Owls

I love owls. They are such beautiful birds. The eyes are like pools of liquid gold, staring out of ancient feathered faces. They are wise and cruel, yet patient. They can turn their heads to face backwards and hunt a silent shrew in darkness.

Race for Life

I have so many wonderful women friends (and men friends too for that matter). Currently three splendid, courageous women, that I know, are undergoing treatment for breast cancer. None of them know each other, but they are linked by a disease that cuts across social and class boundaries.Their prognoses are all different and I won't identify them here, but suffice it to say, that I was thinking of them all when I took part in the Race for Life a couple of weeks ago.The Race for Life is probably the largest fundraiser for cancer charity in the UK. Thousands of women run (it is just for women), and I was one of them. I raised over £50. The route was 5k (3 miles) long and I'm proud to say I ran over half of it, walking the uphill bits. I completed the whole thing in 50 minutes (so not exactly speedy) and turned an interesting shade of purple at the same time.

Poppies

There is a field at the bottom of the bypass full of the most gorgeous poppies.

Carnival

It was Bewdley carnival today. We missed the floats and procession because we were off looking for some bowling shoes (which we didn't find). We did arrive in time for the fair afterwards.

We took a look round at the stalls and the kids chose what they were going to spend their limited money on.

Donny got a tattoo.

Three of them won cuddly otters.

Half Term Break

Ha! Is this supposed to be a holiday? Well, we're not at school, I suppose, but a rest seems out of the question!

Pal on Blackstone Rock (Mel in background).

The task of clearing out the toddler toys is about five years overdue, so Tuesday we emptied everyone's rooms and put all the toys in the living room. I tell you, we were knee deep in rubbish. It took us FOUR days to clear out three car boot fulls of toys (to the charity shop) and two black sacks of rubbish! My house is ever so much more empty and the kids actually have enough room to put things away on thir shelves at last. They have no excuse for not keeping the place tidy now!

Red Campion

We took a walk along the River Severn to Blackstone Rock. There are some once-lived-in caves nearby, which the kids enjoyed exploring, although they were a bit nervous about the dark. Then they climbed up on the rock itself, which is sandstone and therefore red, rather than black like its name would suggest. It is quite high above the river and gives a pleasant view.

River Severn

Yesterday, we went to the groovy swimming pool in Stourbridge. It has slides and rapids and waves and a jacuzzi. I thought the kids deserved a treat after all the hard work they put into clearing their rooms. It was good fun and the kids loved it.

Kids on Blackstone Rock