Eternal Refuge

As I said, last Thursday Christine and I went to Killerton and it was lovely to see all the daffodils. I think we picked just the right day - after some warmer, brighter days, and before the rain returned.

We have both been nmerous times, but while I can't drive it's the place I can get to with buses, and a reasonable walk.







( Further through the grounds ... and into the house )


Killerton has one of the largest costume collections in The National Trust and every year they switch over the display.  This year is not one of my favourite ranges ... but still some lovely items to see.


Formal Gown - 1919

( ... more style )

.... And, even better, the sun is shining.

I had a super lazy morning, so wasn't here, but at least I shall hopefully settle the bugs down soon.

This morning I went to Killerton (the local National Trust property) and walked through some of the grounds, enjoying the Spring flowers -












They also have a costume display that's changed every year.  this year it's the 1920's (more photos to follow).

On the way home I picked up some groceries, and I am now editing the photos, and making some icons as well.  I also plan to actually read a bit, as well.  Making the most of the day off.

Tomorrow will be Church but in the afternoon I am going into Exeter to meet up with Christine as the Bishop's garden is having an open-garden in the afternoon, and with the weekend's weather it is too good an oppertunity to miss.

So - it's a "farewell" until Monday -





4. What was the last book you bought? Have you read it yet?
I bought the book Bonfire, The Chestnut Gentleman ... the sory of Lt.Colonel John McCrae during WWI (he wrote In Flander's Fields), as written by his horse. I bought it the day I saw John McCrae's grave in France. Yes, I have read it.
I bought a load of guide books in Egypt that I am dipping in and out of.

5. Does your phone have the facility to store your payment cards? Do you take advantage of that instead of using your physical card?
I am not a phone person, at all. So it's a physical card.

6. How confident are you about doing your own home renovations? What’s the biggest project you’ve tackled?
I have done decorating, and gardening ... but other than that no.






Right, see you Monday

Despite being a Sunday I missed Church ... so we had a leisurely breakfast before heading out to their "local" National trust property -
Ickworth House

Sadly the part of the house where the family "lived" is now an hotel ... this is the extension that was built to entertain ...







Close-up of the fresco above the first layer of windows


( Lets have a walk round )

And, I suppose I should post these 2 ... in front of the statue of The Fury of Athamas





After we had walked through the rooms, we also enjoyed a walk through part of the grounds ... an area that you could spend ages exploring ...

( And the walk was enjoyable )

As well as being all behind with posting photos I have icons to make.

This set is for round 32 of  gen10in30 with a theme of Spring.

1	2	3	4	5
6	7	8	9	10

As ever, all are snaggable, but credit would be appreciated. The credits are available over at my icon journal - d4s_icons
All the images are taken from photos that I have taken, over the last couple of Springs.

I had a great day in the end, yesterday.

I jad walked to the shops earlier (and caught the bus home) .... In fact I had door-to-door service, as my nearest bus-stop is on a corner, and not nice for the buses to stop at.  The driver asked me whether I wanted to stop before or after, the stop.  I asked for before, and he pulled in literally in front of my house ... door to door!!

I had just packed the shopping away when my door rang ... it was a local counciller canvassing for the elections in May.  He gave me a leaflet which he asked me to read (as his first question was would I be voting for this candidate, to which I had said no) ... so I said I would.  The leaflet ended up just having the name and addresses of the candidate and the secretarial team ... I had expected a promotional flier as to how amazing both Exeter & England would be if I voted that way.  So in the end, it was just a waste of paper!

I then tried logging onto my computer, to get a phone call from Claire asking me to meet her for champagne, to celebrate her 10th anniversary of returning home from her mastectomy ... we met at The Ivy (so it was an expensive afternoon) ... but very nice ... here I am, and you just have to see the loos ...




When we left it was to then walk to a pub to meet Tim from work, so we could have a meal, before walking home.  I had suggested it, even though I had dinner at their's yesterday after our day trip, but Tim has had a super tough week, so said it would be nice to start his weekend off on a positive note.

Now it's today ... I have had a short walk as I needed to post a letter, and want to do some exercise (even though it was only about a mile), but still spotted some more signs of Spring -







Now I am here sorting things out, and will try and catch up with you all in a moment.  So, before I post this let me catch up ... it will be 3 days, as on Monday I meeting up with Christine to celebrate her birthday -




18. National Battery Day. In England, we are not permitted to dispose of spent batteries in the general waste collection. Do you have the facility to dispose of your spent batteries safely where you live?
Local supermarket does a collection ... or I take them into work.

19. National Lash Day - have you ever worn false eyelashes or are yours long enough already?
Don't wear make-up, other than an occasional eye-liner. My eyelashes are very wispy, but I have eczema on my eyelids ... have done sine I was 14. But as I don't wear make-up it's not really a problem

20. International Mother Language Day: What is the mother language of your home?
English





Right let's get this posted

10 years ago, about now, Claire was having a mastectomy.

Fortunately she didn't need any chemo or radiotherapy ... so we always focus on the fact that she is now 10 years cancer free ... and that is something to celebrate.

I am trying to get caught up with things today ... have already done some housework and had a walk ... now here for a short time, before lunch, then back again this afternoon.

Lets get the photos caught up -

Yesterday I didn't really do much, although Tim & Claire popped in on their way home from their walk.  However when I went to my freezer in my shed, I saw that a couple of my small rose bushes are already well and truly in "Spring" mode -


Today I had a lovely 2 mile walk.

The hospital I work at, is actually on "Barrack Rd", and yes the barracks still exist -




As I walked up the road I spotted this little-one "working" very hard -


And Spring is certainly around ... including in this frist picture a bee






And, this is the other end of the park that I shared photos of last week -





I also spotted this tree ... the prompt for last week on photo_scavenger was "bother" ... I think the kids who kicked those footballs up into the tree will have a bother if they want to retrieve them



Right, that's me up to date ... so let's do todays question -




Today Charles Darwin was born in 1809 and across the world his birth is celebrated. Have you a Natural History Museum nearby you can visit?
I have been to the Natural History Museum in London ... and the building itself is stunning.
Our local museum has a couple of Natural History sections ... one of which I can't really go in as I am really arachnaphobic!!!!




Right, I will try and catch up with you all, after lunch x

Enjoy -


ROUND 20 @ gen10in30 :: SPRING

01	02	03	04	05
06	07	08	09	10

As ever all these icons can be snagged, but credit would be appreciated.  All made on GIMP Image programme, and all the images are photos that I have taken this year.

As I said earlier, I went to Coleton Fishacre, yesterday, and enjoyed my spring visit to the 1920's ....



The gardens lead down to the sea


















Bedrooms -



Upper landing -

The study (this is linked to a weather vein ... and moves with the wind



The salon - a great party space

Dining Room - with outer dining space -


And some close-ups of items in the house -









And, near the cafe -

Yes, Friday got away from me and then on Saturday I met up with Toni, Pete and Toni's dad and step-mum. We had a lovely morning - a short walk, "coffee & cake" and great to catch up, and to celebrate her birthday. She had found it tough to have Derek & Janet staying, as she had been 101% Covid-scared, and then Pete was diagnosed with cancer and things got even worse for her. But as you can see, She actually gave me a hug - so good to see her slowly relaxing, although I don't know that she will ever fully accept the virus situation. Pete is doing well - he isn't now due back for another 3 months, so that is a positive sign.

As you can see Spring is on the way ... although as it's gone a bit icy again I do wonder how much that will survive.





























As I said, I also brought icons - these are for round 164 your_favourites, over at DW, with the theme of "plays". One of my favourite plays (despite having to actually study it at school!), is The Importance of Being Ernest by Oscar Wikde ... and my favourite version of the play is the 1952 version -




As ever, they are snaggable.


I worked this morning at the Reception desk, and it was fairly quiet as the clinic numbers were halved due to the strikes. As of next week there is someone starting a permenant contract, so many of my shifts will go ... not as fun for planning more holidays, but better for my brain!

In a moment I have an appointment with my Sports Masseur for my leg injury, but before I go -



3 – Take a Cruise Day: Have you ever been on a cruise? If not, would you want to? Cruise ships cause major environmental damage: a large cruise ship can have a carbon footprint greater than 12,000 cars, while passengers on an Antarctic cruise can produce as much CO2 emissions on a seven-day voyage as the average European in an entire year. The industry is a major producer of waste, with the total amount of rubbish produced by a large cruise ship exceeding a ton per day. And let us not forget that they are also essentially floating germ/virus labs (even before Covid). So do you still want to take a cruise?
I have never fancied one as I am not a "party" person, so can't see why I should pay for something I would not want to do.

4 – Ice cream For Breakfast Day: Have you ever eaten ice cream for breakfast (or for any other meal)?
I never have - but ... why not?!!!

5 – World Nutella Day: Do you like Nutella? How often to you eat Nutella?
No thanks



Right, let's get on. I will try to catch up with you later x

How do the days go past so rapidly?

Anyway I come bearing photos ... I told you that last week Tim, Claire and I celebrated Mum & Dad's 70th Anniversary ... and yes, it was lovely, and we have photos to show for it.







Yesterday at Church there were more empty seats than normal ... I think that not everyone decided to set their alarm clocks, as we were up an hour earlier than the previous day.  As there are 2 services at our Church it meant they could go to the later service.  We were all given a small posy of flowers to celebrate Mothering Sunday, so that is nice to have the daffs on my coffee table ... they are such a bright & cheery flower, aren't they?

Today the clinic went well.  I suppose it helped that the twit girl I am training is off this week, and we had a no-show.  So in the end I was home slightly early.  One of the patients spoke very little  English and yes, we managed to get the tests done correctly, but we did point out to him that when he saw the consultant it would be good to have an interpreter.  I really am not complaining as I have enough problems with English ... and it's my only language!

Now I am here, catching up ... and will try and catch up with your past posts and comments, however need to get to the shops before I fully settle down.  But, as ever, a catch-up -


28. When dining out, have you ever complained about a meal, or sent your order back to the kitchen?
No
Although a couple of times I have left literally a penny as a tip as the service was so bad.


Right, I must get to the shops then catch up with you all a bit later.