Rocking Your World 2019; Week 33

I thought I'd start this week with a couple of photos that didn't get included in last week's post, as they all made me smile. 

There is no getting away from the fact that our son Mike is a 'bit overweight'! But his sons really brought this home to him when they decided to share his swimming shorts, one in each leg. In fairness, Mike has lost some weight this year, and the shorts really did need their tie-ups, but a few more pounds to go I think son.

A couple of years back, when we had our first really 'small people' visiting us, we were quite anxious as to how Kim would behave around them. But we need not have worried. Right from the start he has loved them all. Here he is having a cuddle with Herbie, and another where he is sitting on Fin while he browses his phone.

Fortunately, they all love him too. He will have two more little friends next week when my great-grandsons arrive.

Last Sunday was the end of the 'week of culture' in our village. Each evening there was some drama on a stage in the school playground. One night it is performed by some of the children, another by adults from the village and on another there was a visiting drama group. But on the last night there is always some sort of street procession/presentation, aimed mainly at the children. This year it was loosely based on a wild west show. There was a basic covered wagon set up on the plaza, and a group of performers played various instruments, sang and danced.

It is all very simple, but somehow it is fun too. Although these things don't kick-off until around 10.00, there was a good crowd of children and parents there. They soon had all the children up running around them and playing games. Then they led them off around the streets pulling the wagon with them on a trolley.

All good entertainment, and I love to see everyone getting involved.

The other morning while I was clearing up outside I found this.

It is obviously the shed skin of a grasshopper, but I think it is amazing that they can wriggle out and leave such a perfect shell. Even the ratchets on its legs can be seen. Sadly it has lost one leg, but it was blowing around in the yard so I expect it was complete when it was first shed.

We have had some slightly overcast mornings and one day I went straight outside when I got up to see what clouds there were before I did a load of washing. On the electricity cables across our street I saw this line up of young swallows. Aren't they cute. They were taking it in turns to do little practice flights and then landing again. Soon they will be moving on from here.

One morning in a mad moment I decided to try making bread again. It is ages since I last did, and I knew it probably wasn't wise in this hot weather. But to save handling it too much I used my old bread making machine. It was OK but it kind of over-grew! I ended up with a very tall loaf, with lots of holes in it.

It tasted OK and we have eaten most of it. The next day I tried again making a smaller loaf, using half and half wholemeal and white flour, and with the addition of a small cup of mixed seeds. This time it was more successful. It didn't overflow the pan and the texture and flavour of the bread was much better. But I think I'll wait until it is cool enough to make it by hand before I have another go.

We had been busy around the house all day on Wednesday so in the evening we decided to drive down to Garrucha for a stroll along the promenade. We stopped at a bar for a drink and it looked so lovely and peaceful out across the sea.

As we watched we realised the moon was rising behind the palm trees.

So as we continued to walk along I stopped to take a photo of the light from the moon on the water.To me it is the perfect picture of a lovely evening.

It is actually quite a deceiving picture because, although the beach was empty, the promenade and seafront bars were heaving with people. Garrucha is a seaside resort where many Spanish families come for their holidays. There is a great vibe there, and it reminded me of the places we came to on holiday before we moved out. I do love walking along here in the winter months when it can be almost deserted, but sometimes it is nice to be a part of the throng; everyone enjoying themselves.

I must include this photo which really made me smile. Whenever we come down here, the dock across the marina is a hive of activity with a constant stream of lorries bringing gravel to the barges which queue up out at sea to receive it. But on this night the lorries had done their quota for the day and the dock was still, with this line up of little tractors that look like a child's perfect playground.

My oldest son Jim, has been the vicar of St Paul's in Pendeford, Wolverhampton for the last fourteen years, but now it is time for him to move on. His last child starts university in September so the time seemed right, and he has been offered the seat as the vicar of St Bartholomew's in Sydenham, Kent. It is a big change for all the family. A very different church and a different community but they are looking forward to the challenge. Jim's licensing service is on 31st October, and I am going to it! Today I booked my flights. I shall be based at our son Ben's house in Birmingham, but I will include a visit to my sisters in Bournemouth, and also spend a week end in our son Jonathan's new house. So I have plenty to look forward to this autumn.

I was sitting out on the porch under a strong fan, trying to do a bit of crochet work one evening, when I noticed a rosy glow all around in the sky. I went out the back where the sun sets and found this beautiful sky in shades of apricot, pink and purple. So I'll leave you with this beautiful sight.

And now I'll link up with Rocking Your World, and Annie's Friday Smiles.