in design ,his speciality was metal work. So in the garden all the art work was done by them. She draws it and then he makes it up. This was not a formal style garden. It was all little nooks and crannies,with all  kinds of metal work, mosaics ,statues, benches and ponds. She was the dotty kind of old dear that you hope you don't get stuck next to on the bus. Having said that I don't think she was that old,probably 50 ish, maybe younger. Se was wearing two different shades of green velour track suit and no bra. Scraggy hair that looked as if she chopped it herself and she had a face that I'm pretty sure has never had a speck of slap on it. However the garden was amazing.

                                      A peacock

                                            

   The pond

Fishy

       

    Whodovoodo

     

                                !    

        

        These were organ pipes. They had little faces painted on them         

                      

               

  This was shells just set in a block of cement. Simple but effective

                                      

   

          

There were lots of pergolas doted around that the lady had made herself but most were in shady spots and difficult to photo

          This was the view from the lower terrace. In the far distance is Ashdown Forest                                   

There were lots of little benches like this hidden away in shady corners.

                   

     

Another mosaic .

We sneaked a look into the "flat" .It was a shambles

                                   

    

An enjoyable morning . Will look out for more gardens to nose round.