How was everyones bank holiday weekend?

[Pixie 162]

Hope you all had a gooden!

We went to the swan sancuary in reg taylors garden centre yesterday, lovely walk around. day before, we went for lunch at our usual garden centre/aquatic centre. We're regulars at tall tree's these days, but if anyones ever been there and had some of the home made cake and a tea (chosen off the shelf) you'll know why! Yum!

Today, we decided to stay at home, got some house work done and then played in the garden with the little one. if i had it my way, we'd be finishing the day with a BBQ, but i dont have garden furniture just yet.... or a BBQ. And im on the slimming world diet (Lost 7lb in little over a week, go me!)

Anyone else get upto much over the weekend?

[Ayupmeducks 1,730]

It's memorial day this side of the pond, missus decided to close her doors today, she owns and runs a real estate business...We are still getting work done around the place, day off or not, there's always work to be done when you own land..

[Beefsteak 305]

Saturday found me fishing, yesterday shopping :-

With SWMBO at work today and the weather being a tad inclement round here, I was lumbered with looking after the kids for the day, they're, thankfully, both well past the 'needing to be entertained' phase, but you still have to be there for them !

I've spent the day with a needle and thread sewing up various things , ( my 'new' shorts, Charlotte's Jeans, and adding a new strap to my camera bag amongst other things)

Our Adam lost the last of his front baby teeth at last, fortunately he was sat on my knee at the time (Truth be told we had been having a wrestling match and just after we'd stopped he hit himself in the mouth ............ Honest !)

SWMBO is still at work tomorrow, but she's off on Wednesday! So we may just have a drive down to Much Wenlock and Bridgnorth too ( whilst in the area I'm going to check out a few new fishing waters that I'm a member of too ! By complete and utter , utter coincidence )

[MELTONSTILTON 452]

No Bank holiday here today,

Spent the morning sweeping the chimneys, after all the log fires we have had over winter. and I had a lazy afternoon in the garden, sitting in my hanging chair reading a book, in the sun and 22°c.......

[DAVIDW 1,681]

We had eldest son and family down for the weekend . He also bought down his Dutch mother in law who has been with them for a few weeks so we seem to have spent a lot of time cooking /cleaning etc. Worth it all though to see our lovely 2 year old g.daughter who is a real cutie .

They had nightmare traffic getting down on Friday night , left at 4pm from Herts and got here at 11.30pm. Their friend who lives near them took had an even worse journey..... 10.5 hours on Saturday to get to St.Ives.

Guests left early this morning and had a better journey home , about 6 hours and few hold ups. After they left it started to pee it down and carried on all day until now at 8.30pm and the sun has just come out..

So today , for us, was a chill out day in front of the telly trying to keep warm !!

[Ayupmeducks 1,730]

Cutting and hanging gyproc on the ceiling of my battery house while I have the missus home to help me, 81F/27C here and very very humid. Sooo it's one sheet up, sit down sink a cold beer and next sheet to carry around and hang....

[katyjay 5,090]

Eldest son brought his Bobcat round yesterday and dug some holes for trees for us. Today we were going to go and get the trees, but we're both snotted up, so we've put it off.

[Beefsteak 305]

Send him round here with his Bobcat, I need someone to dig my pond !!

[Paulus 541]

"we're both snotted up"

Yer can tek the girl outa Nottingham .................etc,etc..............

[LizzieM 9,507]

"we're both snotted up"

Yer can tek the girl outa Nottingham .................etc,etc..............

Your own fault, never cast a clout til May is out

[Paulus 541]

Your own fault, never cast a clout til May is out

Behave thissen Lizzie....................................

[NewBasfordlad 3,599]

Lunch time sat outside the Con club in Arnold in the sunshine with an old mate, couple of beers and a cigar.

And the rest off you don't have to worry we put the world to rights................................again.

Colin

[Paulus 541]

Good man NewBasfordlad, whilst ever there's a gathering of 2 men + beer, the world will be OK.....................lol!!

[Compo 10,328]

No Bank holiday here today,

\snip\

The French are a miserable bunch.

[Compo 10,328]

I re-covered two deck chairs and then sat in them both, in turn.

[banjo48 928]

Went for an early morning walk with my dog along a deserted beach on mid NSW coast, that had almost been swept away with a big storm surge, due to an abnormally high tide and 348mm of rain in last 2 days !

Huge 3mtr breakers still pounding in from the Pacific ocean ! Sat on a dune for a while in awe at the power of nature.

Then walked back to our RV and sat in the morning sunshine in 28C with a slice of toast and a cuppa of Yorkshire tea.

Life's good.

[StephenFord 866]

Here in South Devon, the weather was overcast, and later turned to rain. Afternoon to B&Q for wallpaper and associated bits and pieces to redecorate the bedroom. Yesterday was much better - cloudless blue sky, warm and sunny for most of the day. But we ain't planning to cast our clouts for another 4 days yet!

[denshaw 2,871]

Saturday, Cusworth Hall in sunny Doncaster. Sunday 8 mile walk in South Yorkshire (Laughton en le Morthen) Monday, day out with family at Rufford park. Wednesday going to Egypt.

[plantfit 7,575]

Working all weekend but had Monday off so went to Draycote water to meet up with some fellow trike riders and did a few laps, great company good riding and great chocolate cake from the cafe

Rog

[Limey 242]

My wife, Mary, who is now the Superintendant/Principal for Pentwater Schools was asked to be the keynote speaker for the Memorial Day celebrations here in Pentwater. I did not know the subject of her speech, so I was surprised by it, some of you may be too! We have received numerous congratulations from the citizens of Pentwater since she gave this speech yesterday morning:

"Good morning and welcome to the spectacular village of Pentwater,

a Village that has most certainly benefitted

from the heroic acts of so many who fought for our freedom

and for whom we share our deepest respect and gratitude

on this beautiful Memorial Day.

Earlier this week many of us had the opportunity

to hear about our local military heroes

through a fantastic video project that our high school students

and local VFW members have created

so that their stories can live forever.

What a gift to our community!

And now we join together

to take this moment

to reflect on our many blessings.

Blessings that allow us to stand together

in peace and in prosperity.

We are incredibly fortunate

to be able to experience this important day together,

yet while our biggest struggle this morning

may have been finding place to park,

the road that was paved by millions of soldiers

to provide us this incredible venue,

this phenomenal community,

was rarely easy.

I have had a few significant experiences in my life

that have helped me

to better understand the ultimate sacrifice that has been made

to allow me the opportunities

to live here, learn here, and do what I can to make a difference here.

In 2002, I had an opportunity to visit the Maddingly American Cemetery

in Cambridge, England,

A burial site for American soldiers lost in World War II.

You might be surprised that one of my most poignant memories

of the true meaning of Memorial Day

occurred in a different country.

But when I walked through the gates at Maddingly

and saw 3,812 white crosses and Star of David headstones,

Perfectly fanned throughout a spectacular British valley of the greenest

lawn

meeting a clear blue sky,

with an American flag flying atop a 72 foot mast above that hillside

I was overwhelmed by

the deep connection I had

to those soldiers

who made the ultimate sacrifice

for me, and for you.

There they rest in the most spectacular location,

but I believe I was most struck by the fact

that even in their death,

they never came home.

In addition to these nearly 4,000 gravesites,

there is a magnificent wall of limestone

spanning 472 feet,

one and a half football fields in length,

and bearing the names of another

5,124 names of soldiers whose bodies were identified,

Most died in the Battle of the Atlantic

or in the strategic air bombardment of northwest Europe.

Along the Wall are four statues representing

a Soldier, a Sailor, an Airman and a Coast Guard

in their typical uniforms and weapons.

They stand there as if at attention

standing guard for their colleagues

reminding us of President Eisenhower's words of dedication

enshrined on the wall

which reads

THE AMERICANS WHOSE NAMES HERE APPEAR

WERE PART OF THE PRICE

THAT FREE MEN

FOR THE SECOND TIME IN THIS CENTURY

HAVE BEEN FORCED TO PAY

TO DEFEND HUMAN LIBERTY AND RIGHTS

ALL WHO SHALL HEREAFTER LIVE IN FREEDOM

WILL BE HERE REMINDED

THAT TO THESE MEN

AND THEIR COMRADES

WE OWE A DEBT TO BE PAID

WITH GRATEFUL REMEMBERANCE

OF THEIR SACRIFICE

AND THE HIGH RESOLVE THAT THE CAUSE

FOR WHICH THEY DIED

SHALL LIVE ETERNALLY

My Second cousin, Herbert Sprague,

is among the unrecovered listed on that wall.

Herb joined the Navy at age 17

and was killed in the English Channel

on his way to Europe to fight for me,

a person he did not yet know,

and for you a person he was unlikely to ever meet.

His bloodline ended that day so that mine might continue.

I am deeply grateful

that I could stand at that wall

and pay my respects to Herb

and every other soldier whose final resting place is at Maddingly

or in the sea nearby.

More deeply than before,

I recognize and appreciate their sacrifice.

So this very American holiday,

designed for us to remember

is truly an international holiday.

While OUR venue for rememberance is Pentwater,

let's be sure to pay our respects

to soldiers who never made it back to the states,

who stood or sailed or flew in front of the enemy and said,

"not on my watch. My country deserves the best I have to give. I might be

scared to death to be here, but I would be more scared for my country if I

was not here."

and in many cases, their gift to us was the ultimate sacrifice.

Today I am proud to be the daughter of a Veteran of the Army who passed

away more than 20 years ago, but who never let me forget a Memorial Day.

I am the proud mother of a son whose first deployment on The USS

Kennedy was on September 11, 2001 followed by several more to the

Persian Gulf.

Today is a perfect day to hug your family if you can, call them if you can,

and remember them no matter what.

Today is a perfect day to take in the beauty of our surroundings

and the gifts we have been given,

and give thanks.

I think Herbert Sprague

would want me to do just that,

right, here, with you, today.

May your travels be safe,

and your reflection on your freedom today

remind you to do what you can

to make our country and our world a better place.

Thank you for the honor of speaking with you this morning. Have a

fabulous day."

[Paulus 541]

I re-covered two deck chairs and then sat in them both, in turn.

It's a man thing..........................................

[catfan 14,793]

Had a day out at Doddinton Hall, Lincs, yesterday.

A smashing day all round and tried new camera for the first time !

[Michael Booth 7,364]

Nice photos, catfan, it looks a beautiful place. What's the attractions at Doddington Hall?.

[catfan 14,793]

Nice photos, catfan, it looks a beautiful place. What's the attractions at Doddington Hall?.

Last weekend they hosted a classic car show, free entry to that. Admission to the garden a fiver and admission to the hall £4.50 or the other way round !

Nice old church next door & a nice cafe there as well. Also kids bouncy balls on the front lawn so they can play on there.

Loads to see in the hall & photography permitted except flash.

Will certainly visit again.

[Beefsteak 305]

Well we finally got to do our 'Bank Holiday' thing today.

i set my alarm for 9.00am with the intention of driving to Bridgnorth for lunch , Much Wenlock for a pie for dinner tonight, then to view some of my new fishing spots on the river Seven whilst in the area.

9.00am, the alarm goes off, 9.00am and 10 seconds I'm fast asleep again !! We finally got out the house a noon !

I drove us to the river , we also checked out a campsite that we'll use when in the area. We then headed to Burger king in Shrewsbury for a quick snack , then on to Much Wenlock to find it was closed . (Half Day ?? )

I then had to rush back 'cause Charlotte and Adam were in their swimming lesson at 5 .00pm

Now I'm off to watch the England game.