The past week has involved lots of good times with good friends, not that there is any photographic record of any of this!  However, pictures of animals do feature this week, so perhaps I am getting closer to taking a photo of a human being.  We will see.

Mr Cooper and I decided that we would decorate our new home combining a seaside theme whilst incorporating a cottage element too.  Mr Cooper also decided that, to him, 'decorate' means helping to choose colours and fabrics, but not getting any more involved with the actual process other than carrying tins of paint to the car.  I thought I had better stick to the more traditional meaning of the word, in order to make actual progress.
With our new scheme firmly in our minds, we went to choose curtains for our sitting room.  This is the fabric that we chose, which really does work to combine both seaside and cottage elements!
Well, they are on a sandy background, and we could keep a couple in the cottage garden.....

 Diane and Janeese came to visit on Friday, and they entered our house with much hilarity and relief to find that we lived in an actual house and not an old person's bungalow.  This is because when you turn into our road, on one side there are only old people's bungalows, and our house is hiding at the very end, in all its two storey splendour.
After having said all the right things whilst looking totally fabulous (you will just have to take my word for that) we explored the high street, and then enjoyed lunch in the sunshine.  And very good it all was too, courtesy of The Seal.

Friday evening saw me and Mr Cooper excitedly walking to the theatre for the first time in Selsey, to see Arts Dream Selsey's production of 'Journey's End', which was completed in 1928.

We were anxious to arrive early, as the seats were not allocated.  Happily, we were shown to the centre of the front row, which could not have been better.  The play was very moving and very well acted, and afterwards me and Mr Cooper went to The Seal, as two hours of life in the trenches does take it out of you, so gin was called for.  We were not the only ones to feel that way, as we were closely followed by 8 members of the Infantry company plus one German prisoner of war.  They were now in mufti, and two of them had even come back to life too, which was cheering to see!

The llamas got admired the next day too when Alan and Penny came over.  The Seal was also visited again, but not for too long as it became very noisy when Mr Shouty Person came in to play pool.  The good news was that we just decamped to, The Lifeboat, a far more quiet pub, where we were able to have that old fashioned thing called a conversation.  And with us being the ages we are, with perhaps less sharp hearing than we once did have, we were also able to have conversations about two totally unrelated topics.  This is a trick that you too can begin to perfect when you truly leave your forties behind.

On Sunday, me and Mr Cooper went to Sidlesham, to have lunch at the Crab and Lobster.  This has been a favourite pub of mine for many years, particularly as the marshes near it remind me so much of the counrtyside of my childhood, particularly around Gedney Drove End.  So much so that it is where we chose to have our first wedding reception, following on from our marriage at the registrars office in Chichester.  Our second wedding reception was in our very own garden a few days later, where we had the marriage we wanted which was perfect but not strictly legal, hence the first one.

We chose to sit outside and enjoy the view as we ate our lunch.  Mr Cooper had a packet of crisps whilst I enjoyed a bag of dry-roasted peanuts.  We weren't able to eat more there as each time Mr Cooper popped inside for a tinkle, he cames out enraged, saying things like 'Twenty five pounds for a piece of fish!' and '£19 for a Sunday roast!'  I would quite like to experience the delights of a more up-market Sunday roast as the last two I have had have been on the economy side.  They also made me think back to my childhood, back to when beef was cooked till it was grey, and you didn't need any teeth with which to eat your vegetables.

Anyway, here is the view we enjoyed whilst sitting in the garden, one of us slightly enraged, and one of us dreaming of rare roast beef.  however, we both wondered what the sheep were thinking about, as we had both recently read a brilliant book as recommended by my big brother Simon.

If you are a fan of detective stories and good writing, look no further. It might also mean that having read it, roast lamb might be a Sunday roast of the past.  Do find a copy, then just enjoy!

For many years now, in fact since I was 18, I have been intrigued by Tibetan singing bowls.  As the sale of our last house got closer, I said that when it happened, I would go to Glastonbury with Mr Cooper, Rose and Paul (owners of Dilly the caravan) to choose one of my own.
Me and Mr Cooper decided to be reckless and spend the night there, which we did, in the pub called 'Who'd a Thought It'.  That is our room, just behind the writing.  A curious name, we thought, and wondered why it was called that.

We spent the rest of Monday wandering around and, in my case, buying three dresses of the type you would find in Glastonbury and not Chichester, Winchester or Salisbury.

The second dress I chose because of its amazing fabric.  Cats, kittens and moons, what's not to like!
I am not entirely sure that the dress actually suits me, but I just have the urge to be adorned with kittens wearing hats.  Another hark back to my childhood, when dressing up your cat or dog and even putting them in a pram was not only acceptable but even expected.  And then you found out that pets not only had a mind of their own, but teeth and claws too.
I did buy an accessory to go with the dress, but more of that later.

Keeping on the cat theme, after dining in Excalibur's, where one of us really enjoyed a vegan plate of food, and one of us didn't find it 'filling enough' we enjoyed a drink at a pub called 'Hawthorns'. Any pub with a tortoiseshell cat sitting on the table is onto a winner with me, and here is Millie.

After a glass of wine, we thought we would go back to where we were staying for another, or two, it being 9.55pm.  We then found out where it got it's name from, as when we got there the lights were dimmed, and chairs were being put onto tables.
 'Any chance of a drink as we are residents?' we asked.
We were told we could have 'One to take upstairs with us' so we went back to Hawthorns, saying 'Who'd a thought it' as we walked there. Once more inside 'Hawthorns' we had a night of chatting and Mead drinking.  'This is amazing' I said, about the Mead. (The conversation was pretty amazing too) 'Where could I get some?'  Easy peasy, in Glastonbury you either buy it from the Co-op, or from the shop that sells Viking gear.  Which I did the following day.

Here is a picture of Hawthorns in the sun, plus a part of a mural, and a rainbow painted bin.
 I do love Glastonbury.

Buying a singing bowl must be very much like buying a magic wand.  You try out many, but one of them chooses you.  So it was in the singing bowl shop.  Some looked perfect but were unresponsive, some you actually didn't even try as they were way beyond your budget, and then you found one whose sound you kept returning to.  I made a choice on Monday, but asked for the bowl to be put aside for me until Rose and Paul were with us.  It was a little larger than I had imagined it, and also more expensive, but it is not everyday that I will purchase one.

On Tuesday we had yet more fun just 'making sure' that I had the right one with Rose and Paul.  There was one whose sound was so deep that it was fascinating, but so was the price.  And it wasn't the right one for me.

Here is the right one for me, nestling on the first dress I bought, alongside some shoes that I was surprised to find there.  Mr Cooper was also surprised that I had to buy them, but I think they will be the perfect addition to my cat and moon dress.

I really love my singing bowl, and am spending time each day exploring it.  I think the more that they are 'played' the happier they will become.  I will have to ask Mr Cooper what he thinks of this idea.  Now where has he gone?

So the picture above makes me happy as it encapsulates my Glastonbury experiences, and the exciting time I had there.  I wouldn't want to live there, but I do want to become a regular visitor.
The picture below also makes me happy as my beloved display cabinet has been sitting on the floor of the dining room since we moved in, with four boxes of china also sitting on the floor.
It took three people to get it down when we moved, and I was not sure how we were going to get it up, having moved.
Now enter Paul the carpenter, who spent Thursday and some of Friday boarding the loft.  Just before he left, I showed him the cabinet and asked if he had any suggestions.  Not only had he a suggestion but also a solution, and he returned on Saturday at ten to fasten it to the wall, aided by stools, the table, and blocks of wood.  And here it is, resplendent, on Saturday afternoon.

What with singing bowls being purchased and my blue and white collection re-instated, what more could I need?  A new chain for my dinosaur necklace, that's what!
This has become one of my most favourite items of jewellery, and is also very much admired, but sadly the chain lost its plating, and became very dark.  Buying a proper silver chain for it was another thing I said would happen when we moved, and thanks to the jewellery shop in Selsey (it pays to shop local) my dinosaurs are now positively gleaming, as they were when they were new.
So here ends my blog almost, with the final animal picture.  Yes, I know that dinosaurs are really reptiles, but the term 'animal' for me encompasses them too.
I am looking forward to taking them on their usual Sunday outing of lunch in a hostelry. (Large Shiraz, and a packet of plain crisps, they love it!)

So when I leave you this week, I think my thought to leave you with is that asking for help is a good thing to do.  What seems very difficult for you to do on your own can be seen as easy by another.  And similarly, don't forget to be there to help your friends too.
And, keeping on my animal theme, be kind to them, and if you allow your cat to sit on the table, do draw the line at letting them sit on the kitchen surfaces.  Kindness does not mean removing all boundaries, the same applies to toddlers too!
I hope you have a lovely week ahead of you, and that a problem you have, becomes solved with help.  I hope you manage to stroke a kitten too, just to make things just perfect.
See you all soon.

I am officially back in the Green Donkey blog business, having finally moved to Selsey with Mr Cooper.  There was a lot of 'radio silence' before our move, as any time not spent working for money was spent visiting the tip, packing, sorting, cleaning, and even doing a couple of car boot sales.  The only time I spent in my shed was to pack it all away, and computers were there to check emails from estate agents, and send on 'relevant information'.
That did make July into very tedious month, but it was well worth it in the end when we were packed, cleaned and ready to leave to leave 'The Gables' for the last time on the 16th August.  It was a great pity that the previous owners of the house we were moving into hadn't also had an industrious July, and half of August too, as when we arrived it was to find that they had packed some things, cleaned very little and were nowhere near ready to leave.
Thank goodness for the kindness of friends, and for having an estate agent to hand, and a solicitor who was ready with legal advice at the end of the phone.
 Our well-packed and sorted belongings had then to go into storage for 5 days, ready for the next available removal slot, as did me and Mr Cooper.  We quite enjoyed being in storage as it gave us a chance to employ cleaners, remove carpets and belongings that had been left, and to feel justified in sampling each of the 6 pubs in Selsey.

Here is our new home all sparkling, ready to receive the packing cases for the second time.

And here is the back of our new home, ready to receive a lawnmower.

Those of you who know me and Mr Cooper more intimately will see that the rear of our new home looks very similar to the rear of 'The Gables'.  That was in fact my favourite view of it, usually when I was working away in my shed.  And if things go according to plan, I will be seeing this view from my new shed, plus lots of herbs and flowers too.

After a week or so settling in, it was time to go to the Peak District for a few days, to spend some time with Rachael, Ben and young Henry, plus Banjo the dog.  It was made even better by the addition of Ben's parents too.  You would think that with so many people around, there might have been at least a photo or two featuring a human being, even perhaps one of an endearing toddler?
It seems very hard to break the habit of a lifetime.  You will have to get a sense of the lovely few days we had with a view of a fairly insane lion from inside Chatsworth,

and some wonderful flowers just glistening after the rain.  If you haven't been already, Chatsworth is definitely well worth a visit, and me and Mr Cooper enjoyed our allotted hour of culture there.  Not only were we able to feast our eyes upon many wonderful artifacts and modern artworks, but we were the only members of our group to avoid the downpour!  Culture wins over play-parks on that particular day.  I think these will be a great asset for my new garden.

It was good to be away for a while, and I am now knitting fox scarf number three as a result of this visit.  here's a progress report, Julie.  His torso is about a third completed, I would have knitted more apart from being transfixed at times by The Bodyguard.

Arriving back home was also good as although we are both very happy with our new home, we are also very happy with our totally new environment.  Each week we explore a little more of Selsey which happily remains a fishing village as well as a holiday resort.
  Here is East Beach, just 7 minutes from our front door.

Having gathered many leaflets about local walks, me and Mr Cooper decided that the two mile walk to see houses that used to be railway carriages was a must.  We also decided that neither of us should be working on a Sunday, a decision that pleased us both. I think Mr Cooper would have been more happy if the decision had been to only work on a Sunday, but you can't have it all! For me, no Sunday sandpaper purchases, or involvements with emulsion. Just strolls with a camera, and pauses for mainly liquid refreshments, including tea, of course.

The sight below refreshed my eyes and also my memory as it took me back to a time in my life when Mexicos seemed to abound.  A picture for my bros, a really pretty one enjoying the sunshine.
But enough of classic cars, where are those railway carriages?

It was a walk of great charm, and Santos, featured below, definitely lived up to its description as being the one that most closely resembled a railway carriage!

Lots of them had been altered over the years to mask their origins, but I loved the ones where the carriage was still very much in evidence as part of the dwelling.  It was around about this stage of the walk that I thought it would be just perfect to have a carriage as a studio.  It was also around this point that Mr Cooper seemed to have an even greater problem than usual with his hearing.

Perhaps I will act more sensibly, and just aim to live in one when stairs become a problem in the future.  A carriage and a veranda combined, what really could be better!  You can see why a) I am enjoying Selsey very much and b) it's not for everyone!

There is a wide range of architectural styles in Selsey, and also a wide range  of concrete ornaments.  You can spy them nestling in flower beds, peeking from the shrubbery,  or valiantly decorating walls and gateposts.  These featured below are my 'statues of the week', with an extra splash of colour provided by the skip.

And whilst we are on the theme of colour, I am adding an extra splash of it to Dilly the caravan.  My painting time there is drawing to a close, in fact by this time tomorrow, I should have signed my name after adding an extra dimension to two more species.  I have had a really enjoyable time this summer, both in painting Dilly but also spending time with Rose and Paul, plus Moss and Mabon.
During my painting I have also enjoyed the company of an adventurous shrew, who is now to be seen depicted beneath the dandelions.  Well, what you see is a shrew-inspired creature, I think the term is 'loosely based on'..........

Now I am back in the Green Donkey business again, though feeling a trifle rusty, I will work to keep you up to date with all that also needs to be done to ensure a studio is soon built at the bottom of the garden.  No studio, no production of significant artworks.  As me and Mr Cooper failed to 'downsize' our possessions sufficiently, the first job on the list is to have the loft boarded. We must be careful to keep sorting things out before storing them, as a railway carriage home will have even less room!

Try to make sure you are surrounded by things in your home that are decorative, or functional, or both. Stuff that you don't want, use or like could happily belong to someone else, somewhere else.
  It is also good to have friends in your life who are both decorative and functional.  Don't pack your friends away out of sight, or think that you will leave them for the time being, they need to be part of your life, as they need you to be part of their life.  So give them a call and arrange to do something decorative with them, and leave the functional for another day.
 Looking forward to seeing you all again very soon. Until then, be decorative and have fun, whilst remaining fully functional, of course! 

Welcome to the South Downs Way and day one of my third 106 mile adventure.
Friday 8th June, Winchester to Exton, 13 miles.
It is always exciting to be at the start of a long walk, as well as being a little intimidating.
 Both Dawn and myself had been feeling a little nervous so it was good to actually stop thinking about it and do it.  As it was day one we were both fairly full of energy and it didn't seem long till we had a chocolate break on top of Old Winchester Hill'

This was followed by a beer break at The Milburys, where we were all made to feel quite unwelcome by the unsmiling landlord, before an afternoons walk to Exton.  Here we had a beer, wine and food break at 'The Shoe', which was as welcoming as 'The Milburys' had been unwelcoming.  Last year we stayed here to eat, and all during the afternoon both Dawn and I were hoping there was still the felafel
dish still on the menu, served with sweet potato fries.  And yes, there was, with the tasteful addition of some decorative violas.  Day one successfully completed.  One down, eight more to go.

Saturday, Exton to Queen Elizabeth Country Park, 12 miles'
Today I was very much looking forward to walking down Butser Hill, instead of climbing up it!
The views are spectacular everyday, but I was particularly delighted to find sheep that were also doubling as works of art.

I wouldn't say that I was 'delighted' to see this sign. Although it was good to see that we were now 22 miles away from Winchester, I could have done without being reminded that there were still 78 miles to go before we reached Eastbourne.  At least we were still going the right way!

It was good to reach Queen Elizabeth Country Park, and even better to discover that the cafe sold small bottles of wine, red, white and rose.  (Soft drinks were available too.)
After 12 hot miles, a  glass of chilled rose certainly hit the spot.

Sunday, Queen Elizabeth Country Park to Cocking, 12 miles.
It was a long, hot uphill slog before we actually left the park.  After that, it was lovely to be in more open countryside.  When we got to Harting Down we had a delicious and nutritious lunch before deciding whether we would go over or round Beacon Hill.
Surely only a very careless walker would lose a boot.......

We felt quite brave after vegetable sticks and hummus, and decided to tackle the steep ascent.
  This is the view from almost at the top.  Stopping to take photos is a very good way of taking a break without actually appearing too!

The start of the day involved a long trudge upwards, and the end of the day became a very long trudge downwards.  It was also becoming a painful trudge as I developed what all walkers dread, a blister!  After a quick stop to apply a Compeed plaster, it was downhill all the very long way to the coach at Cocking.  Happy birthday Sam!

Monday, Cocking to Whiteways, 9 miles.
Thank goodness for a shorter day, and Compeed plasters.  I was not actually in a pain-free position, but it was bearable.  Last year on the final day, Dawn and I had packed our bag with sandals, a summers dress and make-up which we then donned for the after-walk party.  Dawn wondered today what she would bring to wear this year, and I wondered whether I would actually get as far as the last day!  I did keep those thoughts very much to myself, and decided the best way forward would be to treat this walk as 'one day at a time'.  I must have been feeling a bit miserable as I didn't take many pictures at all.
 This one is from the end of the day where we leave the South Downs to walk about a mile on an overgrown and nettley path towards the cafe at Whiteways.  Not the best day I have ever had.

Tuesday, Whiteways to Washington, 9 miles.
Today proceeded at a spanking pace, perhaps a little too spanking for my left foot!
Dawn teaches yoga on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings, and had not been able to find someone to cover the Tuesday classes.  So today we had to catch an earlier bus which meant we couldn't hang around.  This did not mean we didn't stop to take photos, and this was a stunning view at the start of the day.

The next time we paused to look around us it was to find that the poppy field was now far behind us, hurrah!  It was with great sadness that we heard in the morning that the lovely pub in Washington, The Frankland Arms, was now closed.  It was always such a treat to end the walk there, especially as we usually got a voucher for a free packet of crisps.  The team worked hard to cheer us up, however, and when we reached Washington, supplied us with barley water and fig rolls.  What more could a weary walker want, apart from a pint of bitter and a packet of cheese and onion, of course.

Wednesday, Washington to Devil's Dyke, 12 miles.
Back to a longer walk today, but one of many parts.  My foot is still hurting, but I am able to get through the day.  Perhaps it is still a bit too early to plan my party gear.  A beautiful start to the day, past Chanctonbury Ring, then the middle of the walk finds us walking past fields of pigs.  Here I pause to take a photograph of a bowser for Mr Cooper, bowser being one of his favourite words.
In the afternoon we have a longish pause for a pot of tea and a Twix at the Truleigh Hill Youth Hostel.  After that it is a bit of a shock to see the pub at Devil's Dyke on the horizon, but a very distant horizon.  We got there in the end, but it felt like we had walked a very long way to get there.
However there was no queue at the bar, and there was just time to consume a rapid pint, hurrah!

Friday, Devil's Dyke to Newmarket Inn, 12 miles.
This was indeed a very interesting day, as we started the walk in the rain and strong winds.  It wasn't long before we reached Pyecombe church, however, where they were supplying tea and cakes to wet walkers.  Last year we had eaten our cakes in the churchyard in hot sunshine. This year we were huddled together in the shelter of the church as it began to rain even harder.  The church has one toilet, and Dawn spent thirty minutes in the toilet queue and I spent thirty minutes eating ginger cake and forlornly dripping in a pew.  The good thing about our protracted stay was that the rain had ceased by the time we left, to be replaced with a very low covering of cloud.
We had views like this for the next two hours!

We made extremely good progress during this misty time, as there was really was nothing else to do!  After marching for two hours the cloud cleared and we stopped to re-fuel.  I think Dawn was a little envious of my apparel, as she stopped to photograph what surely will become a 'new look', gaiters worn with shorts.  At least I think Dawn was envious.......what do you think?

The day ended happily at The Newmarket Inn, with a pint in the sunshine.  Altogether quite an interesting experience.

Friday, Newmarket to Alfirston, 14 miles.
There is no disguising the fact that today is the longest day!  My foot was now pain-free, thanks to Compeed during the day and Sudocrem at night, and I was ready for the challenge.  I did learn something today, and that was that lots of people are scared of cows.  Luckily I am not, and managed to help a few people safely through this grazing group.

We paced ourselves well today, and discussed our party-frock situation, as it seemed very probable that we would both complete the walk.  As well as this, we made sure to make time to enjoy the views, as they were stunning.
A very pleasant end to the day was to enjoy a pint in one of the many pubs in Alfriston, before joining the coach for our now lengthy journey home, tonight's journey taking two hours.
There was a treat waiting for me at home as Mr Cooper had returned from the Lake District, where him and Kevin had gone to walk, and to climb Scafell Pike, England's highest mountain.  It took them 6 hours to do the round trip, after which they were proper knackered.  Then there was another treat, as we went to collect an Indian takeaway, so no cooking or washing-up, hurrah!

Saturday, Alfriston to Eastbourne, 11 miles.
When we were on the coach this morning, we heard a couple of newbies say that they were looking forward to the day, as they had got the hardest one out of the way!  How we chortled at their innocence.  The day starts pretty much like any other, with stunning views and rolling countryside.
After a while you begin to climb until you reach a stone wall.

When you look over the wall you are not at all sure what you will see, and it really is the most amazing sight.  Goodbye rolling countryside and hello Cuckmere Haven, a beautiful place to pause for a while before embarking on those unfriendly and  brutal hills, 'The Seven Sisters'.

We managed to get to sister number two before Dawn announced that she had had enough.  Luckily as soon as you have completed the seventh sister you are at the Birling Gap, where tea and toilets await.  The trouble is that you are really only halfway through the clifftop endurance test, with Beachy Head still to go till you reach the end.
I have spoken to many people who think walking the South Downs Way sounds like a doddle.
I think some of these photos help to make it look like it is, a challenging walk.......

........as well as an extremely beautiful one.

But what these pictures fail to capture is the really strong and chilly wind that accompanies these stunning views.

The end is in sight!  Just a steep descent then off to the public loos for a transformation.

I can't think why me and Dawn feel the need to smarten ourselves up, can you?
Of all the signposts I have taken photos of, this one is the most welcome sight of them all.
We did it! 

Our party was lovely, at Brighton University, and we managed to eat enough sandwiches so there could be another evening of no food preparation.  It was really good to stop, but I am already looking forward to starting all over again, next year.

When we were walking over Beachy Head, our thoughts and talk turned to the awfulness of the plight of people who choose to end their life there.  Not only the awfulness of thinking there is no way forward, but also as to what a frightening and brutal way to go.  Just as I was nearing the end of this blog, Mr Cooper came to tell me that only this morning, Monday 18th June, the bodies of a young mother and her five year old child had been found at the bottom of Beachy Head.

Please pause to spare a thought or a prayer for this mother and her child, and the awfulness of feeling that jumping is the only way forward.

Please be kind to others on their journeys, and spare time to listen and help if required.  The world is not a happy place for many people, and after 9 days of experiencing some of the most beautiful and uplifting sights, it is very 'grounding' to be told of the tragedies that exist alongside.  So very sad.

Being outside and especially in the countryside does work to lift the spirits,  so find your boots and perhaps a friend, and be mindful of your own mental well-being.

There has been no blog for a little while, and now I have so many images that there are to be two, or rather one in two parts.  This way, you can skip the one devoted to The South Downs Annual Walk if you wish, but some of the photos are definitely worth looking it.  Not sure about the writing yet, as it is still in my head at this point!  It never rains but it pours, or words to that effect.

As the day for the start of the South Downs Annual Walk got ever closer, so I aimed to increase my training for it.  But long walks take up a lot of time, which I didn't have much of, as events around me were eating into what little spare time I had, not even enough spare to write my blog in!
So let's draw breath now, and reflect upon those events that have left me busy but not as walking-fit as I would have liked.
In my last blog I showed you the artwork that was destined for The Tate Modern, and here it is, actually at The Tate!  Look on the right hand side of the boat, about halfway up, and you will see my small cubes of drawings and prose.

Here they are again, now on the upper side.  Sadly I was not there to see them in situ, as I was having to work to make up for three weeks without earning partnered with a rather large garage bill.  When you don't earn much money, all is well until it isn't well, and then the wolves come very quickly to the door! 

Many things in life are free though, such as walking in the countryside.
Mr Cooper planned a lovely walk for us both, which was so lovely that I would gladly do it again.  It ended up being a little longer than planned, however.  He also arranged for a lovely hot day, perhaps a little too hot for walking if I am to be critical (something that I almost never am, as those of you who know me well would not believe!) After eight hot miles, I was a little apprehensive about the 106 I had yet to come, with the shortest walk being 9 miles one day, and the longest being 14!  Oh well, let's just take one day at a time, or try to.
Part of the walk took us into a shady wood where we had deciduous trees to our right.......

.........but slightly menacing pine trees to our left.  Look at all the undergrowth that you have with the deciduous trees, as compared to the pines.  It reminded me very much of a Rupert Bear story from many years ago, where Gaffer Jarge was extremely worried about the way the pine trees were creeping ever closer to Nutwood.  Luckily the tree sprites all had a jolly good fight about it, with the native tree sprites being victorious, of course.  Mrs Bear gave Rupert a jolly good tea at the end of it all, whilst Mr Bear relaxed in his armchair smoking a pipe.  As my Mum would say (and she says it quite a lot) 'They were happier, simpler times then.'

Another thing that is free is spending time with your friends.  I travelled to Southsea on the train ( a small charge incurred here) then onto Eastney, to Janeeses' beach hut for a picnic.  It was lovely to catch up with everyone whilst drinking Prosecco and eating first-class picnic food.  And in true seaside picnic tradition, we were nestled in deckchairs and covered with blankets.  The beach at Eastney is magical, and rivals Dungeness for 'beach garden beauty'.

Everything comes to an end, even English picnics.  I know I will see my friends before too long, but when I gave in my notice at Mind in Andover and Trinity in Winchester, I knew I would be saying a big goodbye to people I had worked with for two years, many of whom had become my friends.
Here is the last ever project drying on the line, I think blue is a rather good reflection of how I was feeling about leaving.

Back to 'happier, busier times......'  It was lovely to pay Mum a visit at the weekend before my long walk.  Last year I did three practise walks on the weekend before.  This year I seemed to be stocking up on carbs instead.
On Saturday Mum and I drove to Wisbech to visit Peckover House.  I had not been there since before my children were born, and there was much more to see.  The house is not very large, being a merchant's town house, but it an absolute poppet.  The crowning glory has to be the gardens though, which are just exquisite.  You will have to take my word for it as I took very few photos, being too busy drinking it all in.  Here is one of a tulip tree, and its blossom.  Tulip trees are not very common, and this one was not only large, rare and beautiful, but extremely fragrant too.

I took a picture of these blue flowers as I am starting to gather ideas for my next garden.  It is to be divided into several parts, with herbs being closest to the house, followed by flowery borders and raised beds for vegetables.  Then tucked away at the bottom of the garden will be my new studio/shed surrounded by more mysterious and medicinal plants.  There will be a little fence keeping this area separate, as some of the plants will be poisonous.  These ones below will not be found around my shed, but nearer the house where the plants will be pretty or edible or both.

When we got back from Wisbech we were joined by Mark and George, with Ella.  And although Mum and I had taken the edge off our appetites by sharing a cream tea at Peckover House, we were looking forward to a night of dining at Matonni's.  What better way to end the evening than with an Espresso Martini.  I do wish that Mum and Ella would stop texting each other and just have a proper conversation, though!

The walk starts on Friday the 8th June, and Sam has his 27th birthday on the 10th June.  He had one birthday request and that was for a Battenberg cake but without the marzipan.  I have had stranger requests in my time.  'Lurid green' was Sam's requested colour choice for the icing.
With this in mind I turned up the colour volume in the cakes.

Here is the finished product.  When I gave it to Sam he was thrilled, and said it looked a lot better than he thought it would.  And I agreed with him entirely.

It must be time for another picture of Dilly.  Here she is, with the first part getting towards completion.  Clover and scabious flowers and leaves need to be completed, and then it will be time to start all over again to the right of the door.  I am really enjoying this project.  It may be time-consuming but the results are worth it.  And it must be good for your back, having to sit up straight for 7 hours, with your legs straight out and under the caravan!

Whilst I was in Peterborough, Mr Cooper was in Suffolk, spending time with Susie and Werner.  Sadly we were so busy that we couldn't each manage to do both.  In fact it was so long since we had seen them  that we were using that weekend to also exchange Christmas gifts.  When John returned with the gifts I was overjoyed, as they would ensure that my walking week would be a lot better. 
Mr Cooper was not to be my support crew this time, as he would be away with Kevin in the Lake District.  And when Mr Cooper goes away, so does the sound system.  But no longer!  Now we are the proud possessors of a 'Wonderboom', we both can have music wherever we go.  As well as a jolly good gin and tonic at the end of a hard days walk, hurrah!

So this is where I must leave you now, to pack my rucksack with Compeed plasters, waterproofs, gaiters and sun hats.  Plus sustaining snacks and a large bottle of water.
I hope you will need sun hats in the week ahead, whilst you enjoy delicious sustainable snacks.
Don't forget to drink plenty of water too, even if you are sitting down all day, either on a chair or in a dog bed.  Make sure you look out for the next blog, it is really not very far behind.  I have just got to write it, that's all.