HAPPY BIRTHDAY ABIGAIL

cuddles with Grandad

I've no idea where the last ten years went, but today is Abigail's tenth birthday.

The Right / Left game

Bubbles

More bubbles and fun

Walking the plank in the garden

Ten candles on the cake

I remember vividly the day she was born, our first grandchild arrived by emergency Cesarean and was then in a special care unit, we were all so worried for her and her mother, Jacqueline.
A few days later they were allowed home and she has brought such joy to the whole family.

Yesterday the family came for lunch and after a roast pork dinner, we played parcel the jelly! A version of pass the parcel! with cries of "another game please Grandma" I quickly wrapped 6 more items for a Right / Left game at the table.

Then time for a breath of fresh air and we all had bubbles in the garden and then games of Boules on the side lawn.

Richard had made Abigail her favourite chocolate cake, which we all tucked into.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ABIGAIL

Higham Piecemakers Quilt Show

Saturday Chris and I visited Higham Ferrers Bede House, a wonderful old building full of history to view the Quilt show.
The hall was buzzing with people and the displays were wonderful for this small group.


The view down the hall



Busy selling



Christmas display



Months of the year



Love the embroidery



A very pretty quilt



Sampler

Great colours

My favourite

The photos are just a very small part of this Bi-Annual show.

Bags with Tiny Workshop



My bag with handle unfinished



Next months workshop

The view from my sewing machine!

Penny and I set off on a miserable foggy morning to attend a workshop at Milton Keynes [ not my favourite city]. Found the venue without any trouble and joined about a dozen ladies to make a bag with Tiny.It was an interesting workshop and I really like the bag, although I didn't quite manage to finish the handle [ it is made from the scraps left over from cutting out the main parts of the bag and will be shoulder length].
Thanks Tiny for another great workshop. Look forward to the next one in October making a door stop.

Garden friends



Garden friends

Since getting back from Spain it has been go go go, getting things sorted, washing done, shopping etc.
This afternoon was time to sort out 4 weeks growth in the garden and start to get it ready for the Winter. Everything was looking very sad and neglected, so we attacked it with gusto.
While working near the pond quite a few frogs and toads came out to see us, and I even managed to feed one of them a worm I dug up! 

Chris enjoys another birthday

Chris celebrated his birthday today. An invitation to spent most of the day and a lovely mid day meal with our son Richard and his family. Abigail and Eleanor had time to play with the holiday gifts we had brought them from Spain before sitting down to roast beef and all the trimmings. Next on the menu was a wonderful iced birthday cake complete with candles.

His gift from Richard and Jacqueline consisted of a first aid kit and a Space blanket, to be used in his new role of 4 x 4 rescuer for people in need during the winter months

My present was a new clutch for his Land Rover. I'm sure presents used to be more exciting than this!


Abigail & Eleanor enjoying one of their holiday presents




63 candles just would not fit, but the cake was delicious



19th - 20th SPAIN

Our final few days, were spent sun bathing, shopping [ many bargains from a local Cancer Charity shop] working on my Amish x stitch, playing backgammon on my iPad and generally enjoying ourselves.


One of the acrobatic planes that flew over regularly



Outdoor BBQ





BBQ 7 - 11.30 at Cafe Golf

Singer as Diana Ross

Final progress on the Amish X stitch

Our final evening in San Javier was spent at an outdoor buffet with live entertainment by the Caballeros. Four singers performed for 3 hours, dresses as the Beatles, Abba, Sister Act, Buddy Holly, ELO, Andrews sister, Mick Jagger and many others. They were really great.
Our last day 20th was spent packing eating fish and chips [ we just could not resist them] and driving back to Alicante to catch our 7.40pm flight with Monarch, all went smoothly and we were home about 11.30pm very tired but having enjoyed one of the best holidays.

14th - 18th SPAIN

More visits to street markets. One being a Charity stall market, where I bought amongst other things a skirt and matching top for 1 Euro [80p]. A girl was sitting painted gold from head to top knitting, a donation in her cup meant I could have my photo taken with her.
On one of the very hot days we took a trip to the Ricote Valley [ Air conditioner in the car full on!] with a visit to Thermal baths to see the roman ruins.
Wednesday saw us back at the Camp Site just up the road for the quiz evening, we went early enough to eat before the fun began. Having again won biscuits and wine for the worse score in the quiz! we stayed for a game of deal or no deal, where Pauline was chosen [by admission ticket] to play the game, she won 25 Euros.



Street Market at Alcazares



"Gold" lady sitting knitting



Archaeological ruins



Map of the Ricots Valley



Ricote Valley



Colourful rock formations



Water Wheel



More progress on the X stitch



Me paddling in the sea



Chris enjoying the sea

Wash basin in the toilets at Des Mares

Chris enjoying a Tony Burger!

Pauline chosen to play Deal or No deal

Pauline with her 25 Euro winnings.

11th - 13th SPAIN

During these few days we seemed to cram in a lot of activity. Pat took us to a very nice Hotel on the sea front for Happy Hour, then across the promenade to Pier Restaurant for a three course meal for a mere 69 Euros. The setting was wonderful.
One day was spent with borrowed sewing machines working on designs Pauline and I had taken with us to Spain to teach Pat a few new things. The room fans kept the temperature in the house bearable while we worked on samples and bottle covers etc..
Back to Lui's Lounge for his wonderful fish and chips on the Friday.



Chris using the new vacuum cleaner



Progress on the Amish X stitch

Pat, Pauline and I have a sewing day

Sewing completed on the sewing day

Brian and Chris enjoying Happy Hour

Eating dinner with Pat Brian and Pauline on the Pier

Starters on the Pier Restaurant



Fish & chips at Lui's Lounge



The BEST Fish & Chips

8th - 10th SPAIN

This is a re-cap of our second week in Spain.
The temperature was in the low 30's most of the time but reached 35 degrees one day.. very hot!
A trip through the countryside to see the Design House was very interesting, we passed a Restaurant at Rebate that is on our list for next year.
Asked the villa owner, Mike, if we could book for 4 weeks next year and as the vacuum cleaner had broken we bought a new one as our deposit!
Our friends Pauline & Brian arrive to stay in the villa next to ours, so we start with a meal out at Route 66.



Swimming pool viewed from our roof



Washing on the roof dry in 1/2 a day!



Sun set from the roof



Restaurant at Rebate



Olives growing in the Rebate grounds



Turtle at Rebate



View from the Grand Design House



Grand Design House

Pauline & Brian join us for meal at Route 66