Fabulous sunset yesterday, had real trouble picking the shots to put on but have limited it to three!

The knee is a little better today, I realised last night that it may have been set off by me starting the glucosamine tablets again after a break. I have taken them for years and they have helped keep my knees going, but I suddenly remembered that they make the joints feel worse for a while before they make them feel better! So fingers crossed things will settle down again now. 
It was overcast this morning, Tina dropped me off near town and I went past the charity shops at the bottom end, haven't been down that way in months. On the way down Cross Street I went by this great old van advertising a little shop near the market that I have been in.

I had a look round the market vaults, which has all the little premises for craft outlets. Not many occupied at the moment which is a shame.
I caught the bus home, it was raining by then, we hadn't had rain for quite a while, and it didn't last long.
This afternoon I watched an episode of Morse and started the second jigsaw in the set I bought. I needed milk so took a walk down to the shop but then decided to go and have a sit in the park for a bit. The dragon boats were proving popular today, there was a queue to get on them the whole time I was there.

It is good to see the park well used, it is a very popular place, and rightly so.

My knee has been giving me some trouble so I stayed in for the morning. Did manage to get some washing done and carried on with the jigsaw for a while. Just after noon Tina and I drove over to Irton Garden centre where we met up with Hazel and Brian. We all had a very nice light lunch and then had a look around at the plants. They had wisteria in pots, not sure I have ever seen potted ones at a garden centre. This one was full of flowers.

There is a huge gorilla statue and Hazel decided to have a picture taken by it!

This dianthus was just very pretty.

When we got home I took a photo of an actual French fancy on the plate that I had painted for Darren!

This afternoon I watched an episode of Morse and finished off the jigsaw.

No plans for the evening except whatever I do will be with my feet up.......

Lovely sunset again yesterday, won't be any pictures tomorrow though as it is cloudy this evening.

I haven't been giving the full picture the last couple of days as I painted a plate for Darren's birthday.

He likes French fancies and I got some of them too. I will take another picture tomorrow of the plate with an actual cake on!! I also decorated the Simnel cake I had made. I had packed all the icing equipment so worked with roll out icing so that he had a cake to celebrate his special day.

We celebrated yesterday evening as Darren was leaving for work early today and Tina is out this evening.

So Darren now knows our long kept secret surprise as he has seen the tickets for us to attend the British Grand Prix weekend.
This morning Sandy picked me up and I went to the studio for a few hours. I cleaned and filled all the paint pots and did a bit of art work on a teapot for a customer. Had a sandwich with Sandy and then walked home. My knee was very painful in the night and has not been good today, I am hoping it will settle down. I used the strong knee support today. The ankle on the other hand is doing fine!!
This afternoon Tina called up to say that my trees had arrived so I did go down and fill the new pots and planted them up. Very nice pots, looks like they just have a stick in each at the moment!

I have done a bit more to the jigsaw and watch an episode of Morse this afternoon. Broadchurch this evening, only two more episodes I think. Meeting Brian and Hazel for lunch tomorrow which will be good.

It has been a nice day, Brian and Hazel arrived by ten o'clock and came in for a cuppa and a natter. Hazel had brought her laptop with her as it had seized up and she was hoping Darren could sort it out for her. He did look at it and did get it operating again, so she was very happy that he managed to sort it out for her. Then Brian, Hazel and I had a stroll into the park and also a little way into the glen. We sat on a bench opposite a tree that I have photographed and sketched before as it is an odd shape. took a photo of them by the glen which is always a lovely backdrop.

We walked back and went and had Sunday lunch at the Coffee Bean, a really lovely dinner and dessert. Then we came back here for a bit, Tina was in by then so was able to have a chat with them as well. They left to go back to the holiday property this afternoon so I put some music on and decided to start another jigsaw.

I have started the Spring one, I think it will be very enjoyable.

Darren's fiftieth birthday tomorrow and he is off to work at 6.30 am and Tina has a meeting tomorrow evening and will be leaving before Darren gets home, so we are have a card and present session this evening before we watch Vera.

Spent the morning indoors apart from going to the post box and local shop. Did one or two chores and then realised that it hadn't rained for a while, not even had any dew, and the bonsai trees would probably be very dry. I managed to get them all watered and some of the bigger trees, one of the bonsai trees was beginning to wilt, as they were indeed very dry. I am hoping I gave it a drink in time.
Darren and Tina went off to a SciFi convention quite early, but Tina was back by about 2 pm as she had arranged to meet a friend at Whitby garden centre. I hitched a lift along and had a good wander round while they settled down for a good natter. What a great place for a garden centre, quite some view!

It was misty today, but you could obviously see miles on a clear day. There were some great planters. 

I think my brother would like the scooter, as he had one many years ago. They also had a good selection of water fountains.

This magnolia tree, 'Susan' was a great colour. Talking of unusual magnolias, I have ordered two standard ones in a variety called 'Sunrise'. I brought some pots ready for them earlier this week.

They have an Old Barn area with lots of interesting stuff in.

I bought the great planter in the centre of the picture because I fell in love with it. I won't use it until we have a new garden to play with.

Another view in the barn.

I also bought a small cast metal spider.

Been a beautiful day and a very bright sun as it went down.

Seeing Brian and Hazel tomorrow and I am looking forward to that, and it is due to be the best day of the year so far.

Seems to have been a fairly full day. though not a lot of photo taking. But first things first, last night's sunset.

This morning I thought I would have a go at making a Simnel cake, I have made them before but not in this oven! Quite a long preparation and three and a half hours in the oven, it smelt good so hopefully it will taste okay. I watched an episode of Morse while it was cooking.
I went out with Tina to take Blue to the vet to be weighted. We called and called, out the back and the front, Tina eventually found her snuggled in the kennel happily ignoring us! She wasn't too happy at being put in the pet carrier and taken for a ride in the car. Her weight is now over four kilos so she needs to have the stronger flea treatment drops.
Tina dropped me off at the studio, I had promised to sharpen the pencils for them, which I did, but I took my own sharpener because theirs is useless! Also collected my cute little hedgehog ornament. I am putting two pictures as I like the effect I got on the back.

I walked home today, took it easy and it is pretty much all downhill. Sandra was on her own in the quilting shop so had a natter with her for half an hour which was really nice. Had an hour sitting when I got home and then got tea for the three of us. Haven't been doing the meals lately as standing around is still quite difficult, but we had a nice meal and I will start to prepare them occasionally again now.

A final picture of the sunset from last night.

I worked on the jigsaw a bit this morning. Have taken the fourth wedge out of the boot, last one out on Easter Saturday I think. Darren and I left a bit before 10 am and shopped at Lidl and Sainsbury's. I didn't use the crutch in the shops as I can manage if I am pushing the trolley. I was really tired when I got back, in fact, by the time I got upstairs I had what I presume is the closest thing I have ever had to palpitations!! Took quite a while for me to get rid of the heartbeat in my head and everywhere else.....I got a cold drink and decided to get on with the jigsaw, about three hours later I hadn't moved from the spot but the puzzle was finished.

Really like this 'arty' Mona Lisa, and I enjoyed this puzzle. It has been a beautiful day so thought I would walk into the park.
The pansies are beginning to look pretty in the garden, but  by the look of them the yellow ones are proving very tasty for an insect friend!

 I got into the start of the glen and sat down on a couple of different benches. The reflections were great today.

Had another sit down in the park and took a picture of the pagoda. I am hoping the island will be open again soon.

I think there will be a nice sunset again. but it is just blinding at the moment. So there maybe a picture on the blog tomorrow.