It has been a long and fairly tiring day, and as I have now been up for over 21 hours won't go into too much detail. The journey to Manchester airport on the train is getting on for three hours, but lovely countryside and lots of different people getting on and off. It is a reasonable walk to the terminals, but manageable, and the airport itself is smaller and less oppressive than Heath Row. I got checked in pretty quickly even though I hadn't done it on line this time. The plane was smaller that other I have been on, just one isle with three seats either side. Good service and plenty of food and drink offered. I took a picture of the plane when it was loading up. Virgin service but Delta airline.

Got through border control promptly this end, the lines weren't too long today and the driver was there waiting for me. I managed to get the large ceramic dragon here in one piece to give to Mark, and he is really pleased with it. We had Boston Chicken for tea and sat together and watched a bit of tv. Now going to try and get to sleep, may swim for a while in the morning.

Another lift to town today with Tina to get one or two last minute things for the trip. Yesterday evening a very patient Tina taught me how to move my photos from my card onto a memory stick using the Chrome Book. I use Picasa on the laptop but it is not available on the smaller device. I had a practice this morning to see if I remembered, I did, but the SD card snapped! I do put it into the computer at least once a day, so not surprising, luckily I had bought spares the other day. The taxi is booked for 6 am in the morning for the start of a very long day travelling. I am about packed and ready, so plenty of relaxing this afternoon. The bonsai trees are watered, and my drilling holes in seed trays has worked well, so now they won't be floating in water if it rains hard. Haven't taken any photos today but should be plenty of interesting ones soon!

This morning started off grey, but dry, and it has been sunny for much of the day, a big change from yesterday. I needed to go to town to get a couple of bits. When I got home the hydrangea in the front garden, which we didn't even know was there last year, is looking very pretty.

I spent quite a while weeding and tidying my bonsai trees and drilling holes in seed trays so that they don't get over wet if it rains while I am away. It will also mean that Darren and Tina won't have to check them quite so regularly as I will water them before I go. A cute bug was climbing on one of the bonsai dishes.

Then there was a frog on one of the water trays when I moved the tree. It froze for a bit so I was able to get some pics!

When Tina got home she took me to Deans Garden Centre as I needed another large seed tray to finish off arranging the bonsai trees.

I was most definitely snap happy with the sky last night, had a real job just choosing the four I am going to post. They say Red Sky at Night, Shepherds Delight, well, that was out of the window, the weather has been atrocious today!

Today it has been very wet, cold, windy and miserable pretty much all day. Tina dropped me off in town again and I posted a couple of packages and got some bits for Darren for his packed lunches. He hadn't thought he was working all week, and now he is so needed more supplies. I got a really nice scarf that will go well with the simple long dress I bought last week, the only dress I will be taking away!

My trousers were literally dripping wet when I got home, as were all the bags and most of the contents, so stuff drying out all over the place at the moment. Had a lazy afternoon but have got the case out now and made lists, so getting organised. New Tricks tonight with a new character, so that should be fun.

Sorted out last minute washing this morning and waited in for a man who was coming to price up re-flooring the kitchen. Did pop out to post a couple of letters when he had been, but other than that just stayed in to wait for Tina to take me to the hospital for my appointment. I am so pleased that the consultant invited Tina to come in with me, as no one would have believed just what a waste of time it was! No examination and he didn't bother to check the sample, just binned it. I will get two more letters at some point for further investigation! We did do a bit of shopping on the way back, but I had forgotten my list and vouchers, turning into a really successful trip...... Colonel settled very comfortably on me when I got home.

Not that this cat is ever spoilt or fussed over of course! I took a wander into the park with my book. not for long, but it was pleasant, although it had turned quite cool, Just walking into the park is a joy.

The dahlias are lovely now.

This morning Darren and I headed off to the boot sale. Busy today and lovely weather.I got some large canvasses and some dvds that Isobel might like when we go to the caravan. Also got a book by Ronnie Corbett about The Two Ronnies, their friendship over the years. I sat with it for a while when Darren looked at the last couple of rows of stalls on his own, and I think it will be a good read. I also got a film called 'The Mighty Celt' which I watched when I got home. (still trying to take it easy!) Not a bad film and less than an hour and a half, so short by today's standards. I had a stroll down to the beach this afternoon, haven't done that in a while now. I did have a paddle as well. It was good to see that the seaside is still popular on an August afternoon.

Quite a few had braved the sea, when I paddled it still seemed pretty cold in there to me!

Nice view across the rock pools.

Thought I had better take a selfie to show I had actually been there.

I walked back up to go through the park and go by the open air theatre. I was befriended by a dog (and his mistress) and ended up throwing the ball for his several times.

The water by the open air theatre was very clear and you could see the water weeds.

Sunbathing ducks, or were they just watching the water chute?

I finished the stroll through Peasholm Park and there were lots of boats on the lake today.

Yesterday evening I tried making 'Mary' with the Sculpey, which is better to use that the air drying, but still need finer tools (that's my story anyway!)

This morning Darren and I headed into town for him to do some clothes shopping in the sales for their big trip in October. It was the street charity event in town, so we had a go on several tombolas.

Darren tried on quite a lot of stuff and ended up getting some good bargains. We had dinner in town and then he headed home. We did win a few things on the stalls and he carried them home as I had some shopping to do. There are a couple of guys who come to the town and make sand dogs, really quite clever, I imagine they took a good bit in donations today as it was very busy.

I was tired when I got home and managed to sleep through a film whilst on the sofa, not something I ever do!