My big birthday

Well, this year I reached a little milestone, and was somewhat uncertain about how I'd feel about that. And I must confess I was somewhat up and down about it. It's seems to be a time to take stock of your life and think about where you are heading. But hey-ho, time waits for no man (nor woman!) so after an emotional start, I had a lovely surprise in that my two sisters had flown over to help me celebrate my birthday. And what a brilliant surprise that was! It was alas a short visit, but we decided to head up to London for a fun day out! Came home with an unexpected permanent memento on my shoulder from my trip with my very naughty sisters :o)

Me and my sister Tania

Lunch at Camden Lock with my two sisters, Tania and Lea

Time to do something different, being eaten by fish!

Although I am not generally happy about 'using' animals for human entertainment, I had a good chat with the owner to ensure they are kept in good conditions, and they certainly all looked in good health.

We wandered around the market, and discovered that this shop had just THE most fantastic clothes! Could have come home with one of everything!

Liked the key display

Unusual building decorations

We then headed off to the London Eye, to have a look over the city!

Not sure who that man was??? But he was happy to pose in the photo, cheeky chap!

Marvelous view over the Thames

Houses of Parliament

View over the city

When we got home from London, a family party awaited, complete with roasted chicken, salad and 'proper' chips, followed by a slice of Danish lagkage AND a beautiful birthday cake, lucky me!

My beautiful bee birthday cake!

Happy birthday to me!

I also had a lovely surprise birthday party organised by my husband later in June, with all my dear friends, happy times!  :o)

 Here's to the next many years! 

 

At the London Literature Festival

I have sadly fallen very behind with all my news on the blog, so the next few posts will be a quick round up of the more interesting ones. 

In May I was asked to be part of a discussion forum, 'A Future without Bees', at the London Literature Festival debating problems that our bees are facing today. Also sitting on this panel was bumble bee expert, Prof Dave Goulson and Steve Benbow, a commercial beekeeper based in London.

The evening was chaired by BBC correspondent Bill Turnbull, currently presenting on BBC Breakfast, who also happens to be a beekeeper.

The event was held at The Southbank Centre, a complex of artistic venues in London, on the South Bank of the River Thames. It comprises three main buildings, and is Europe’s largest centre for the arts.

By the Thames

The Literature Festival had a bee theme

Nice, but the cells are the wrong way round!!

Never been on a proper stage before!

In the toilets with the proper stage mirrors!

Before the audience arrives

Bill Turnbill, Dave Goulson and me

Bill Turnbill, Dave Goulson, Me and Steve Benbow

It was an interesting evening, and ended with a rather large jug of Pimms downed in the company of my husband and Mark Patterson, a good beekeeping friend!


For a full review see Emily Heath 's blog post Adventures in Beeland

Walking barefoot with Zaf

Everyone should sometimes walk barefoot. I don't think we do enough barefoot walking. Our feet spend months and months hemmed into shoes not feeling in touch with the Earth that supports us. We are too worried about treading on sharp objects or getting cold feet, and I feel this way too, mostly...
But it's good to sometimes just walk barefoot. Feel the changing textures of grasses, the wildflowers and the cool bare Earth under our toes, and even the grit and the sand of dusty pathways.

We used to do this as a children...at what point did it become 'not the done thing'..?

The most beautiful Sussex countryside

Zaf, the most beautiful dog :)

The extended spring appears to have made plants, trees and bushes absolutely drip with flowers and seeds. Here a range of maple 'helicopter' seeds

The elderflower bushes are laden with flowers. I collected some flower heads to make the first batch of cordial.

"Barefoot Days"

In the morning, very early,
That's the time I love to go
Barefoot where the fern grows curly
And grass if cool between each toe,
On a summer morning-O!
On a summer morning!

That is when the birds go by
Up the sunny slopes of air,
And each rose has a butterfly
Or a golden bee to wear;
And I am glad in every toe--
Such a summer morning-O!
Such a summer morning!

By Rachel Field

So... go on, get those stinky socks off, wiggle your toes and touch that Earth, 

I guarantee it'll make you smile!