A WONDERFUL DAY

As we are only down the road from Poole centre we decided to walk today - mistake. We ended up buying so much I had to buy a wheelie bag!!!!!

The weather has been glorious and to be able to sit on the quay side without the hoards of people around just watching the final prep being done on the amazing Sunseeker 155 yacht was, for me, a dream come true.

The walk around Holes Bay was super too. 

We will drive in tomorrow for a few final photos before the 300 mile drive home.

I FULFILLED A LITTLE DREAM

We hired a car - a lovely Audi A3 - and set off this morning around 5:45am. The M6 was closed not far into our journey and we had to detour around Wigan putting rather a long time on our journey as there were no diversion signs. Then miles and miles before Birmingham there were road works and we were down to 50mph. Eventually we reached the M5 and 2 more sets of road works. 

Once we passed those it was plain sailing and we were properly under way.

The sunshine is incredible and the sky us pure blue.

We went straight to the car park in the centre if Poole and walked down the streets of the old town which take you directly to Sunseeker.

My throat was getting a big lump in it and I welled up at this sight

My first proper view of EJs boat. She is spectacular and worth the journey.

The hull is a pale ice blue and there are lights all over the boat.

A photo of the quay side in black and white. Look at the crowds, you would think it's the middle of summer.

Finally, here is the view of Holes Bay from the hotel window

Sorry about the flash, just pretend it's the sun.

THE RAIN KEPT OFF

- just long enough to finish painting the fence panels. 

These will replace the ones at the back which amazingly survived the hurricane winds despite being partly rotten and bowed like a banana.

The far corner of our space had a box bush in it and I want to save it and trim it up into a ball like the other one I have. I managed to dig it out and replant it in a big pot I bought yesterday.

It's all out of shape having spent years against a fence. Once it's had chance to settle, I'll start to trim it.

My back is aching badly today so we packed up mid afternoon. Hubby has a hospital appointment tomorrow to - hopefully, sort his night time breathing. Must admit, he's been a lot better lately or he wouldn't have been able to do any of this garden work. Just hope he finds a cure so his sleep isn't disturbed any more - dare I also say - mine too!!

A BIRTHDAY and A CRAFTING GENIUS

Yesterday was my pal Sylvia's husband, Reg's birthday. I made him a canvas board 'card' using paper piecing and a the parts from a broken video camera. He was surprised it got to him with all the bits of wire etc!!!

It was fun to make. Sylvia is the crafting genius. she has completed an incredible patchwork quilt for friends of theirs whose golden wedding it is this year. Even more incredible is the fact that she made it in around 2 months!!!!

Has your jaw dropped because mine did. She is starting another now for themselves, oh! and I forgot to tell you that last year she made one for a 6' bed!! Unbelievable. Well the garden revamp is progressing. Yesterday we painting fencing all day until we couldn't hold the brushes any longer. Today has been a busy shopping and price obtaining session. We may get a bit more done tomorrow but that will probably be it until the middle of next week because we are going to Poole to see the new Sunseeker 155 yacht belonging to Eddie Jordan of F1 fame. I know its a heck of a journey for just one day but after following this British built flagship (I know the Sunseeker business is manly owned by the Chinese now but the workforce is British still) from day one, I HAVE to see it in the flesh.

Thank you to Joanne from Sunseeker for letting me know it will still be in Poole when I come down. Can't wait.

THE POND STORY SO FAR

It really doesn't seem it but it's 25 years ago this summer since we dug the big pond. 

This was the site.

Both hubby and I dug it - believe it or not - but in one day!!!

Sorry about the flash but these are photos of photos!

I don't remember having back ache because I didn't neither did my hubby, not like this week which has seen us having aches and pains in parts we didn't  even know we had !!

So the hole grew to the required depth

and promptly filled up after a night of rain which meant we had to drain it to put the liner in.

As we wanted to keep Koi it had to be a good 4' deep for them to be ok in the winter. A brick wall all round meant a little less digging and a bit more depth.

A double row of bricks would add strength which we have found to be a nightmare this week trying to demolish it.

This photo and ones following show it completed but before we added a wooden gazebo. 

It has served us well all these years but keeping 2 ponds is getting to be a chore now so this photo shows it as it looks today.

25 years in one post! 

The next bits will take a while now because we need to let the infill settle for a couple of weeks and then tamp it down. When we come back from our 2 days in Poole we hope to crack  on again.