Weather wise this summer as been a little disappointing and things didn't really pick up till August onwards. From then it was catch up so not had a great deal of time to update blog. We have been to pretty Cotwolds villages, steam fayre's, safari parks, lakes,weddings, canal walks, woodland walks, many parks and boating on The River Avon all of which made a wonderful summer on the whole despite a disappointing start. Lots of things to look back on over the coming winter months. The nice thing is all places where very close by so reducing are carbon tax this year which will please the environmentalists. England still as many pleasant places to find and discover and all in our back yard. Have been taking lots of photos over the last few months all of which are on our flickr place so pop along over there to the fun and frolics of our filled summer.
Day 2 Of The Godiva Festival. Well the rain stayed off and it was a glorious warm summers day, that got us out to the festival. We found our spot along the Kenilworth Road to watch the very colurful procession of dancers in costumes and drum beating marching bands, lots for the eye to take in. Our friend's son Nathan (above left) was in the procession today as part of The Coventry Sea Cadets entrance. Gotcha Nath !
After the procession it was time to go home to put spritzer away in the cool before we headed back down to the park. By this time the good natured crowd had swelled to the thousands. We spied our friends and there entourage from Kent known as The Dogs who had come up for the day by the main arena taking in the dog show and making merry with gallons of beer. :-) Time for a photo shoot of them all and the usual banter with Coventrys own infamious Jonny English (sorry Jon) doorman of the local Rainbow's Gay bar.
We mulled round the many music tents which where playing a variety of music, rock and hiphop being the most prevalent today. It got a bit sweaty in the tents with lots of unabashed young men walking in and outside half naked. I would have joined them but I don't have the figure for it now days I'm pushing on forty five now and have eaten to many Cornish pasties to be taking my top off. It was nice to see many good natured groups of revellers sitting out in the sun with cool beers soaking up the sun and the atmosphere of the event and generally having a good time.
After all the heat and sweat we then eyed up some nice cool frozen yoghurt that went down a treat in the warm weather. A quick look round some stalls and stands before then heading on to the funfair to gape at the thrilling rides and marvel at the bravery of those joining them.
The custom of getting lost in the crowd soon ensued and was hellish being on my own as I don't normally do crowds well. Technology let us down today as the sheer number of calls and texts from the park made communications abit slow and when we did get through could not hear each other over the noise. Eventually fate and good chance saw us reunited but by this time we were both very tired. So we then decided to quit and leave the more engergetic crowd to enjoy the evenings entertainment of Coventrys top band The Enemy followed by The Furry Animals who I had to asure my mother were not pets.
Sunday is more of a relaxed day at The Festival mainly jazz, folk and choirs. So may pop along for the last day tommorow.
A Rather Disapointing summer so far so not ventured too far.
So here we are again "Together In Electric Dreams" :-)
Well The Godiva Festival weekend started today Friday 13th. We didn't let the rain put us off or dampen are spirits as we headed down to The City Memorial Park for the first day of the festival. Tonights line up included 80's band The Human League. They played all our favourite songs from our youth and bought back many memories for us. The show was excellent and we enjoyed dancing and singing along to our favourite tunes. There was a fair sized crowd that packed The Electric Tent and the atomosphere was great and a very friendly and active crowd it was too. We got to chat to some friendly chatty strangers that made the night go well for us. The evening was followed by a colourful firework display in the park which made a good end to the evening. (Sings Loudly) Don't You Want Me Baby ?" A fabulious and mood uplifting evening.
After a rather disappointing late spring and early summer which saw us lashed on and shivering with severe storms and a frost that damaged crops, summer as now finally arrived. And what a pleasant weekend to get out and about to enjoy the sights and sounds of summer. A lovely weekend to enjoy the great outdoors. Saturday saw us out with friends at Coombe Abbey Country Park just on the outskirts of Coventry for a impromptu BBQ in the park. Who could not resist with all those wafting smells of food drifting up our nostrils. We found our spot which was hard to find as everyone seemed to have had the same idea. No need to supply any sounds as there was some Africans close by blasting out some rather pleasing bum wriggling sounds who could resist not having a little dance and a swing of the hips. A advice note on some decent speakers might have been needed for there next visit. After eats time for Jon and I to wander round the park while the children had a play in the playground. We walked down to the meadow and round by the heron lake and up to the top field where Spritzer took off after a colony of rabbits. Then we took a stroll round my favourite place near the red woods which looked ever more strikingly red as the evening sun began to set. Then we made our way past the Abbey which is now a hotel to the sound of wedding guests chattering away and clinking there glasses. The lucky bride and groom had a firework display laid on for them in the evening but was to late for us to stay and watch. With the day being so long we didn't realize the time so it was gone eleven until we all got home after our enjoyable afternoon and evening in the park.
Sunday was a quieter day and we decided to get away from the madding crowds of the country park and head for our favourite woods on the outskirts of the city. We all love these woods very different now from May when the bluebells where carpeting everywhere. The smells of the bluebells have been replaced now with the very strong sweet aromatic smell of the honey suckle. The honey suckle attracts the muntjac deer who like to eat it. You can often hear the deer barking in the wood one would think the sounds where dogs out walking with there owners but no dog or owner to be seen just the elusive deer somewhere in hiding. All thou we did spot one of these elusive creatures running across the road into the outskirts of the wood near the supermarket last week so they maybe not so shy after all. Other sounds on our woodland walk was a managery of birds of the sweet singing type to the ugly squaky type. If you closed your eyes for a second it wasn't too difficult a leap of the imagination to be transported to a Amazon rain forest. Above the canopy we could hear the occasional jet drowning out the noise with people jetting of to other climes a reminder as we wandered and got lost in the many acres of woodland that civilisation was never to far away. As the sun began to set we all set off back to the suburbs to reflect on an very enjoyable and rewarding weekend.
Were back tired but satisfied. Just back from a wonderful holiday in Spain. This year saw us once again swimming in the waterfalls of fonts d algar. Also on our travels we visited some wonderful new churches including The Basilica Santa Maria in Elche where we climbed the bell tower with its wonderful views over the city. Novelda was also on our itinerary where we found the Santury of Mary Magdelane a very unusual church built in the style of Barcelona Cathedral. It was a very tranquil and peaceful place to visit.
Away from the many impressive churches we took time out to chill and bathe in the hot sun on the white sandy beaches of Gurdarmar, Santa Pola , La Manga and Lo Pagan with it theraputic salt lake where we splashed around in its warm waters.
This year we were lucky enough to be in Torrevejia for The May Fair the highlight being a day of horse parades and lots of Spaniards in traditional costume ending in a festival firework display. There was lots of flamenco dancing which added a Spanish feel to our holiday. We also took time to stroll round a few traditional Spanish parks with there tall palm trees water fountains and exotic colorful plants, Elche Municple gardens worth noting and a catus farm near Fonts D Algar was most enjoyable.
Eating out was a exciting time and we enjoyed the excellent cusine and produce, from a prepared salad and picnic Paul made and took to the Espuna National Park and eaten under the mountains, to the many restaurants we visited. We enjoyed foods from Paella, fish and meat to Spanish omellets and tapas.
A day out in Benidorm saw us visiting Mundarmar where Paul got kissed by a seal lion and stroked a dolphin. The show was good and animals where well kept but I still question the morality of dolphins in zoo's they seemed well cared for but one does wonder. We spent a few afternoons when we didn't want to venture swimming in the apartments pools where we were all impressed by the swimming skills of Jon's mum who's eighty two.
The ladies enjoyed the many markets that happened every day in almost every town and village nearby. Shoes being a good buy where Paul bought his mum a lovely and much apreciated Spanish pair. Elche being the capital of shoe making.
All in all a great holiday good weather good food and good company from the many people we met. Can't wait to go back again.
The largest expanse I ever did see, Was a Bluebell carpet, dotted with trees. We stumbled on this Aromatic paradise, We didn't realise that Coventry was so nice.
Nature's fantastic putting on such a show, having to make the most of a very short window. Spring is such a glorious time, making everyone feel really fine.
When you next go to Spain, and come back on the plane, You'll realise how green our beautiful country is!.
Our Walk Today Perfectly Described by Marion Marston With Kind Regards.
To-day, in Lawrence wood we walked. The sun shone between the flying clouds. The air was pungent with the smell of Spring And wild garlic bloomed. We left the road that edged the housing estate, And walked the waymarked woodland path,Still unaware of natures . There where the garlic grew wild. And then, unheralded, the world was changed,Was bathed in azure blue Like a summer tide on a golden beach, Here where the bluebells grew. And where the spreading whiteness, Mingled with the mist of blue, Sweetness and pungency filled the air, And nature was clothed in her best. Above us a canopy of pale green leaves Daintily dancing in a tree-top breezeDappling the suns rays as they fellOn the flowers growing beneath. And high above, near secret nests ,Chirruping birds sang their morning song. They lifted their heads, unaware of us,whilst we simply stood, entranced.
Well hello me ducks as been along time since I have made an entry due the the fact that this April as been one of those months when the lack off duck weather as been very apparent so have been out and about with friends enjoying the great spring weather. We had several visits and walks over the counties off Warwickshire and The West Midlands and all have been enjoyable. Kenilworth, Sutton Park, Stratford Upon Avon, Meriden, Harthsill Hayes and Fillongley plus all the other local woodland walks we like to do. With the clocks going forward at the end of March and the days drawing out as given us that extra time in the evening to explore the countryside again. It as been very rewarding seeing things start to jump back to life. The bluebells are up now in the woodlands and giving off a lovely scent and the trees are maturing nicely. Deers can be seen at dusk and the birds are very cherppy now.
The blog reached it's first birthday on March 3oth and from then on birthdays have seemed to be the theme for the month with two of our friends birthdays to attend plus Jons, so it as been very tiring. Easter saw us once again in Temple Balsall where we had a nice outdoor tea with our friends Rob and Dawn and an old family friend Margaret and Jons Mum another Margaret. We had the dogs with us Spritzer and Sam so took a walk round the beautiful village of Berkswell after. Robs birthday was a grand affair which saw me having my first ride in a limousine. A glass of Champagne then onto to Frankie Benny's for a wonderful dinner followed by a game of ten pin bowling. Jon's birthday came a few days after and saw us in Selston for another nice meal cooked by his sister Jill. It was rather good and with time after for a little drink in the garden and to grab a few of the suns rays which we have been blessed with this month. Another birthday bash a few days later at our friends Teresa's for a BBQ and a go in her hot tub. One piece of advice when jumping into the hot tub make sure you empty your pockets of all elctronic equipment as I didn't and ended up frying my rather expensive mobile phone. We had some sad news the night of the party that a new friend was killed in a motor bike accident and his wife was seriously ill in hospital so our thoughts and prayers go out to all concerned at this sad time.
Well there are loads more I could write about but would have to go on for ever so just remains for me to say enjoy the spring and make the most of this summer like weather we are having at present that's if you are in Britain of course. We will be on our hols in a few week to Spain apparently England is warmer at present.
Thanks for droping by see you soon. Paul. All the recent pictures can be found at the usual flickr site just follow the link below to see the updates. Recent Photos
