Portsmouth

 We took the bus into Portsmouth, first time for us, we got off at canoe lake, a popular place near the beach, not too busy today, it will be full in the coming weeks.

The main pier, with a funfair at the end, our beaches are all shingle, there are loads of work happening to ensure the beach stays looking this good. Further along the seafront is closed for improvement works.

The very end of the pier was open, normally a spot for fishermen, it was empty and very scary walking over the grids, looking down at the sea, I walked around the edge, gripping the rails, probably will never do it again.

We walked from Southsea into old Portsmouth, stopping for a lovely fish and chip lunch. I adore this area, everything here is just so interesting, this is the narrow stretch of the water, often you see loads of people here when the big vessels come and go from the naval base. Gosport is across the water.

The working part of the shore, I have memories of walking here at 1am on a Midnight charity walk for a local hospice, many years ago, it's much nicer in the daylight and interesting.

Spinnaker tower from a different angle, we are across the water in Old Portsmouth. 

View from the lawns, Southsea has fantastic open spaces, we watched the gardens being weeded, people painting and other maintenance works, getting ready for the busy period. 

Always loads of vessels on the water, we saw Isle of Wright ferry, fast-cat and hovercraft, the huge continental ferry going in to dock, Gosport ferry making the short journey across the water.

We have not seen this before, decided not to got a on this time, maybe somewhere to bring Will.

We had a fantastic day, using our bus passes for the free journey, it was always our plan for a long walk, loads of chatting,  seeing how things has changed. We had lunch and later coffee and cake for our treats, at no point was it hard work, there are many steps in Old Portsmouth, but everywhere was enjoyed at a leisurely pace. 

The shopping centre, Gunwharf Quays is next to the bus station, we stopped for our coffee, popped into M&S outlet, purchased nothing, watched the Royal Marine band play and march around the shoppers. After 12,000 steps we were ready to catch the express bus home, no rain, the sky darkened a couple of times, but the weather gods were kind to us.

This is something we promise our selves we would do more of, with express busses to Portsmouth and Southampton, and the bus lanes through the cities, it's a nicer way to travel, and our bus passes make the journeys free. I hope to take hubby to the older parts of Southampton, along the walls there. 

 

Come for a walk

Tonight instead of heading towards the castle

We drove for 15 minutes in the other direction

 Looking towards Portsmouth, Spinnaker Tower

 I love this row of boats

 Shame the tide is out

 One last photo looking out over the local sailing club

 The common ground is huge

Our local football club is here

just out of shot are the junior team practice session

 Along the tree line, huge sways of wild flowers

 Plus loads of blackberry bushes

It was worth getting into the car to visit this area, hubby walked here earlier in the week, with his mate, neither of us knew it was so big, it's not a local place you drive past. I would love to come back when the tide is in, tonight would be about 10pm, so too late for us.

How are you getting on with our heat wave, our offices at work have the air conditioning system set well, it's cool but not cold, plus we can open our windows to allow a warm breeze in, so it's very comfortable to work in. It has been too hot to walk at lunchtime, but we have been sitting outside for 30 mins. Our sitting room at home stays in the shade all day, so with the big doors open, it's perfect to feel as if you are outside and keeping cool. I started and finished the book below this week, reading is perfect for summer evenings. It's a book I would recommend, I enjoyed every last page.  

At night we have a humidifier working all night so the bedroom is cool, it does help to get a good nights sleep.
Tomorrow is my last day at work for a week, we had plans to have Josh and Sam, but they have changed so we are now planning time for the both of us, including a few days home in Somerset.

Green fingers

My Cucamelon is growing slowly, it's healthy but just not a quick grower, this is the bigger of my two plants, and will stay in the greenhouse, the second plant will live outside, I want to see which produces the best crop.  I also have a standard cucumber in this pot, hence so many frames. 

 Tomatoes in the greenhouse, on the left is a yellow fruit and on the right is a baby vine fruit. Nice to see flowers forming, it's cool again, so things are a bit behind. I also have a tomato which grows in a hanging basket, which I don't like, so it is in a pot, on a higher shelf in the greenhouse.

 Flowers are coming along, my garden is just waiting for the warm weather to arrive to burst into flower. 

 My veg tubs, I have loads of little gem lettuce coming through, can't wait for my 1st home grown salad of the year. We have had herbs and salad leaves over the weekend. The carrots and beetroots are forming well, none will be allowed to get huge, it's more about baby veg this year. Two moneymaker tomatoes planted outside in blue tub, these are being grown for chutney.

 These pots are still on the decking, we have almost emptied the tool chest, and hope to see it gone next week. The Blueberry has settled in the blue daisy pot, and I have loads of small olives forming in the brown pot. In the churn pot is a bleeding heart, it's new this year and a bit behind.  The herbs in the garden behind have doubled in size and my onions are looking good.

 Another photo from yesterday, both my daughters were watching me, and cheering when I got to the bottom. I am so pleased they get on well, don't they look beautiful, both are happy.

One last photo from yesterday, yep that's me just over half way down.

I am home alone today, does not happen often, a bonus day. I have been doing nice things, an hour in the garden, a sort out here in my office, this afternoon I will use my sewing machine and later bake a cake for work tomorrow.
It's nice to have the extra day off, we had a perfect weekend, seeing loads of both daughters. Sadly no bike ride, it was too wet, maybe later in the week we can get out.
I'm off now for a long lunch.

Abseil

Spinnaker Tower Portsmouth

 170 meters high to

Small platform

Was scared of heights

Greatest fun, monies raised for our local hospital. 

Thanks to my wonderful family on the ground supporting me.

All over the place

It's raining as fore caste, steady rain, good for the garden, looking so very green.

 Oldest daughter Fliss has had a sort out, which means new books for me, I have kept what I like the rest will go to a charity shop. I also was given some blue and green glass pots, I have sneaked them in without hubby seeing, some things just need to happen.

 On Saturday I purchased this Maidenhead fern, I always love these, this is a small one, they do get big, it is on my desk a very sunny spot, I love to watch plants grow. Do you like my cows, the big one is solar powered, and glows at night.

 Stitching is coming along, just about to start the third brown section, I added the green to balance colours and I think it looks good, I will use the green again, this is a stunning design, but I do like my colour.

We are home this morning, at 3pm I will be in Portsmouth, feeling OK at this point, still have to face the step off the edge of the building for the abseil, but it is for a good reason, and another off my bucket list.
I will have to starting thinking about the next challenge.
Yesterday was fun with both daughters, they had the old photo albums out and loads of laughter, Facebook is full of these photo's. It is always a joy to look back on hair styles and fashion.
That's it off to stitch, nothing much to do for the next couple of hours.

European Cushion update

Just a couple of photo's

We went out for a burger to Deans Diner, looks just as we would expect a 50's American diner to look. Food was great, well cooked and tasty. 

The staff great fun.

 I know the tables looked messy, but it was busy and I got a couple of photo's before the next people sat down. I loved these huge hanging lights. 

We will pop back again,.

 I finished the second central row, and I am glad, I had to unpick the last design, I was not as bad as the second, but it sends my eyes all over the place. 

 The design is beautiful, last night I decided to fill in the large outer panel, I want to see the colours in this section, before I choose the central colours, there should only be seven different colours, I have already used six.

Up close

I had a late night stitching last night, our BB2 is 50 years old and they showed the history of their comedy programme's, it was on to mid night, and was so very funny. They have over the years made some great shows with our top comedians, and they showed great moments from these shows, I laughed as I stitched.
This morning is blue skies, they should not be here for long, not that I will be outside, I have a mountain of housework to do.
We did plan a BBQ for later, but we have changed it to a buffet tea, both daughters will be here and their partners if they can make it. Josh and Sam are with Granny in Manchester, shame it's such a long drive for them.
I went to Hobbycraft and Haskins yesterday, no purchase in Hobbycraft, and spent under £10 in the garden centre, must be a record, I really did not need anything, my garden is looking great. Su purchased some strawberry plants and two pots, back here I planted them for her, it was a cheat, we found six plants in full flower, which will speed every thing for her.
All I do in my garden is potter, I have uncovered my two tomato plants, which are in the tub outside, fingers crossed the weather is kind.
Tomorrow I am abseiling down the Spinnaker Tower at Portsmouth harbour,  I don't like heights so it is going to be a challenge, fingers crossed the rain is only light, it takes just 10 minutes to get down, photo's will follow.
I also have Tuesday off, so a long, long weekend, I hope to have my sewing machine out all day Tuesday.

Between the thunder storms

The flowers are beginning to show, beautiful daisy's, yellow rosebuds, just to name a few, everywhere is waking up again, roll on Summer. 

  Both of these are from last year

  I have potted my Blueberry, I love this large pot, the pansies and begonias have been put into my large garden, and both are all are looking well. I will move these pots once I have passed on the toolbox, nothing gets thrown away.

 Paula you asked where the gates from my last post are going to hang, they will hang along the edge here at the start of our garden. At this point our garden is very open, the gap is a bit wider, but we can have a small wall to the left of this photo, so the dustbins can hide behind.

I have been busy with my European Cushion, I decided to do the large pattern, and it has been a nightmare, the second pattern I have unpicked twice, there was a small error in the pattern, which I thought I had put right only to find I was still out. Just one and a half left to do, and then the different colours inside the pattern.

 I don't think it looks too messy, I was cross with all the unpicking. 

Today we have had thunder storms, so I won't have to water the garden, and I am collecting rain water, so for once I don't mind the rain, shame it is fore caste for the Bank Holiday Weekend. I have an extra day off, we get it for the Queens birthday, so after tomorrow I won't be back into work until Wednesday morning.
Monday afternoon I will do my abseil, I am very pleased with the amount I have raised, I have hit my target.
We have few plans for the weekend, everything depends on how wet it is going to be, and I do need a weekend to rest.

Very interesting article on the news regarding age and when are we old, now 80 is the new 60, so I have 21 years before I am officially old. 

On that note, I will leave you, hope you weekend plans are coming together, have fun.