May Day Weekend

A little delayed, but better late than never!

There has been a May Day tradition at my badminton club since a twinning agreement was signed in the 1970's (I do believe) with Club Athletique Lisieux, and so, every year on May Day Weekend, we have an exchange, with visits going to and fro with each alternative year! This year, it was the French turn to come visit, and although numbers have dwindled, I was desperate to get involved with their visit, and practice some of the French I have been learning alongside the children at school!

The weekend plan was to go on the Dartmouth Steam Railway and a boat trip up the river! Although the weather was a little bit dodgy, and my owl themed umbrella did make a few appearances, it was still a really lovely trip. I've not been since I was a little munchkin, and it's a very special place, where my Grandparents met on one stormy evening. I've seen so many pictures of the classic viewpoint looking back onto the mainland from my Grandad's endless collection of beautiful black and white photographs, and going there was rather special, sentimental and slightly emotional moment.

In the evening, we took the French out to tea at a local pub, and had an entire room to ourselves which made for a lovely evening of Pimms (with so much delicious fruit chucked in), candle lit dinner and delicious food! I had a chickpea and lentil curry followed by chocolate bread and butter pudding which was the scrummiest thing! By the end of the evening, I was very full and very happy...I love my badminton club, and I love that we showed the visiting French some true authentic Britain!

Just a weekend later, and the badminton love was revived with the End of Season Dinner and Dance. The theme was a "A Taste of the Empire" and although another club had also interpreted that to mean one thing, (possibly my favourite thing in the world) TEA, me and my friend decided to go dressed up as boxes of Tetley tea. This not only took all my exceptionally limited creative and artistic ahem, talent, ahem, but also provided an afternoon of quality entertainment as we tried to sort out our truly daft costumes! The evening itself was much fun, with individuals from my club winning quite a few awards, with Darth Vader, Princess Leia, some Princesses and quite a few Romans in the mix, the barn dancing was definitely a sight to behold. Big badminton love right here!

A Beautiful Royal Wedding Weekend!

In many years time, I'm sure someone will ask me, "What were you doing on the wedding day of Prince William and Kate Middleton?" (Just for those who somehow missed this global event, it a-happened on Friday 29th April) and, as it was such a LOVELY day, I'm pretty sure I will be able to answer!

I watched the wedding at my friend's house, eating homemade smarties cookies (thank you, and nom nom nom) and drinking tea, a classic British pastime, and we LOVED every moment of it! Kate looked remarkably relaxed and absolutely beautiful, and, aside from those couple of awkward seconds when the wedding ring looked like it might not quite make it to the end of her finger, it was a lovely occasion that was celebrated amazingly up and down the country, and indeed, all over the world. An amazing event! And finishing off the public coverage with a casual drive in a racing green Aston Martin covered in balloons and ribbon = perfect! Many congratulations to the couple...I wish you every happiness! (Oh, and thanks for the extra day off!)

 

One Alternative Diary

Something to start me off...


I've been an avid diary keeper since my early teens, but I struggled throughout university and since graduating (theology, baby!) I've been, quite simply, rather hopeless...and I would like to think that it wasn't because my life is now less exciting than it was back in secondary and sixth form days and so I have set up my first blog, to plot down all my thoughts and a-happenings. (Fingers crossed this one won't be as cringy as my diary now seems to be...)


Oooh, Ellie Goulding's "The Writer" has just come on shuffle, how appropriate!

Today is Easter Monday, and I've spent it ambling through National Trust woodlands at Fyne Court with one of my best friends...followed up by easter cake at the cafe :) It's not a traditional NT owned place, as it is open and free to all members of the public, and isn't connected with any old buildings like NT so often is. We did the "Woodland Walk" that was about one and a half miles, which took us through woodlands (funny that), meadows with Highland Cattle, and along by a stream. The bluebells and primroses were all out and beaming beautiful, so it was a lovely little amble! It was a toasty, sunny and all round delicious day and I can't think of any way better to spend my last day before returning to work tomorrow. Woop! Now just for an evening of sitting in the garden reading a novel (currently Daisy Goodwin's "My Last Duchess", I've just finished Elizabeth Gilbert's "Eat, Pray, Love" and her descriptions of food are seriously making me want to go to Italy and eat mass amounts of carbs) and watching Glee. Sorted...you never know, perpetually white me might even get a spot of colour on my legs this Spring and Summer!

A bit methodical perhaps for a first post, but I'm sure I'll get into the swing of things. Here, have a picture to brighten it up a bit...

Fyne Court, Somerset