Today started really wet, grey and miserable. Darren and I had a taxi booked for 7.30 am so that we were in good time for the coach to York for Tina's 'Priesting'. The Minster looks good whatever the weather. I actually took this just before I came home so the rain had stopped by then.

Tina came across to me to ask me to mind her bag before the service started. I took this photo, she was really quite emotional before her big day.

It was a lovely service, nine people being ordained and eight of them female! Even the Archbishop made a joke about that! A lovely picture of Tina with Darren after the service.

I had a little wander around York before I went to get on the coach to return to Scarborough. We were picked up outside the Art Gallery, I will go inside on another visit to York.

A very good day and congratulations and love to Tina.

This morning we were up and about reasonably early and Anya got most of her and Isobel's belongings packed. Then Darren took us all to The Mere where there were lots of baby birds, well, lots of birds, and the parents get a bit aggressive over their chicks so it was a little overwhelming for Isobel. I had cut up lots of bread and we were surrounded to start with! Saw a swan and cygnets this time, gorgeous.

We took a leisurely walk around the lake and it was a lovely day, bright and sunny. A nice group with a good view behind.

Isobel by a plant with enormous leaves!

A picture of me with Isobel.

Poor Darren, two of us getting close and personal!!

We came back here for Anya to finish packing before we went for lunch and to the train station. Anya sat with her favourite 'people', Darren and Colonel.

After we had waved them off Darren dropped me off at the ceramic studio. I marked up a couple of plates with a Sharpie pen and then sponged colour over them. Now we will wait to glazing and firing to see how they turn out.

This morning was grey and damp, so we decided we would go to the arcade that Tina had given us some prize tickets for. Isobel getting dressed after checking how many tickets we had to take.

We went to the south bay on the open top bus, but we sat downstairs as it was raining and the seats would have been wet on top!

We spent a couple of hours winning more tickets and it was fun putting all the winning tickets into the machine to be counted. Isobel got a doll as her prize then we went off to have some lunch. We caught the bus back, and by then it had brightened up so we went onto the island in the park. We had scrummy ice creams which we were still eating when we got there. Isobel was certainly enjoying hers as her face tells you!

Not so happy about photographs though! The garden at the top of the island was looking lovely.

Anya and Isobel had a sit down to finish off their ice creams.

We went to the base of the island and walked round passing the waterfall. We saw one of the battleships all ready for the Sea Battles that take place in the park during the summer.

At the base of the waterfall..

...then we went to catch the train along to the Sea Life Centre.

There were some fab jelly fishes, but will just post one.

Isobel getting close to the penguins.

Couldn't possibly go to Sea Life and not post a picture of an otter!

Just one more funky photo before we set off home.

We came home pretty tired so fish and chips for tea!

Been a lovely day except for a strong wind,  but I am getting used to that! I bought a poppy at the garden centre on Monday and planted it as soon as I got home, it had a large bud and today it had opened. A bit difficult to get a picture because of the wind, but it is lovely.

I went into town to meet Anya and Isobel and we walked up to Sainsbury's to get some lunch and do a bit of shopping. We got a taxi back, and then as it was a nice afternoon we headed off to the beach.

 The wind was getting sand into everyone's eyes, but Isobel was soon off down to the sea anyway, I went down and helped her dig a trench for a while, the water was very cold!

Darren got home from work earlier than usual and came down to join us on the beach.

Then he joined in the fun.

Then mum joined in.

We then had a little beach monster!

Then home for tea and a snuggle with uncle Darren!

Today has been fairly quiet, on the photo front as well! I called in at the studio but couldn't see the plate decorated with the Sharpie pen as it was still in the kiln which was cooling. I dropped some stuff for the button group off at the community centre and then had a bit of a wander in town. Three ladies at the button group but no real pictures completed today. I helped Sue mark up a large heart on her large purple canvas so that she can start putting the paper flowers she had been making next week. I called in at the studio and the plate was out of the kiln and it was a successful experiment.

I was really tired today when I got home, but have soon recovered after a sit down with my feet up (with the cat on my lap of course!). I saw some great material on Ebay and it arrived today. Not sure what I will make yet, but think it is very unusual.

This morning I went briefly to the studio and then helped Sandra at the shop for an hour or so. She had a table ready for me to paint a lighter colour. Came back home in time to take in a delivery for Darren. I did take a walk this afternoon, not a long one but a different route to any I have walked before. I took a picture of the ladybird poppy on my way out, it is beautiful and has lots of buds as well.

I set off via the park on my walk, and after passing the open air theatre I noticed a path going up between the trees. A pretty walk heading up but fairly steep.

A view as I was getting higher.

Almost level with the castle at the top.

I tried hard to get a seagull in the shot!

Getting ready to head down on a different path.

Came down these...

......and met this!

Took a detour behind the beach chalets.....

......and met this!

Clambered round the side of this one and it had a notice on the other side saying 'Footpath Closed', but there were absolutely no signs at the top! A short but eventful walk on a lovely day.

I had a very lazy start to the day watching three episodes of North and South. I watched the first part last night. I then turned out the cupboard on the landing as it needs a re-think and organising. Some of the stuff is still on the landing so must at least clear a path to the loo! Darren and I went off at lunch time, I wanted to get printer cartridges and he had to move the courtesy car anyway. He drove round along the cliff top, so we got out for a breath of sea air.

We then went to PC World, always a good place for Darren to have a browse in and I got my printer cartridges. We then went to Dean's Garden Centre and had a snack and I bought yet another plant to put in the garden.
The trees near the garden centre are a picture now, it was late summer last year when I first saw them.

 So when we got home I spent a couple of hours working in the garden, some digging and quite a bit of planting. This bed was chunks of clay and lots of weeds, not fantastic, but looking a bit more like a flower bed! The 'footsteps' are courtesy of the pound shop!

A few weeks back I bought a tamarix tree in the reduced section. It was sorry for itself but I potted it up straight away and now it seems it really will flower this year, which I am so pleased about.

A quiet evening now I think.

This morning was a bit grey and drizzly but Darren and I headed off to the boot fair anyway. I put a couple of plastic bags in my handbag which we used to sit on while we had a cuppa and a sausage bap for breakfast in the then heavy shower of rain! After that the rain stopped and we enjoyed a wander round. Donna from the studio had a stall and I bought two canvasses from her for £1 each. They were large canvasses so the button class ladies will be delighted.I also got a collection of bead necklaces for a couple of pound, again for the button class.

I cooked a roast dinner for the three of us, we ate after Tina got in from morning services and she is going away tonight, we had a very naughty but nice dessert which they bought when shopping yesterday. It had brightened up this afternoon so I decided to have wander down to the front. I cut through the park and took this lovely picture - Anyone for putting?

I went on down to the beach and saw this walkway which I have never seen before. Obviously just haven't been there at the right time!

I walked out onto it and it began to feel a little slippery about half way so headed back to terra firma, didn't want anyone to have to rescue me! Pictures for both directions before I walked back.

When we went to the garden centre on Thursday I bought a London Pride plant, I was only talking to someone the other day saying we hadn't seen them much lately. I had them along a border many years ago when I lived at the waterworks. I planted it in the front garden yesterday, so no doubt it was glad of the bit of rain we had to settle it in.