More Patriotic(?) Damsels

Here is my collection of Damsels so far thus summer - red, white & blue!

Rutland Water

We finally got to Rutland water and decided to do the grand tour of all the visitor points

 Here we are inspecting an Osprey's nest at Lyndon

 This was labelled a bug palace with an encouragement to add one to your garden

 There was lots of excited talk from people peering into a pond, so I went to investigate.
I'd like to think that this was  a great crested newt

 And this is some kind of Damsel Fly

 But the real star of the pond was this grass snake who entertained the little crowd and kept the cameras clicking

 This is my attempt at an arty shot - I could see the moon through the gap
(click on the photo and you might just see it!)

 The bizarre sculpture stands on the edge of the lake

The Rutland Belle featured in an earlier blog - here she is passing Normanton Church

Breedon Church and Staunton Harold Reservoir

This is a typical first view of the church perched at the top of Breedon hill

When you have climbed the hill (that is to say driven up it) this is the view from the car park

If you can read the sign this beacon was a gift at the Queen's Golden Jubilee 

(and now of course we are almost at her Diamond Jubilee)

... but just look at that sky ...

We saw this 'monster' in the water at Staunton Harold reservoir...

Etwall Well Dressings 2012

The weather forecasters promised that the weather would pick up this week and, despite a poor start, this afternoon was warm and sunny, so we took a last chance opportunity to see this year's Etwall well dressings

 The Owl and the Pussycat went to sea in a beautiful pea green boat,

They took some honey and plenty of money, wrapped up in a five pound note.

The Owl looked up to the stars above, and sang to a small guitar, ...

...

"Dear Pig, are you willing to sell for one shilling your ring?" Said the Piggy, "I will"

So they took it away, and were married next day by the Turkey who lives on the hill.

They dined on mince, and slices of quince, which they ate with a runcible spoon.

lived by the sea...

  At the Hawk & Buckle they have discovered a real well and their 'dressing' was a picture of a dart board

How many creatures can you count and name?

A tv star is born...?

A member of the family has recently appeared in an episode of Emmerdale

(view the video clip here). 

There is more in the pipeline from Emmerdale 

and a promise of Corrie in the future.

Birthday+2

We gathered at the Red Lion, Rothley for a celebration lunch

and then retired to Lboro for a cup of tea and a slice of birthday cake 

- a coconut recipe by Delia, handmade for Mum by Robin

Rutland railway?

The plan was to take advantage of a good weather day and take ourselves off to Rutland Water and Rutland Falconry, but Mum did not feel up to doing the week's shopping on Friday so we had reduced time on Saturday and we hit upon the idea of taking a steam train ride 

 I watched this engine taking a 'drink' and then we set off for Leicester North being pulled by a Diesel engine - well that was not quite the plan - but we worked out that on the way back we could change trains at each station and the other trains would be pulled by Steam locos.

Some effort has been made to 'decorate' the stations with period props. I took a photo of a baby in a pram wearing a gas-mask!

So we had a very lazy afternoon, relaxing in the unaccustomed warmth of the sun, taking in the scenery.

 The small print on the left is "Southwold near Halesworth". The small print on the right is Moulsham Mill, Chelmsford. Quite a coincidence that these travel advertisements map so close to our birthplaces.

Just look at that sky...

The other wedding...

Before the week was out we had the pleasure of attending the evening celebration for another wedding...