Wow - time flies when you are having fun. I don't know what has happened to October, but it has passed by in a flash. I could list all the things I have been busy with, but that would send you all off to sleep in no time, so let's gloss over the gap since my previous post.
I will, however, show you what I was up to last week. It was half term, which is cause for celebration in itself, but combined with my birthday (37 and counting!) and a trip to Dorset, it couldn't have been better.
This was our cosy home for the week, in the centre of Corfe Castle, the top of which could be seen from our bedroom window. You can just see Bodie escaping to make sure he was in the photo.
The castle (just in case you were wondering).
Although we are on the wrong side (or right, depending on your viewpoint) of the sign, I can assure you that we were all fully dressed, as was everyone else in sight. It was pretty Baltic on Studland beach that day, which was a relief.
A gorgeous building in Poole Harbour, made even more special by the name. Grace was very taken with it, but Ruth was a tad miffed they never have anything named after her.
Max Gate - the former home of Thomas Hardy. It was a fabulous house and the National Trust ladies were fascinating. We were told we could pick up anything we saw, read the books and sit on the furniture - not often the case with the National Trust!
Thomas Hardy's birthplace. I'm sure this has graced a few chocolate boxes in its time.
The steam train and station in Corfe Castle. We took the train into Swanage, where we sat at the station and ordered a new washing machine as it was the only spot in the whole of Dorset with a 3G signal and our washing machine gave up the ghost the previous week. It was definitely a clash of eras - not many people visit the John Lewis website on an iPad on a steam train I'm sure. It's arriving tomorrow and everytime I do a load of dirty washing I will think of the train ride. That will be frequently.
This nonchalant deer on Brownsea Island was much happier to have her photo taken than the hundreds of red squirrels we saw - they were so quick leaping away with mouths full of acorns that we only have russet smudges on our photos.
Brownsea Island from the ferry.
The Bucket Tree at Lulworth Cove. The owners have raised over £3300 this year for charity from passers by putting money in a bucket on the wall.
So, I am another year older, and as always I have made my 'new year' resolutions. One of which is to blog more. I feel I am getting more inspiration again and I am creating more time to indulge my creative side, so watch this space.
Roll on November...