We had a niceEaster weekend last week, with a lovely start on Good Friday when the Hampshire Tilleys visited us for the day. It was a sunny spring morning, and so I prepared the garden; swing, two “space hoppers”, swing ball, tent, childrens croquet and seating. The Tilleys arrived, and Lucy greeted us with a hug and a smile, and the comment “Gosh – isn’t it cold up here?” (or words to that effect). Well, I suppose that was a tad bracing in the garden, with a brisk wind blowing off of the fields, and so the girls settled down in the living room with a recently purchased (from friends who have emigrated) large dolls house, while we grown-ups chatted over a cup of tea.
Shortly afterwards I went off to collect Andree, and when we returned Chris had encouraged the girls into the garden, and after lunch we all braved the breeze to enjoy the bright sunshine, the adults finding a reasonably sheltered spot while the girls played (although I do recall that Lucy and Chantal spent a long time in the warmth of the kitchen, no doubt extrapolating the washing up process and chatting). I organised an Easter Egg hunt, and the girls searched for eggs among the garden flowers, assisted by photographs of the hiding places
Bridget decided to go on to my PC to produce a Talent show poster and programme, and I was roped in as assistant to help with production. Everybody had to take part, which involved running, bouncing on the space hoppers and various other activities. I’m not sure if there was an actual winner, but we all enjoyed ourselves.
We decided to have tea outside, and so I set up a windbreak and lit our fire-pit, a Christmas present from Simon and Kate, and this was its first proper outing. I had saved some small logs which caused a lot of smoke, and we eventually discovered that timber offcuts, which we buy to light the wood burner, produced heat without smoke, but not before we all smelt distinctly smoky. No doubt the Tilley’s journey home an hour so later was somewhat aromatic. Photos of Hampshire Tilleys are in Our Recent Photos.
On Saturday we did the traditional Bank Holiday activity for the middle(ish) aged, and visited a garden centre, where I purchased shrubs using the garden tokens received for my birthday. I had to work on Saturday night, and so was a bit grumpy on Easter Sunday when we went to a lunchtime family “do” in Newton Linford, near Bradgate Park, where my Aunt and Uncle were celebrating a 60th wedding anniversary, 50 years in their home in the village, and a 2nd birthday – the second time that my Aunt’s birthday had fallen on Easter day. The first time was the day that she was born. About 100 of us enjoyed a wonderful hot buffet in the village hall, meeting lots of people that I haven’t seen for ages, after which Chantal and I took the dogs for a walk in the Outwoods, near Loughborough, to photograph the bluebells.
Bank Holiday Monday was spent in the garden, before we went to see our friends Duncan and Lou, in Stoney Stanton a few miles away, for dinner. Richard and Chris, our friends and neighbours a few doors away, also went, and three of us cycled there and back. Chantal opted to drive, which at least meant that we didn’t have to carry bottles of wine on the bikes. We had a lovely evening, concluding with a game of Cluedo, which most of us haven’t played for years.
Tuesday was my birthday. All right, not my actual birthday, but as I was poorly on the actual day (not that I made a fuss about it at the time…) we decided to take an extra day off and go for a walk in Charnwood, north Leicestershire. This time it was Chantal who was a little under the weather, and so we stayed at home, but I didn’t mind. I had a lovely long dog walk in the morning, meeting several people to chat to, I spent time in the garden, always a pleasure, and we had a pub lunch. Perfect.
Technically we live in Oaktree House, but sadly the tree had to go.
We now have a thriving Oakstump at the front of the house.
