Fathers' Day

Fathers' day and we visited open gardens in Hartley Wintney. Also on offer were cream teas and Pimms.

Hayley and Des above and Lynda and Ben below. Looks nice, could eat some now.

Janice, Gaby and brian watching the jam go on. Very hot day and oh so English.

Walking down our lane. Sweet Freddie.

l to r

Emily, Des, Jack, Freddie and Brian.

Grandad? Grandad,?Grandad? that is all you hear.

OUR HOLS

John and Kay our friends of 35 years were out in Menorca so we caught up with them at their apartment in Fornells. They had let it the next day so we all made a hasty retreat to a rather nice hotel nearby. BUT it wasn't ready for tourists yet. Not clean etc.

We were sent to Cala Galdana and there we were given two apartments looking out to the bay and the pool Very nice too. Spent two night there. Very relaxing.

Kay and John left to go home.

We spent the rest of the week with friends Adrienne and Pedro. In their beautiful annexe. Granny Flat. It was really great. We joined them for meals out and in and in all had a super time with them and their dogs. It was too short and too lovely. We will be back.

It wasn't at all strange being in Menorca. I felt I had moved on, so to speak and went about with my eyes seeing all the lovely places we lived and visited. Bumped into old friends. Left the island witxxxh no regrets. Our home in Hampshire is just right and it is so good to be in the same country as family. Well nearly all of it. John and Fia are in Sweden of course!

The pace of life is relaxing in Menorca and we are lucky to be in a village where it is too. Having no car helps I think. We haven't got to get anywhere quick. If you know what I mean?

We miss our friends though, and will visit often. That is a threat.

SOCKS PLAYING. IS HE BIG? HE IS HUGE!

LITTLE SWEETIE, THE DOG, AND BRIAN OF COURSE :)

COFFEE IN THE SUN

WHERE DID I GET THAT TOP. NICE THOUGH. CHARITY SHOP IN

MENORCA. DESIGNER? OF COURSE.

THIRTY SIX YEARS - CELEBRATING WITH ADRIENNE AND PEDRO

PEDRO AND I WAITING FOR OUR DINNER

AND THESE TWO LOVEY DOVEYS, HEY IT'S OUR NIGHT! CUDDLES PLENTY.

OH WELL LET'S HAVE A DRINK WHILE WAITING.

STILL WAITING

NICE PICTURE

A WEEK IN MENORCA IN MAY

WE STARTED OFF IN FORNELLS - THIS IS CALA GALDANA THOUGH, WHERE WE HAD OUR HONEYMOON 36 YEARS EARLIER. REALLY? SO LONG AGO. KAY, JOHN AND MYSELF.

BRIAN AND KAY

EATING AS USUAL

DON'T THEY LOOK CONTENT WAITING FOR PRAWMS, SQUID AND THE LIKE?

A DULL BUT WARM DAY IN A VERY QUIET RESORT.

AGASSI OUR IRISH ENGLISH SETTER!

HERE IS AGASSI WITH HIS BELOVED MASTER.

HE LOOKS CLEAN AND TIDY NOW WITH A MUCH BETTER WOUND ON HIS NECK AND STILL A WEEPY EAR.

HE IS TEN AND IS VERY LOVELY, LOVES CUDDLES AND IS RIGHT BY OUR SIDE. ALL THE TIME.

THIS ONE TAKEN SLIGHTLY EARLIER, WHEN HE WAS A LITTLE GRUBBY AND SMELLY. BUT HE LOOKS SO CONTENT, WATCHING WHAT I WAS DOING.

THIS IS HOW HE LOOKED AFTER HIS FIRST BATH, VERY MUDDY AND FORLORN. YOU CAN SEE THE MUDDY FUR AND HE DID STINK. POOR THING, HE DIDN'T KNOW.

Neighbours at Christmas

Patsy at No 1 under her painting of Kauto Star. They know the trainer very well and went to Kempton on Boxing Day when he won.... Brilliant.




Patsy and oh no, can't remember her name. This lady is next to Patsy, on the other side.

My Brian and Patsy's Brian. They look rather surprised.

At our house this time. Brian, Patsy and Denise (No 3) and my Brian. Just before Christmas.

My creative writing students

Having lunch (working lunch) in the local pub. Pat on left, Jackie and Val on the

right. Valerie and Liz discussing plot!

With Mike included now. Our lunch - nice.

Way back in December now. Christmas lunch. Like the flowers coming out of Jackie's head.

Now with Ann. Nice days. End of term now.

Different pics

Freddie Hallowen night

Great grandson Harvey enjoying a meal out!

Valentina hiding from him.

Hayley at boot fair. We bought the globe.

Lynda, Gabriella and a purchaser.

All taken about end of September.

Valentina with Freddie January

Oh dear, I can assure you he was happy.

Latest news from Hartley Wintney

It is some time since I blogged and I am going to start to write and try to download pics. Honest.

Firstly and sadly our beloved dog Valentina passed away on April 7th after an operation. It was found she had cancer and that was the reason she was so quiet and tired from middle of Feb. It was a shame she went so through so much with looking at from the vet, but in the end it proved she was really ill.

We can't function without a dog. So, I contacted English Setter Rescue and we now have Agassi a ten year old male from Ireland. A great old boy he is too. I can hardly believe he was a working dog for ten years. He resides most days on the sofa having retired gracefully and is as good as any other house dog.

He loves walks on the common and is so quiet in the house, doesn't come upstairs (isn't used to them) and stays in the garden on the grass most days.

We have been here over a year now and how did that happen?

Brian walks with U3A group once a month. I teach creative writing twice a month. My first year just finished and I have five brilliant, budding writers after three terms of hard work.
We both work in the local charity shop, different days of course!
Don't ask about the novel, it is writing itself in my head, soon to be put down on paper then typed up at speed.