Something for the weekend

This weekend I'm looking forward to:

• Legoland - We are supposed to be going to Legoland tomorrow for the fireworks but my niece may have chicken pox, one nephew is just getting over it and the other is covered in spots so we'll see in the morning!
• Reading my December, Christmas copy of Essentials. (Only eight weeks to go!)
• Christening - Going to the Christening of my friends daughter on Sunday morning, then the reception in the evening.

Hope you all have a lovely weekend, whatever you are doing.

In the garden...

I spent some time in the garden today, taking some photos and enjoying the warm sun. I thought I would share these with you.

Vapour lines from the planes.

There were three of these holes dug in the garden and this one with a poo by it. I'm not sure what is making these holes, maybe a hedgehog?

Lots of mushrooms by the climbing frame.

I have had a look in my Fungi book, these look like Fairy Ring Champignon. Any other suggestions?

I really like this photo with the small water drops on the grass, the first time I looked at it I didn't even see the water drops.

I know this one is blurred and the focus is on the grass in the foreground but I quite like it.

Upside down!

I wonder what's been eating this one.

I saw this red leaf and, at first, I thought it was a moth but on closer inspection I realised it was a leaf!

I hadn't looked up behind the shed so I didn't know this fence had come down. Part of it was already broken, now it's all broken!

There were quite a few windfall apples so I made an apple bird feeder with some and kept the best ones to make a crumble tomorrow.

I'd put some twine under each apple because they kept falling down, then I realised I could of put pegs on instead. I think they make good bird stands. Although, I think if a pigeon lands on it, it will all fall down! There haven't been many birds coming into the garden recently.

I'm enjoying watching Autumnwatch, it's just a shame it's only on for four days. I love seeing all the different wildlife.

After the storm

So, the storm 'St Jude' hit on Sunday night and we were lucky, we didn't have any damage. Our neighbours had a bit of damage to their fence and they lost their big trampoline. There were quite a few trees down in the area and travel disruption to the buses and trains.

I took a photo of the garden before, in case there was any change but as you can see there wasn't any.

Before and After

Did you have any damage from the storm? I hope you managed to stay safe.

Weymouth holiday

I've been writing this post since I got back, a little bit here and there when I've had time. It's quite a long holiday post so I'm sorry if it gets a bit boring!

We had a lovely time staying at Haven Weymouth Bay, we went from 14th-18th October and booked it through the Sun Holidays. Weymouth is one of my favourite places and I've been on holiday there quite a few times now. I got a bit snap happy while away so I'll choose some of the best photos to show here.

Monday

We left home at about 11am and arrived at about 2.15pm. As we couldn't check in until 4pm we went to Asda to get a few bits then had a walk on Weymouth beach and it was so good to be there, by the sea.

We checked in just after 4pm and we had been allocated a Standard, two bedroom caravan. I decided to ask about an upgrade, they gave us a three bedroom, Standard Plus for £15 extra.

We had pie and chips for dinner from the local chip shop, unpacked and settled in for the night.

Tuesday 

We woke up to a sunny morning and decided to have a trip to Portland Bill and Chesil beach. It was a beautiful day, quite warm and not as windy as it has been previously when we've visited. I took loads of photos, especially of the sea and sky! I used my camera but also my sisters camera, as hers has a much bigger zoom.

This is Portland Bill Lighthouse, there is some history on the lighthouse here.

These birds were all over the top of the lighthouse, I think they were Starlings.

This fishing boat was out catching something.

I like the clouds in these three photos.

The sea crashing onto the rocks.

There were lots of these birds flying around but I'm not sure what it is.

On the way back we stopped off at the new Chesil Beach Centre. We bought lunch at the Taste Cafe, it was fairly expensive £6.50 for my baguette below but we were hungry! The last time I was here it was just a little cabin, doing burgers and similar things.

After lunch we walked along the new walkway, there were lots of these wooden animal figures along the fence, I only took a photo of this first one though.

At the top of the pebbles, looking back and slightly to the left.

Looking towards the sea and to the left, the sky looks so beautifully blue.

Looking towards the sea and to the right, it looks like the beach goes on forever!

Seaweed and a feather I found close by to where we sat down for a bit.

I love the way the sun is glistening on the water and the spray you can see coming up as the wave was breaking on the pebbles.

The sun on its decent into the sea, wow!

Our long shadows walking back towards the centre and car park.

Wednesday 

It had been raining most of the night and still was when we woke up too. We had already decided to go to Dorchester Market, we left it late to leave as the rain was supposed to clear up in the afternoon, we got there at about 11.30 and it was still raining a bit. My dad saw a friend that he works with, they were staying in Weymouth too! By the time we started walking around the market the clouds were starting to clear and when we left the sky was blue and the sun was shining. The market wasn't as big as usual because of the weather, after the market we had a quick walk around the town before heading back to the caravan park.

We had lunch in the caravan and then walked to Bowleaze Cove, there is a path from the park through another park down to the beach. The waves were quite big here and I loved listening to the sea.

The sun was starting to set, this was just after 4pm.

Looking back towards the Riviera Hotel, Sarah at Down by the sea also has this hotel in this post.

Looking towards Weymouth.

Our shadows, even longer than the other shadow photo, on the way back towards the hotel.

This rabbit was munching on the grass, in the field between the two caravan parks.

Thursday

We woke to another sunny day. We were going to use the Park and Ride to go into Weymouth but then went to Value House in Wyke Regis, this shop has lots of different departments and is quite cheap. My dad saw his friend here again! The fire alarm went off while we were in there, after a few minutes they asked us to leave and as we walked out they said over the loudspeaker that it was a false alarm!

We then drove to Weymouth and parked in the Swannery car park, there was a small market on so we had a quick look. My sister and I went to the Shirt Shack and I got a jumper with a flower printed on it. We bought a pasty for lunch and had a short walk on the beach. 

I wanted to go on the Sealife Tower but we didn't have time.

Friday 

We packed up the car ready to leave, once we handed our keys back we played in the arcade for a bit before heading to West Bay. It took about 40 minutes to drive there, we took the coast road and I took quite a few photos while driving but most were blurred. These two were the best.

I think this one is of Freshwater caravan park.

It was VERY windy and a bit drizzly when we got to West Bay.

Boats in the harbour. 

The tide was out and some men were working on this boat.

We walked along the pier.

This gull looked like it was waiting for fish and kept looking into the water.

Looking back from the pier, we walked up that sandy path when we stayed at the Parkdean caravan park here.

A Cormorant waiting for an opportunity to grab some lunch!

We walked on the beach before heading back to the car to eat our lunch.

We left at about 1.40pm and arrived home at about 6pm. This holiday seems like ages ago now so I'm glad I've managed to get it all written down here.

I hope you've enjoyed reading about my holiday, sorry if it's a bit long but I wanted to be able to look back and remember it all.

Hope you've all had a lovely couple of weeks.