Something old... something new...

Ladybird meets a lovely bug, 30 years her junior! 

Solstice!

So we found ourselves again on this doorstep, with the sun on our backs thankfully!  The solstice party went ahead and was a great success! 

We had arrived early, to grab a prime position before the tents got there! And so we got to sit in the bliss, watching the sun climb the sky...

Then suddenly there was a party! Sounds of laughter across a crackling fire... great music good food and familiar faces! 

The children had a great time, independant and very seriously exploring the beach which stretches across Ciara and Jays front doorstep...

Then the dusk lingered into a short night....

...and in the morning, friends sought each other out again, for a recap on the nights conversations and promises of "see you next year!" floated through the air....

Surprise in the post!

Look what I got in the post today - a lovely card from my friend Ingrid Miller!

Ingrid and I have known each other since we were babies, and have grown into good friends over the years... I am so touched by this card which had written inside "saw this - thought of you"!

The 1960s have always inspired me, I love the clothes, the music, the message... and the VW bus encapsultes it all - doesn't it?  This card encapsulates the VW bus... a symbol of a symbol... How wonderful!

I just wish Big B would let me paint a few peace signs on Birdie, I know she'd love it!!

June Bank Holiday

So for the second bank holiday weekend in a month, we found ourselves back in Hidden Valley for another blast of summer! The weather was unbelievable - 25 degrees! It is the perfect heat, not too hot to be out in and yet hot enough to sunbathe... Oh we lapped up the vitamin D, faces to the sun.  It was good incentive to look up though as a NASA space rocket flew across Ireland late saturday afternoon... We'd been watching for it all day...
Its a pity I'm not this houseproud in my actual house!!

Seeing this smoke pluming out from behind some bushes I hurried to discover its source - A PIG ROAST!!! Amazing, and strangely horrifying too.  
Little M was fishing all day, catching so many little fish we lost count, my suggestion that we cook them (none bigger than my finger) was surprisingly met with "yeh lets"!!! Of course we didn't... They would have fed a family of fairies, but wouldn't have touched our hunger.
Later on, meeting her little friend Clare again, which is the great thing about motorhoming, Little M went boating.  I love the security, yet freedom, that Hidden Valley affords children.  They can run around, go boating, fish, build fires and be children without the obvious eyes of adults.  Everything is set up for them to get on with it, within view of the campsite and it is simply a matter of rising from your chair to see where they are, and what they are doing.  

In the evening we decided to light the barbeque for warmth, and, we think because of the old coals, we were subject to a spectacular show from the fire fairies.  Ribbon sparks twisted and twirled for a good fifteen minutes, bringing an audience to watch - It was amazing, like a small firework display!

It was a fabulous weekend, again. Sitting around "gassing" as my aunt would say - what more could you need?